NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team had the ball on the final possession of the game, but senior Corey Walden missed a floater off the backboard allowing Belmont to come away with a 53-52 win in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament semifinals Friday night.
The Colonels (19-11) were trying to become the first OVC team since Murray State in 1999 to win back-to-back conference tournament titles.
Eastern led throughout most of the game, including a game-high 10 points midway through the first half, 31-21. The Colonels shot 63.6 percent (14-of-22) from the floor in the opening period and took a 33-26 lead into intermission.
Belmont (21-10) battled back to even the score with 9:51 remaining at 46-all.
EKU’s shooting, which was on target in the first half, suddenly went cold in the final 10 minutes of the contest. The Colonels only made one field goal down the stretch. However, that shot appeared like it was going to be an important one as senior Timmy Knipp connected on a driving jumper to give Eastern the edge with 2:25 left, 52-51.
Belmont retook the lead following two free throws by Evan Bradds with 25 seconds showing on the clock, setting the stage for Walden’s final shot.
Senior Eric Stutz led all players with 18 points on 6-of-7 (85.7 percent) shooting from the floor. The forward scored 14 of those tallies in the first half. Walden was the only other Colonel to reach double figures with 12 points.
Taylor Barnette paced Belmont with 14 points thanks to hitting 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) three-pointers.
The Bruins advance to play Murray State in the OVC championship game tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.
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NOTES
With his first steal of the game at the 17:10 mark of the first half, Corey Walden broke the EKU career record of 221 held by Jamie Ross (1988-92). He finished with six steals and has the eighth most career steals in OVC history. His 90 steals this season are the most in EKU history and the fourth most in OVC history.
EKU is now 38-34 all-time in the OVC Tournament. Its 38 wins are tied for the second most in OVC history.
EKU is one of only two teams to appear in each of the last 13 OVC Tournaments.
Eastern Kentucky entered the game leading in the nation in turnover margin (+7.6) and fifth in steals (9.7 spg). EKU had four fewer turnovers and seven steals. The Colonels had one more turnover than Belmont and nine steals.
Before tonight, EKU had committed fewer turnovers than its opponent 60 times in 63 games the last two seasons. Eastern had one more turnover than Belmont on Friday.
Corey Walden began the day as the only player ranked in the top-10 in the OVC in scoring (2nd), field goal percentage (8th), assists (7th) and steals (1st). He finished with 12 points, six steals, four rebounds and two assists.
Eastern Kentucky entered the game tied for first in the OVC in scoring defense at 63.3 points allowed per game. Belmont was second in the conference in scoring (74.7 ppg).
EKU has held 22 of its 30 opponents to fewer than 70 points.
In its 11 OVC regular season victories, Eastern Kentucky held its opponents to 59.9 points per game.
With 186 victories, EKU is the second winningest program in the OVC over the last 10 seasons.
Eastern Kentucky has 84 wins over the last four seasons, four more than any other four-year period in program history.
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