EMU Wins Overtime Thriller to Stay in Tie for MAC West Lead

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — It was a battle for first place in the Mid-American Conference West Division here Wednesday, Jan. 18, in the Convocation Center and the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team came up with a hard-fought 62-59 overtime thriller.

The two teams combined to put on a great show for the fans and in the end it was some great clutch shooting by both teams and hard-nosed defense and strong foul shooting down the stretch that helped Eastern record the win.

Senior guard Antonio Green (Inkster, Mich.-Dearborn Heights Robichaud) hit a long three from the top of the arc with just 4.6 seconds left in regulation to give Eastern a 53-50 lead.

Western's Nate Hutcheson then connected on a three from deep in the right corner at the buzzer to tie it at 53-all, forcing the overtime period.

Eastern would go up by four, 59-55, with 1:20 left in overtime, but Matt Stainbrook would cut it to one, 59-58 win 1:06 left on a three-point play the old-fashioned way, making a layup and adding the foul shot on the play.

Junior forward Jamell Harris (Euclid, Ohio-Euclid) would then make the second of two free throws to put the Eagles up by two, 60-58, with 41.9 seconds remaining in overtime.

Green would then get another chance to put it out of reach, making both ends of a two-shot foul for a 62-58 EMU lead with just 17.9 left. Western's Demetrius Ward would then make two free throws to cut it to three, 62-59, with nine seconds left and the Broncos forced a turnover, giving them one more chance to tie it. This time around Western's Hutcheson 's three-point chance at the buzzer was off line, giving Eastern the three-point victory.

Green led the Eagles, now 8-10 overall and 3-1 in the MAC, with 11 points while redshirt sophomore guard J.R. Sims (Ft, Wayne, Ind.-Snider) added 10 and sophomore guard Austin Harper (Grand Haven, Mich.-Grand Haven-Glen Oaks C.C.) had three points with seven assists while celebrating his 21st birthday.

Western, now 8-10 overall and 2-2 in MAC action, was led by Hutcheson with a game-high 23 while Stainbrook added 12.

Hutcheson staked Western to a quick 5-0 lead to start the game on a three from the top of the arc and a two-point bucket.

The Broncos would build on that lead and go up seven, 12-5, at the 13:59 mark before the Eagles began to cut into that deficit, pulling within one, 19-18 with 5:39 left in the half on an Anthony Strickland (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Dearborn Heights Robichaud) layup.

Darrell Lampley (Linden, N.J.-Linden-Lakeland C.C.) made both ends of a free throw to make it 24-22 but Western would close out the half on a dunk by Shayne Whittington to give the visitors a 26-22 lead.

Hutcheson would torch the nets for 15 first-half points as WMU was shooting 42.9 percent from the floor, making 9-of-21. Meanwhile, Eastern was making just 30.8 percent of its shot, connecting on just 8-of-26 with Lampley leading the way with seven. Western held a 17-13 edge on the boards in the first half.

The two teams traded buckets out of halftime, with Flenard Whitefield hitting for Western and De'Shonte Riley (Detroit, Mich.-Country Day-Syracuse) scoring on a monster dunk to cut the visitor's lead to four, 28-24 at the 19:25 mark.

Western would then go on a mini-run, taking a nine-point lead, 35-26, with 15:25 left on a layup by Whitfield.

After two long three by Dailey cut the Broncos' lead to three, 35-32, Riley would hit two big free throws with 9:15 left to make it a two-point game, 37-35.

The teams continued to trade buckets over the next few minutes before Sims came up with a steal, followed by a layup and a foul shot on the play to cut the deficit to one, 46-45, with 3:12 left.

Sims would come up with a huge three with 57.9 seconds left to tie the game at 50-all, setting up the overtime session,.

The Eagles will stay at home in MAC West Division play Saturday, Jan. 21, when they host the University of Toledo in a 2 p.m. game in the Convocation Center.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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