Eagles' Defense Leads the Way in 42-25 Win Over NIU

Photo Gallery

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team turned in a record-breaking defensive performance, defeating the Northern Illinois Huskies, 42-25, Saturday afternoon, Jan. 26, in the Convocation Center.

For the Eagles (10-10; 3-3 MAC), the game stood as the first time since Dec. 7, 2004 that the team held an opponent to less than 30 points. That feat occurred against Rochester College, 89-29. The 25 points given up were also the lowest points EMU has allowed since Jan. 21, 1943, when Eastern defeated Hillsdale College, 61-21.

It was a dubious day for the Huskies (4-14; 2-4 MAC), who registered just one field goal and a pair of free throws in the opening half for a total of four points. That four-point output broke their own record-low of five first-half points from Dec. 1, 2012. It also tied the 2008 Savannah State Tigers for the fewest points scored in any half during the modern era. The one NIU basket also tied the NCAA record with Savannah State for fewest field goals made in one half.

NIU shot 1-of-31 in the first half for a 3.2 percent conversion rate. That mark broke the record previously held by Savannah State, who went 1-of-23 en route to their four-point second half, Jan. 7, 2008. The Huskies started 1-of-2, but went on to miss their next 36 shots over 24:33 of play before making a basket with 14:27 remaining in the game.

Deveon Balls scored seven of the Huskies' 25 points to lead his team. The Eagles forced NIU to shoot 8-of-61 from the field including 1-of-33 from beyond the arc for a 13.1 shooting percentage making it the lowest field goal percentage in NCAA history since the beginning of the shot clock era in 1986.

The previous record occurred, Dec. 29, 2001, when Miami University shot 13.3 percent from the floor, making 8-of-60 shots against Dayton.

The Eagles were led in scoring by redshirt junior Glenn Bryant (Detroit, Mich.-Oak Hill Academy) with 10 points, the only player in double digits for either team. EMU shot 13-of-35 from the field for a 37.1 shooting percentage. At the charity stripe, the Eagles converted 75.0 percent of its attempts, going 12-16.

Eastern Michigan started the game hitting three of its first five shots compared to a 1-of-10 effort for NIU. Da'Shote Riley (Detroit, Mich.-Detroit Country Day) was a major contributor to NIU's early offensive struggles, denying three of the Huskies' opening 10 shots. A Jalen Ross (Greensboro, N.C. – Greensboro Day) trey at the 14:24 mark gave the Eagles an early 8-2 advantage.

The blocks and defensive stops kept coming for the Green and White as Bryant turned away NIU shots on consecutive possessions. At the other end of the court, Bryant was fouled on a dunk attempt and filled the resulting free throws to make it a 12-2 score with 10:45 to play.

After scoring the game's first basket one minute in, the Huskies did not strike again until a Mike Davis free throw fell through at 8:47. The scoreless drought spanned 10:13 and snapped a 12-0 EMU run.

The situation did not get much better for the Huskies, who fired shot after shot with no results except for a single free throw. Eastern Michigan's defense smothered NIU to the tune of 30 consecutive missed shots overall and 0-of-17 from behind the arc. The Huskies went into the locker room 1-of-31 (3.2 percent) from the field. The Eagles' 18-4 lead at the half marked the fewest combined points in a half since North Carolina Central (13) and Savannah State (5) combined for 18 in the first half a game on Jan. 20, 2010.

EMU needed little help from its offense in the first half but got just enough when called upon. Anthony Strickland (Ypsilanti, Mich. – D.H. Robichaud) and Bryant each chimed in with slams during the final five minutes to increase the lead to 14, 18-4. The Eagles completed 20 minutes of play shooting 6-of-13 (46.2 percent) from the floor, 1-of-5 (20 percent) from long distance and 5-of-7 (71.4 percent) from the charity stripe.

Riley gave the Huskies a rude awakening on their first shot of the second half when he denied Abdel Nader for his fifth block of the afternoon. Bryant then cashed in on his first shot of the second stanza and put EMU further ahead, 20-4.

Keith Gray ended NIU's streak of 24:32 without a made field goal when he made a move under the basket and underhanded a layup in with 14:27 remaining in the game. EMU still held a 23-7 lead at that point.

With NIU enjoying a mini 6-2 run, J.R. Sims (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Snider) answered with a three-pointer from the left corner. A midrange jumper by senior Matt Balkema (Roseville, Mich.-Warren Cousino) at 7:06 expanded the Green and White's margin to 17, 30-13.

A defensive-minded Eagles' squad lived up to its reputation over the final seven minutes of play, limiting the Huskies to mostly outside shots. Balls registered NIU's first long ball of the game on the team's 33rd attempt with 2:05 to go.

The Eagles begin a two-game road swing against MAC East Division foe Ohio University Wednesday, Jan. 30, in Athens, Ohio. Tipoff against the Bobcats is slated for 7 p.m.

Next Event

Team Stats

Glenn Bryant

Daylen Harrison

Derek Thompson

Anthony Strickland

Eastern Michigan Athletics