RICHMOND, Ky. – December 16, 2020
The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team checked in at No. 21 in this week’s CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25.
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EKU (5-2) won five of its first six games to open the season. Entering this week, the Colonels’ lone loss was a 99-96 overtime defeat at the hands of Xavier.
Eastern has used a relentless pressure defense to rank second in the country in steals-per-game (13.1), fifth in turnovers forced-per-game (22.6) and eighth in turnover margin (+9.9).
The Colonels are balanced offensively, as five players are currently averaging double figures. Junior Tre King leads the way at 15.7 points-per-game, followed by junior Jomaru Brown (11.8), freshman Wendell Green Jr. (11.3), sophomore Michael Moreno (11.1) and redshirt freshman Curt Lewis (10.4).
The Colonels are ranked directly behind OVC rivals Murray State (No. 19) and Austin Peay (No. 20), and just ahead of the likes of Bowling Green (No. 22), Ohio (No. 23), Abilene Christian (No. 24) and Chattanooga (No. 25).
Gonzaga is ranked No. 1 in the Mid-Major poll, while Loyola Chicago (No. 2), Furman (No. 3), Saint Mary’s (No. 4) and Winthrop (No. 5) round out the top-five.
Eastern hosts Campbellsville University Harrodsburg on Thursday night at McBrayer Arena. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.