NCAA Game Summary - Eastern Kentucky vs. Belmont

Nashville, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - The Eastern Kentucky Colonels put on their dancing shoes in the Music City, claiming their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2007 with a 79-73 victory over top-seeded Belmont in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium.

Corey Walden led the way with a career-best 29 points -- 22 of which came in the second half -- while Glenn Cosey tallied 23 to help third-seeded Eastern Kentucky (24-9) deny Belmont a fourth consecutive trip to the Big Dance.

The normally sharp-shooting Bruins were beaten at their own game, as the Colonels knocked down 11-of-22 attempts from 3-point range while limiting the OVC regular-season champs to a 8-of-24 success rate from beyond the arc.

Walden and Cosey accounted for eight of those makes and ended a combined 16- of-25 from the field in Eastern Kentucky's eighth consecutive triumph overall. Walden added seven assists, with Tarius Johnson chipping in 15 points for the Colonels.

OVC Player of the Year J.J. Mann came through with 18 points to pace Belmont. Evan Bradds and Drew Windler had 14 each in the loss, with Bradds posting 10 rebounds.