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RICHMOND, Ky. - Eastern Kentucky shot 56 percent from the field including hitting 11-of-26 from 3-point range as the Colonels (12-6, 5-2 OVC) slipped past Eastern Illinois, 67-59, on Thursday night in Richmond.

EIU fell to 10-7 overall, 4-3 in the OVC. EKU moved into third place in the conference race while EIU dropped to fourth overall. The Panthers will play at Morehead State on Saturday afternoon.

Eastern Kentucky used two big runs to break open a tight game in the first half. Tyler Laser knocked down a 3-pointer with 11:50 to go in the first half to put EIU up 12-10 as Laser had 13 first half points for the Panthers and finished with a team-high 21.

Josh Daniel answered with a 3-pointer for the Colonels, followed by a quick bucket by Josh Taylor as EKU used a 14-0 run to stretch the lead to 24-12 with 7:20 to play. A 3-pointer by Romain Martin stopped that run but EKU answered with a 10-2 run with Papa Oppong and Taylor sinking 3-pointers.

EKU would lead 37-24 at the break as they hit seven first half 3-pointers. Taylor and Oppong each knocked down two from beyond the arc.

The Colonels continued their hot shooting in the second half hitting 63 percent from the field and 4-of-7 from 3-point range. Laser was able to pull the Panthers to within 12 points at the 17:18 mark as he converted two 3-pointers on the same EIU possession.

Oppong would respond with a bucket as he led the Colonels with a team high 18 points. EIU again trimmed the lead to 12 points on a Jeremy Granger jumper but Oppong answered with a 3-pointer to keep the Panthers at bay.

A bucket by Ousmane Cisse pulled the Panthers to within 11 points at 7:08 but EKU again had the answer from outside with a Dayvon Ellis 3-pointer as Ellis added 11 off the bench.

Jay Smith sank a pair of 3-pointers for EIU in the final minute to cut down the final margin as EIU also had a solid night from outside hitting 56 percent from 3-point range on 10-of-18.