EKU Basketball Turns Corner in Hamilton’s Second Year

Top 4 in OVC, 1st Time in OVC Tourney since 2015

RICHMOND, Ky. – March 19, 2020

The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team had accepted an invitation to play in the 2020 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) this month; however, the event was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.

“I feel bad for our seniors, who won’t have another opportunity to represent EKU and the city of Richmond,” head coach A.W. Hamilton said. “We understand the safety of our players and the safety of our community at large is the highest priority. Despite not getting a chance to play in the CIT, this team accomplished so much, and I hope EKU fans remember them as a group that helped this program turn a major corner.”

Highlights from the 2019-20 season:

• EKU made its first trip to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament since 2015.

• The Colonels recorded their first postseason victory since 2014, a 58-48 victory over Tennessee State in the OVC quarterfinals.

• Eastern won 12 OVC games during the regular season. That is tied for the second most conference victories in a season by any EKU team (13 is the most).

• The Colonels started OVC play 9-2. That goes down as the best conference start by an EKU team in 41 years (1978-79).

• A.W. Hamilton was voted OVC Coach of the Year. He is the first EKU coach to earn that honor since Max Good in 1987.

• Sophomores Jomaru Brown (first team) and Tre King (second team) were voted to All-OVC teams.

• Eastern finished the season ranked fifth in the country in turnovers forced/game (18.27), seventh in steals/game (9.3) and 10^th in turnover margin (+4.3).

• The Colonels won six consecutive OVC games from January 18 to February 6. That is Eastern’s longest regular season conference win streak since 2007.

• The Colonels’ five OVC road wins are tied for the most by an EKU team since 2007.

• Hamilton led EKU’s turnaround despite losing opening night starters Darius Hicks and Houston King to injuries during the season.

• Eastern’s 2019-20 accomplishments came after losing all-time leading scorer Nick Mayo to graduation after last season.