Richmond, Ky. - With the game tied, 65-65, the Tigers again stood on the wrong side of another late run, losing to Eastern
Kentucky at McBrayer Arena, Saturday night (1/2), 79-71.
The Tigers missed opportunities down the stretch, and the
Colonels capitalized, using a 15-6 run to pull out the win.
TSU (3-11, 0-3) had one of their best offensive performances
of the season shooting 47 percent from the floor and a season-high from long range, 53 percent, while outrebounding EKU,
35-21. The Colonels (9-5, 2-1) scored 46 points in the paint and 29 points off
of TSU turnovers to account for 56 percent shooting from the floor.
The Tigers enforced a total team effort offensively, with
four players scoring in double figures. Josh Sain scored a team-high, 13
points, to go with six rebounds.
Wil Peters and Robert Covington each added 12 points. Peters
posted a team best, four assists, with Covington registering seven rebounds and
two blocks.
Jeremiah Crutcher scored all of his 10 points in the second
half, hitting 4-of-5 from the floor with 2-of-3 from three-point range.
For the second game in a row, the TSU bench added 20+
points, scoring 24 on the night. Jacquan Nobles scored eight points and Erick Peguero added seven points and seven rebounds in their reserve roles.
EKU held their largest lead of the night in the first half,
12-4. TSU would tie the game at
14 from a Darius Cox three-pointer with 10:34 remaining in the half. After
an EKU lead, TSU operated a 10-4 run to hold the advantage at the break, 29-28.
In the second half, both teams exchanged the lead twice in the
first three minutes. The Tigers held their largest lead, 36-30,
with 17:21 left to play. TSU trailed by as much as five points before bouncing
back and holding their last lead of the night, 62-61, from a Crutcher three-point
basket. EKU would answer, going on the 15-6 run to secure their 15th straight home
victory.
All five EKU starters led the Colonels in scoring managing double figures. Josh Taylor posted a game-high 17 points with six rebounds.
Justin Stommes hit 16 points, connecting 7-of-8 from the free-throw line.
Spencer Perrin shot 5-of-8 from the floor, and 4-of-5 from
the line, and Papa Oppong hit 6-of-10 from the field, both scoring 14 points.
Joshua Jones chipped in 13 points from 4-of-7 shooting.
TSU will head to Morehead, Ky. to face Morehead State. The
match-up is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 4, at Johnson Arena. Tip-off is
scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
