Eastern Kentucky vs. West Virginia final score: Mountaineers drop Colonels, 74-67

The West Virginia Mountaineers sank 32 free throws en route to a 74-67 victory over Eastern Kentucky Sunday.

WVU took 39 foul shots and sank over 80 percent of them, and their foul shooting proved to be the difference. Juwan Slaten had 17 points and went 9-for-9 from the line, and Gary Browne also had 17, going 10-for-11. Glenn Cosey had 21 points for the Colonels.

Eastern Kentucky made the first two baskets of the game, but WVU quickly made that back and then some, and had a 24-10 lead when Keaton Miles dunked about halfway through the first half. The Mountaineers also took a 35-22 lead into halftime.

In the second half, the Colonels grinded their way back, pulling to within one after a pair of three-pointers by Orlando Williams with about 10 minutes left and then tying the game a few minutes later on a three by Ryan Parsons. The Mountaineers managed to hold the Colonels at bay, however, making nearly all their foul shots as the last couple minutes ticked away.

WVU concluded its non-conference schedule with a 7-5 record, finishing with three straight wins against Oakland, Radford and Eastern Kentucky. The Mountaineers' lives will get a bit more difficult as Big 12 play begins with a January 5 matchup against Oklahoma (who they already actually lost to, back in late November).