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CHARLESTON, Ill.  – Eastern Kentucky hit nearly 60 percent of its field-goal attempts as they upended the Panther men's basketball team, 100-81, on Thursday night inside Lantz Arena. EIU drops to 4-9 overall and 1-1 in Ohio Valley Conference action.
 
The Colonels (10-4, 1-0 OVC) led from start to finish and had a double-figure lead for the final 25 minutes of action. EIU hit its first five field goals to start the contest, but committed four turnovers during that span that led to seven points for the Colonels. All told, EKU converted 17 Panther miscues into 28 points on the night.
 
EKU hit 59.6 percent of its field-goal attempts, going 34-for-57 from the floor. The Panthers posted a .526 field-goal percentage on the night (20-for-38), their third-highest percentage on the year.
 
The Colonels went 16-for-32 from behind the arc as they were led by Glenn Cosey who went 10-for-12, tying the OVC single-game record for made three pointers set by EIU's Marc Polite on Dec. 23, 1999 against Arkansas State. Cosey finished the contest with a game-high 34 points, going 11-for-14 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the foul line. The senior guard also dished out a game-high six assist to go along with two steals. Four total Colonels scored in double figures.
 
Sherman Blanford scored a career-high 23 points for the Panthers as the senior forward went 8-for-12 from the floor and 7-for-7 from the foul line. Reggie Smith also added 18 points and a team-high five assists while Dylan Chatman chipped in 13 points.
 
EIU finished the game going 37-for-44 from the foul line, breaking the previous Lantz Arena record for made free throws. The Panthers made 35 in a game against St. Joseph's on Dec. 16, 1978. Smith led the Panthers at the line as he went 14-for-18.
 
EIU held a 26-22 advantage on the glass, paced by Blanford's game-high six rebounds. Eric Stutz and Tarius Johnson led the Colonels with five rebounds each.
 
EKU had 17 more (20-3) fast break points and four more (20-16) bench points on the night.
 
The Panthers return to action on Saturday, Jan. 4 against Morehead State at 2 p.m.