EMU Falls at Toledo in Last Regular-Season Game

TOLEDO, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — A offensive-minded University of Toledo team spoiled the regular-season finale for the Eastern Michigan University as the host squad posted a 76-51 win over the Eagles here Saturday, March 3, in a Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball West Division game played in Savage Arena.

The Rockets connected on 24-of-52 field-goal attempts for 46.2 percent, made 19-of-26 free throws for 73.1 percent and won the battle of the boards, 41-37, on the way to the victory.

The Eagles, meanwhile, shot just 31.3 percent from the field, hitting 20-of-64 attempts and just 3-of-20 three-point attempts for 15.0 percent.

The game was the final 2011-12 regular-season game for both teams and leaves the Eagles with a 14-17 overall record and a 9-7 MAC mark. Eastern had already won the MAC West Division title entering the game and with a 9-6 league record, the Eagles will get the No. 5 seed in the upcoming FirstEnergy Tournament if Bowling Green loses at Buffalo later today, and the No. 6 seed if Bowling Green beats Buffalo. The Eagles will host a first-round game Monday, March 5, in the Convocation Center at 7 p.m.

Senior guard Darrell Lampley (Linden, N.J.-Linden-Lakeland C.C.) led the Eagles with 13 points while senior guard Antonio Green (Inkster, Mich.-Dearborn Heights Robichaud) added nine and junior Derek Thompson (Detroit, Mich.-Melvindale-SEMO) chipped in eight. Junior forward Jamell Harris (Euclid, Ohio-Euclid) scored seven points with nine rebounds.

Toledo, now 16-15 overall and 7-9 in MAC play, was led by sophomore guard Rian Pearson with 27 points and 11 rebounds. Curtis Dennis tallied 21 and Dominique Buckley chipped in 11 points.

The two teams traded baskets in the early going, with Thompson tying the game at 12-all with 14:45 showing on the first-half clock.

Toledo broke that tie with a string of 9-0 mini-run to go on top, 21-12, before redshirt sophomore J.R. Sims (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Snider) hit the second of two free throws to finally break the Rocket run.

The Rockets boosted their lead to nine, 25-16, but the Eagles responded with six unanswered points, the last on a three from Green, to cut the deficit to three, 25-22, with 5:28 left.

Toledo's offense came back to take a 10-point lead, 35-25, at the half.

Pierson was too much to handle for the Eagles in the first 20 minutes as the 6-foot-4 sophomore tallied 17 points whle Dennis Curtis added 10.

Toledo was hot in the first half, making 15-of-30 field goals for 50 percent while holding the Eagles to 38.5 percent on 10-of-26 attempts. The Rockets also had a big edge on the boards, 21-14. Lampley paced the Eagles with nine points in the first 20 minutes.

The home team came out of the intermission on fire, racing to a 42-27 lead, the last two on a wide-open dunk by Pierson with 17:32 left.

Toledo would boost its lead to 17, 51-35, with 12:14 left on two free throws by Dennis and the Rockets would gradually increase its led to 25, 73-48, with 2:47 left in the game and cruised to the 24-point win.

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Team Stats

Darrell Lampley

Antonio Green

Derek Thompson

Jamell Harris

Eastern Michigan Athletics