RICHMOND, Ky. (Interstat) — A blistering shooting display from beyond the arc propelled Eastern Kentucky to a decisive 89-69 victory over Bellarmine in an ASUN Conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at McBrayer Arena.

The Colonels connected on 17 of 34 three-point attempts, a 50% clip that overwhelmed a Knights squad struggling to find its own offensive rhythm. The long-range barrage was the central theme of the contest, accounting for more than half of Eastern Kentucky’s total field goals and establishing a margin Bellarmine could never seriously challenge.

Eastern Kentucky set the tone early, building a 40-24 halftime lead behind efficient ball movement and hot shooting. The Colonels’ offense operated with precision, posting an offensive rating of 143.6 by scoring 89 points on just 62 possessions. Bellarmine, by contrast, managed an offensive rating of 108.2, shooting 40% from the floor and just 26% from three-point range.

The Colonels’ attack was balanced and relentless. MJ Williams, a 5-foot-10 guard from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, led the way with 16 points and four assists in just 20 minutes off the bench, catalyzing the second unit. Turner Buttry of Bowling Green, Kentucky, added 14 points and four assists, while Jackson Holt contributed 14 points, all stemming from his 4-of-7 shooting from deep.

Frontcourt presence Montavious Myrick of Atlanta provided a strong interior complement to the perimeter fireworks, scoring 12 points, grabbing three offensive rebounds and swatting three Bellarmine shots. Jalen Cooper added 13 points and Juan Cranford facilitated with five assists.

Bellarmine, which fell to 6-12 overall, was led by Brian Waddell’s 15 points. The 6-foot-7 forward from Carmel, Indiana, battled for 31 minutes but the Knights could not generate consistent stops to fuel a comeback. Darrius Bolden added eight points and Kenyon Goodin had nine for the visitors, who were out-assisted 17-7 and out-rebounded on the offensive glass 12-8.

The most pivotal segment of the game occurred late in the first half, extinguishing Bellarmine’s last hope of staying within reach. After the Knights closed to within 25-17, Eastern Kentucky unleashed a 13-2 run over a three-minute span. The surge featured a three-pointer from Juan Cranford, a dunk from Montavious Myrick, another Cranford three, and was capped by a Turner Buttry triple that pushed the lead to 36-19. The run showcased the Colonels’ offensive versatility, scoring inside and out, and effectively put the game out of reach before halftime.

Eastern Kentucky improved to 7-12 with the win. The announced attendance was 1,511.

Bellarmine travels to face Jacksonville on Thursday. Eastern Kentucky continues its road swing at North Florida, also on Thursday.

The Interstat ELO system had projected Eastern Kentucky with an 85.40 percent probability to win.