RICHMOND, Ky. -- Corey Walden had 20 points, eight steals and five assists on Friday night and Eastern Kentucky beat Savannah State 76-53 in the season opener for both teams.

Ja'Mill Powell capped EKU's 17-5 run on a 3-pointer with 6:05 left in the game, putting the Colonels ahead 60-42. Powell finished with 14 points, Eric Stutz scored 13, and Denzel Richardson added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Colonels opened the game on a 9-2 run and built a 36-27 halftime lead.

Saadiq Muhammad led Savannah State with 13 points and nine rebounds, and Brian Pearson added 10 and six.

The Tigers shot 47.7 percent from the field and outrebounded EKU 38-33, but shot only 9 of 20 from the free-throw line and had 33 turnovers -- 19 more than the Colonels.