Blanton leads Colonels past Bellarmine

The Eastern Kentucky University Men’s Basketball team defeated the Bellarmine Knights, 73-63, at Baptist Health Arena on Jan. 28. The win moves the Colonels to 14-9 on the season and 7-3 in the ASUN conference. 

The Colonels started out fast with Michael Moreno hitting a three to start off scoring. EKU snagged a 7-2 lead with 17:51 left in the first half after a Devontae Blanton jumper and a Cooper Robb layup. 

Bellarmine answered by scoring seven unanswered points, going up, 9-7, with less than sixteen minutes in the half. 

The Colonels then answered with seven points of their own, five from Leland Walker, putting them up, 14-9, with 13:11 remaining in the first half. For the remainder of the half, neither team led by more than four. 

With one minute remaining in the half, the game was tied, 35-35, but Isaiah Cozart slammed in a wide-open dunk, putting the Colonels on top at halftime, 37-35.

Although the Colonels led most of the first half, they weren’t able to pull away, their largest lead of the half was only five points. 

Both teams shot well in the first half, but Bellarmine was on fire, making nearly 60 percent of their shots, with EKU making just over 50 percent. Both teams struggled from the 3-point line, with EKU going 3 for 12, and Bellarmine going 1 for 5. 

At the half, Blanton led the Colonels with 10 points, eight rebounds and one assist. Walker also had 10 points and one assist. Moreno had six points, one assist and one rebound. DaShawn Jackson had three points, two steals, one rebound and one assist. 

Cozart started off the half with four straight points, pushing the Colonels lead to six. The Knights responded quickly with two 3-pointers, tying the game at 41 with 16:58 left.

After that, neither team scored for over two minutes before Moreno hit his second 3-pointer of the night. The Knights matched that on the other end, but Walker scored five straight points, putting the Colonels back up by five. 

The Knights then scored eight unanswered points, leading by three before Tayshawn Comer sealed his first points for the night, tying the game with a 3-pointer. On the next possession, Moreno and Blanton battled around the basket with Blanton scoring and putting the Colonels up for good. 

On the next trip down the floor, Blanton made a falling layup, causing the crowd of 4,025 at Baptist Health Arena to erupt. 

Blanton then hit a jump shot and tough layup, putting the Colonels up five with 3:18 to play. After a Bellarmine score, Walker hit a 3-pointer, putting the Colonels back up by five. Moreno then hit a layup, giving the Colonels a seven point lead with 1:34 remaining. The Knights did not threaten again, and the Colonels won, 73-63. 

The Colonels play two games at home next week, facing Jacksonville State at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2 and ASUN leading Kennesaw State at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4.