EMU Comeback Falls Short, 59-57

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team dropped its first home contest of the season, falling to the Oakland Golden Grizzles, 59-57. Oakland's quick ball movement and a first half deficit were too much for the Eagles to overcome despite late game heroics.

Jalen Ross (Greensboro, N.C.-Greensboro Day) scored a career-high 17 points shooting 6-of-13, while Jamell Harris (Euclid, Ohio-Euclid) led Eastern's defensive effort with two blocks, two steals, and six rebounds.

Oakland's Travis Bader led all scorers with 21 points; shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from the line and nailing five triple tries.

Eastern (6-5) shot 19-of-47 (40.4 percent) for the game, while Oakland (5-8) went 17-of-54 (31.5 percent).

Oakland opened the scoring with a three from Ryan Bass. The Grizzles took an early 8-2 lead assisted by two quick turnovers by Eastern.

Junior Da'Shonte Riley (Detroit, Mich. -Detroit Country Day) worked the glass impressively for the Eagles, tallying five rebounds in the opening 10 minutes of play and eight total on the day.

Tough defense by Harris and seven first-half points from the hot hand of Ross kept the Eagles in the contest.

Glenn Bryant's (Detroit, Mich.-Oak Hill Academy) huge dunk energized the entire Convocation Center and brought the Eagles back to within a two score game. Bryant then closed the half for Eastern with a long three. However, the Grizzles countered with a 4-0 run to extend their lead to 29-21.

The Eagles shot 9-of-23 (39.1 percent) from the field in the first half scoring eight in the paint. The Grizzlies, who looked committed to taking three points shots, went 8-of-26 (30.8 percent) from the field and specifically 4-of-12 (33.3 percent) from downtown.

Oakland opened the second half on a 6-0 run before Derek Thompson (Detroit, Mich.-Melvindale) responded with a floater in the lane opening an 8-0 run for the Eagles.

Midway through the half, Oakland scoring threat Bader hit back-to-back threes before EMU Head Coach Rob Murphy called a timeout to refocus his squad. The timeout worked, as Ross answered with a quick three of his own immediately following the break.

Four hard-earned points and solid defensive play from junior Daylen Harrison (Akron, Ohio-St. Vincent-St. Mary) powered an 11-4 Eastern run that cut Oakland's lead to 49-40 with eight minutes remaining in the game.

A late six-point surge by Thompson pulled Eastern to within two, which opened the door for Ross to tie the game up with two made free throws and a go-ahead layup by Matt Balkema (Roseville, Mich.-Cousino). Balkema's first points of the game gave Eastern their first lead of the afternoon.

After Oakland retook the lead, smart defensive play earned redshirt junior J.R. Sims (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Snider) free throws and the opportunity to take the lead or send it to overtime. He converted 1-of-2 to tie the game.

Oakland's Bass, who scored the opening points of the contest, drained a mid-range jumper to take the lead with only five seconds remaining. The Eagles were unable to score on their final possession and in turn failed to defend home court for the first time this season.

The Eagles will be back in action inside the Convocation Center, Dec. 28, to take on Siena Heights with tipoff scheduled for 4 p.m.

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Team Stats

Jalen Ross

Derek Thompson

Daylen Harrison

Jamell Harris

Eastern Michigan Athletics