Men’s Hoops Opens Season With 66-52 Win

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team officially kicked off the 2012-13 college basketball season and the EMU “Ice Man” Classic with a 66-52 victory over Rochester College Friday, Nov. 9, inside the friendly confines of the Convocation Center. Prior to the contest, the 2011-12 EMU men's basketball team received their championship rings and raised a banner for capturing the MAC West Division crown one year ago.

Three Eagles reached double digits as senior Derek Thompson (Detroit, Mich. - Melvindale) led the way with 14 points followed by 12 points each from redshirt junior Daylen Harrison (Akron, Ohio - St. Vincent St. Mary) and true freshman Ray Lee (Detroit, Mich. - Romulus). Rochester's Maynard led all scorers with 27 points.

EMU's bench proved to be a huge factor throughout the contest outscoring the opponent 35-2. The Green and White shot 49.0 percent from the floor while the Warriors shot 40.4 percent during the game. The Eagles also dominated the boards grabbing 39 rebounds compared to Rochester's 22, leading to 14 second chance points.

With the victory, Eastern moves to 1-0 on the season, and Rochester drops to 5-2.

EMU never allowed Rochester to lead in the contest. Both teams had to gather themselves as the game started out slow, but Harrison began the scoring, converting on three free-throws after getting fouled shooting from beyond the arc. That sparked a 9-3 Eagles run to begin the game into the first media timeout. The Eagles did not let off the gas as Head Coach Rob Murphy's 2-3 zone defense along with back-to-back three-balls and a Glenn Bryant (Detroit, Mich. - Oak Hill Academy) dunk gave EMU a 19-5 lead.

After being held scoreless for six minutes, Rochester responded, finding holes in the EMU zone prompting a 7-0 run for the Warriors to cut the Eagle's lead in half. Thompson ended the 12-0 Rochester run with a three-pointer as the senior scored 11-of-17 first half bench points. However, Rochester senior Drew Maynard kept his team in the game by scoring half (14) of his team's points as EMU went into the locker room with a 31-28 halftime lead.

The Eagles and Warriors went back-and-forth to start the second half. A Matt Balkema (Roseville, Mich. - Warren Cousino) put-back sparked a 7-0 EMU run as the Eagles built a 51-37 lead midway through the second half.

Rochester would not go away though, as Stavros Schizaas' three got the Warriors back within single digits at 52-44 with 7:10 remaining in the game. One minute later, the Green and White were able to get into the double-bonus taking advantage of Rochester's foul trouble and going on an 11-0 run to put the game away.

The Eagles will be in action Sunday, Nov. 11, as they travel to Jacksonville State for the first road contest of the season with tipoff scheduled for 2 p.m.

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Team Stats

Derek Thompson

Daylen Harrison

Ray Lee

Matt Balkema

Eastern Michigan Athletics