Walden, E Kentucky hold off Kennesaw St 68-60

Nov 9, 2013, 09:40 pm

KENNESAW, Ga. -- Corey Walden scored 18 of his game-high 21 points in the second half to help Eastern Kentucky hold off Kennesaw State 68-60 in the Kennesaw State Tournament on Saturday.

Leading 30-26 at the break, Eastern Kentucky (2-0) got off to a sloppy start in the second half, missing eight of its first nine shots and committing five turnovers as Kennesaw State held a 34-32 lead over six minutes into the second period.

Then Waldren took over, scoring 12 of the Colonels' next 18 points as EKU opened 50-39 lead with 8:48 remaining.

Kennesaw State (0-2) pulled within four, 58-54, on Nigel Pruitt's layup with 1:32 left, but 22 seconds later, Waldren found Marcus Lewis for a dunk to push the lead back to six and the Owls never threatened again.

Lewis added 19 points on eight of 11 shooting.

Delbert Love led Kennesaw State with 16 points.