DINUNNO’S LAST SECOND SHOT LIFTS COLONELS TO 7-0

By Kevin Britton, Assistant Director of Athletic Public Relations:

" Mike DiNunno’s lay-up with 2.3 seconds left completed a comeback from 10 points down with 6:38 left in the game as Eastern Kentucky University’s men’s basketball team beat Western Carolina 72-70 on Saturday at McBrayer Arena.

                       

The last-second win keeps the Colonels undefeated at 7-0.  EKU is off to its best start in 66 years.  The 1946-47 squad began the season with 11 straight wins.

A tip-in by James Sinclair put the Catamounts (3-5) in front 62-52 with only six and a half minutes left in the game.  Eastern closed the gap to four on four occasions but couldn’t get any closer until Corey Walden’s lay-up made it 68-66 with 2:06 left to play.  Over the next minute, Western Carolina took advantage of three offensive rebounds to put up three shots, including two three-pointers, in an attempt to build on its lead. 

After the final offensive board, Walden knocked the ball loose, Jeff Johnson picked it up near the free throw line and launched a pass down court to a streaking Glenn Cosey for the game tying lay-up with 1:15 showing on the clock.  The Catamounts had held the lead since the 11:49 mark of the first half.

Cosey’s jumper with 27 ticks remaining put the home squad in front by two.  Trey Sumler answered on the other end with a jumper to tie with 16 seconds to go.  DiNunno drove the length of the court and laid in the game winner.  Western did not get a shot off before the buzzer sounded.

Cosey led EKU with 15 points.  DiNunno finished with 14 points and seven assists.  Walden had 11 points and six rebounds.

Tawaski King led all players with 18 points for Western Carolina.  Sinclair finished with 10 points and eight boards.

Eastern shot 50 percent or better for the fifth time in seven games this season.  The Colonels knocked down 28-of-52 for a season-best 54 percent.  After making 6-of-11 attempts from three-point range in the first half, WCU made just 1-of-13 in the second.  The Catamounts shot 29 percent from deep.

The Colonels were out-rebounded by 10, but out-scored Western 42-26 in the paint.  As it has all season, EKU took advantage of the other team’s turnovers.  WCU committed only three more than Eastern, but were out-scored by seven points off turnovers.

After playing seven straight games at home to start the season, the Colonels will be on the road for the first time Tuesday at North Carolina Central University in Durham.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m."