CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Two twenty-point scorers and another in double digits led the way for the University of Charleston, as the Golden Eagles ran past the Elizabeth City State University Vikings in the UC home opener, 90-80. 
 
The Basics
Location: Charleston, W. Va (Wehrle Innovation Center)
Score: Charleston 90, Elizabeth City State 80
Records: UC (1-2, 0-0 MEC); ECSU (1-2, 0-0 CIAA)
 
How It Happened
The University of Charleston men's basketball kicked off the home opener against ESCU with an 8-5 lead, after Eddie Colbert III slammed it home on a breakaway steal giving the Golden Eagles the advantage.  
 
The teams traded baskets as the game approached the halfway point in the first period. Tyler Eberhart tied it up with a 3-pointer with 11:05 to go in the first half to bring the score to 16-16. 
 
What followed was a 7-2 run, which was punctuated by an Eberhart two-handed jam, and helped to extend the Golden Eagles lead to 11 points. UC then proceeded to increase their lead to 35-24 with five minutes left in the first half. The Golden Eagles would take a 45-30 lead into halftime.
 
ESCU continued to apply pressure in the second half as the Vikings brought the score within five points, but a three-pointer from Charleston's Jeremiah Keene gave UC an eight-point lead with 14:45 to go. A corner three-pointer off an inbound pass from Keaton Turner would extend the Golden Eagles lead. CJ Meredith would hit an up and under baseline layup to put UC up 10 points with 9:30 to go. 
 
The Vikings would bring the score back within five points, with 6:00 left in the half, but Charleston would continue to draw defensive turnovers to grow their lead back up to 12 with 2:15 left in the game. 
 
Colbert III would seal the game with a six-foot jumper giving the Golden Eagles a 14-point lead with 1:45 to go. The Vikings would hit a moot three-pointer with 4 seconds to go, but UC took the win with a final score of 90-80.
 
As a team, Charleston shot 47.9% from the field on the night – including 62.2% from inside the arc. The Golden Eagles had 16 assists on 35 made baskets. 
 
Tyler Eberhart led the way with 24 points. In addition to his points, he brought in six rebounds and four blocks. Eddie Colbert III provided great support with a double-double of 23 points with 10 rebounds. Keaton Turner also had double digit points with six rebounds and five assists. 
 
Defensively, UC limited the Vikings to 31-for-66 shooting on the night. 
 
Up Next
The men's basketball team will travel to Athens, West Virginia on Saturday, November 19^th to compete against the Concord Mountain Lions at 4:00PM.