RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky used a big run early in the second half to pull away from the Norfolk State men's basketball team in an 83-66 win over the Spartans in non-conference action on Monday night at EKU's McBrayer Arena.
 
The Colonels outscored the Spartans 21-3 in a little more than seven and a half minutes to surge ahead by 27, the largest lead of the game. EKU (6-6) shot better than 50 percent overall and was plus-10 in the rebounding column.
 
NSU (1-11) led just twice in the game, both in the early going. Freshman Mastadi Pitt led the way with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Junior Derrik Jamerson Jr. added 14 after connecting on 4-of-9 from 3-point range.
 
Jackson Davis hit 6-of-9 to lead EKU with 15 points, one of five players in double figures. Nick Mayo, the team's leading scorer, added 14 on 5-of-8 shooting. The Colonels made 29-of-55 for the game (52.7 percent), including a 10-of-26 effort from deep.
 
The Spartans shot 56 percent in the second half and 25-of-51 for the game.
 
Eastern Kentucky got its transition game going to build a 17-8 lead in the first seven and a half minutes of the contest. The Colonels pushed the advantage to 25-12 after a couple of treys, including a bank shot, and a layup in transition at the 8:02 mark.
 
They led by as much as 16 in the first half, the last time at 39-23 after Mayo made a pair of shots from the foul line. The Spartans, however, scored seven of the last nine points of the half to make it a 41-30 contest at the break.
 
EKU made 11-of-15 from inside the arc in the first period and 19-of-29 (65.5 percent) for the contest.
 
The big 21-3 run in the second half stretched the lead for EKU to 62-35 with 11:23 left in the game. Pitt had six points during a 9-3 run for the Spartans before DeAndre Dishman scored seven of EKU's next 10 points to keep the lead at least 20. Only NSU's 9-2 run at the end got the score as close as the final margin of 17.
 
Junior Alex Long and sophomore Steven Whitley each added 10 points on a combined 9-of-14 shooting. Each also had five rebounds to lead the Spartans, and Whitley contributed six assists.
 
Dishman (12), Dillon Avare (12) and Peyton Broughton (10) all reached double figures for EKU off the bench. JacQuess Hobbs led the way with team highs of eight assists and seven rebounds. The Colonels outrebounded the Spartans 33-23.
 
NSU will take on crosstown rival Old Dominion on Friday at 7 p.m. at Scope Arena.