ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Basketball shot 54% from the floor in the first half and ran away to a  91-57 win over the visiting PSU-Schuylkill Lions (1-4). In building a 52-23 halftime lead, the Eagles (5-1) grabbed nine offensive rebounds and did not allow the visitors to connect on a 3-pointer. Junior forward Michael Bowlers had 12 of his game-high 19 points before the intermission.

The Eagles scored the first five points of the game and led 19-5 six minutes into the game. Darius Washington had ten of his 15 points in the opening seven minutes. The senior guard hit a pair of 3-pointers in the run. Victor Peña scored on consecutive possessions to push a 12-point Eastern lead to 17. William Blet hit a 3-pointer from the corner to close out the half.

Through the second half, the Eagles kept the lead above 25 the whole way. Marquise Peel gave the crowd a moment to cheer when he dunked in a pass from Joe Ortiz for an 87-55 lead late.

The Eagles outscored the Lions 28-8 in the paint in the second half. Michaiah Fraction hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second half. Peña (12 points) and Austin Duncan (11 points) joined Washington and Bowlers in double-figures. Duncan had a team-high six assists. Bowlers had seven of his 11 rebounds at the offensive end. Eastern had ten players grab multiple rebounds in the game. Blet had four rebounds to go with five points and three blocks in his return to the floor.

The win lifts the Eagles to 5-1 to start the year, which is the best start since the Eagles started the 2010-2011 season 8-1.

Eastern starts into MAC Freedom play next Wednesday at King's and will return home for a league game against Delaware Valley on Dec. 8. Eastern FTK is running a Christmas Sweater event that day. Every person at the game in a holiday sweater will qualify for prizes and giveaways.