Eastern Kentucky downs Eastern Illinois 63-49

Joshua Jones scored 16 points as Eastern Kentucky breezed past Eastern Illinois 63-49 on Thursday night.

Josh Daniel added 14 points and Justin Stommes 11 for the Colonels (8-9, 3-4 Ohio Valley), who shot 48.0 percent (24 of 50) in notching their first conference road victory.

Jeremy Granger was the only player to reach double figures for the Panthers (6-10, 2-4). He scored 15 points, including 4 of 6 from 3-point territory, as Eastern Illinois shot only 41.3 percent (19 of 46).

Eastern Kentucky took advantage defensively with five blocked shots and eight steals to just one block and three steals for the Panthers.

Daniel's 3-pointer put Eastern Kentucky ahead 10-2, and the Colonels pushed the lead to 19-8 before Taylor Jones nailed a 3-pointer that got Eastern Illinois into double figures with 9:51 to play.

But the Colonels led 32-20 at halftime and were not seriously threatened thereafter.