MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team led No. 19 West Virginia midway through the first half, but the Mountaineers (10-1) closed the half on a 40-8 run en route to an 84-59 win over the Colonels on Monday night, Dec. 21, at WVU Coliseum.

Playing without leading scorer and rebounder, senior Jarelle Reischel (back), EKU (8-6) was led on the night by junior JaVontae Hawkins, who finished with 16 points, four rebounds and two assists. Junior Jaylen Babb-Harrison came off the bench to contribute 15 points, while sophomore Greg King scored seven points and grabbed a career-high six rebounds.

Eastern shot 9-of-23 from three-point range on the night, the ninth time the Colonels have hit more than nine three-pointers in a game this season; however, the Colonels also shot a season-low 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from the foul line.

Jaysean Paige led four WVU players in double figures with 17 points.

The Colonels shot nearly 60 percent (13-of-22) from the field and outscored the Mountaineers, 37-34, in the second half; however, the first-half deficit was too much to overcome.

WVU outscored EKU 30-16 in the paint and 26-7 on second-chance points.

The Colonels return to action next Tuesday, December 29, versus Manhattan College. Tip time from McBrayer Arena is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

Mayo Named OVC Freshman Of Week Again

EKU's Nick Mayo (pictured) has been voted the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week for the fourth time this season, the league office announced on Monday, Dec. 21.

Mayo averaged 14.5 points-per-game, 6.0 rebounds-per-game, 2.5 assists-per-game and 2.5 steals-per-game last week.

The forward from Oakland, Maine poured in 18 points and matched career-highs with six rebounds, three assists and three steals in EKU’s 80-73 win over Florida Atlantic on Tuesday at McBrayer Arena. He scored 11 points and pulled down six boards in the Colonels’ loss at East Tennessee State on Friday.

Mayo shot 53 percent (10-of-19) from the field and 75 percent (3-of-4) from three-point range during the week. He ranks fourth in the OVC in field goal percentage (59.0).

He is the first Colonel to be named the OVC Freshman of the Week four times in a season since Matt Witt in 2002-03.

EKU Athletics Photo