Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 5
Amherst, Mass.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
7-7
61
at
75
Massachusetts
10-3
1
2
F
Eastern Michigan
25
36
61
Massachusetts
38
37
75
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagles Complete Non-Conference Slate with 75-61 Setback at UMass
1/5/2013 4:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EMU opens MAC action with Ball State Wednesday, Jan. 9
AMHERST, Mass. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team wrapped up its non-conference slate with a 75-61 setback on the road against the University of Massachusetts Saturday afternoon, Jan. 5. The Eagles head into Mid-American Conference play with a 7-7 record.
Trailing by 13 at the half, the Green and White started the second stanza 6-of-6 from the floor and pulled back to within four. But the Minutemen (10-3) were able to keep pace and preserve their lead with 11 three-pointers on the afternoon.
Redshirt junior J.R. Sims (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Snider) came within a point of his personal-best with 12 and was one-of-three EMU players to reach double figures. Redshirt junior Glenn Bryant (Detroit, Mich.-Oak Hill Academy) turned in his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 boards. Despite early foul trouble, senior Jamell Harris (Euclid, Ohio-Euclid) recorded 10 points for EMU.
As a team, the Eagles went 23-of-53 (43.4 percent) from the field which included a 6-of-15 (40 percent) showing from beyond the arc. EMU edged the Minutemen on the glass, 35-30, but committed 20 turnovers which led to 28 UMass points.
UMass had four players score 10-or-more points including Freddie Riley, who threw down 18 on 6-of-9 shooting from three-point range. Chaz Williams (14 points), Maxie Esho (13 points) and Jesse Morgan (11 points) were the other Minutemen to reach double digits. The Minutemen finished the game shooting 26-of-58 (44.8 percent) overall and 11-of-25 (44 percent) from long range.
Sloppy ball handling was the story early on for the Eagles, who fell behind, 8-2, while surrendering six turnovers. But a Bryant block led to a dunk in transition by junior Da'Shonte Riley (Detroit, Mich.-Detroit Country Day), which was followed by a Jalen Ross (Greensboro, N.C.-Greensboro Day) three-pointer. That cut the deficit to one, 8-7, with 14:14 to play.
Senior Derek Thompson (Detroit, Mich.-Melvindale) gave the Green and White its first lead of the afternoon, 11-10, when he struck from downtown off a feed from Ross. That advantage did not last, however, as UMass connected on seven of its first 13 tries from beyond the arc including five from Riley to take a 27-15 edge with seven minutes left.
After breaking a 13-13 tie earlier in the half, UMass closed the first period outscoring EMU, 25-10, for a 13-point advantage, 38-25. Bryant's seven points led the way for the Eagles, who went 8-of-25 (32 percent) from the floor and 2-of-4 (50 percent) from three-point land.
Of the Minutemen's 31 first-half shots, 17 came from behind the three-point line and nine hit paydirt for a 52.9 percent clip. UMass was 12-of-31 (38.7 percent) shooting and was paced by Riley's 15 points.
EMU's converted on each of its first six shots to begin the second half and made it a four-point contest, 44-40, less than five minutes in. Redshirt junior Daylen Harrison (Akron, Ohio-St. Vincent St. Mary) made it a six-point affair, 42-36, when he filled a jumper and Bryant benefited from a favorable bounce off the rim at 15:33 to bring the Eagles to within four.
The Minutemen responded with a 10-0 run and opened up a 14-point spread. Harrison snapped that run with a bucket, but Riley scored his first three-ball of the half on the ensuing possession at 12:04 to put UMass on top, 57-42.
Despite continued efficiency on the offensive side of the ball, the Eagles failed to cut into their deficit, which remained 15 points, 63-48, with 7:33 left. At that point, EMU was converting at a better-than 50-percent pace (9-of-17), but UMass was 11-of-18 (61.1 percent).
Thompson hit a three-pointer with 22 seconds remaining to put EMU over the 60-point plateau, but it would not be enough as the Eagles fell for a sixth-consecutive game on the road.
The 2012-13 MAC season gets underway Wednesday, Jan. 9, when the Eagles begin defending their West Division crown against Ball State University inside the Convocation Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Trailing by 13 at the half, the Green and White started the second stanza 6-of-6 from the floor and pulled back to within four. But the Minutemen (10-3) were able to keep pace and preserve their lead with 11 three-pointers on the afternoon.
Redshirt junior J.R. Sims (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Snider) came within a point of his personal-best with 12 and was one-of-three EMU players to reach double figures. Redshirt junior Glenn Bryant (Detroit, Mich.-Oak Hill Academy) turned in his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 boards. Despite early foul trouble, senior Jamell Harris (Euclid, Ohio-Euclid) recorded 10 points for EMU.
As a team, the Eagles went 23-of-53 (43.4 percent) from the field which included a 6-of-15 (40 percent) showing from beyond the arc. EMU edged the Minutemen on the glass, 35-30, but committed 20 turnovers which led to 28 UMass points.
UMass had four players score 10-or-more points including Freddie Riley, who threw down 18 on 6-of-9 shooting from three-point range. Chaz Williams (14 points), Maxie Esho (13 points) and Jesse Morgan (11 points) were the other Minutemen to reach double digits. The Minutemen finished the game shooting 26-of-58 (44.8 percent) overall and 11-of-25 (44 percent) from long range.
Sloppy ball handling was the story early on for the Eagles, who fell behind, 8-2, while surrendering six turnovers. But a Bryant block led to a dunk in transition by junior Da'Shonte Riley (Detroit, Mich.-Detroit Country Day), which was followed by a Jalen Ross (Greensboro, N.C.-Greensboro Day) three-pointer. That cut the deficit to one, 8-7, with 14:14 to play.
Senior Derek Thompson (Detroit, Mich.-Melvindale) gave the Green and White its first lead of the afternoon, 11-10, when he struck from downtown off a feed from Ross. That advantage did not last, however, as UMass connected on seven of its first 13 tries from beyond the arc including five from Riley to take a 27-15 edge with seven minutes left.
After breaking a 13-13 tie earlier in the half, UMass closed the first period outscoring EMU, 25-10, for a 13-point advantage, 38-25. Bryant's seven points led the way for the Eagles, who went 8-of-25 (32 percent) from the floor and 2-of-4 (50 percent) from three-point land.
Of the Minutemen's 31 first-half shots, 17 came from behind the three-point line and nine hit paydirt for a 52.9 percent clip. UMass was 12-of-31 (38.7 percent) shooting and was paced by Riley's 15 points.
EMU's converted on each of its first six shots to begin the second half and made it a four-point contest, 44-40, less than five minutes in. Redshirt junior Daylen Harrison (Akron, Ohio-St. Vincent St. Mary) made it a six-point affair, 42-36, when he filled a jumper and Bryant benefited from a favorable bounce off the rim at 15:33 to bring the Eagles to within four.
The Minutemen responded with a 10-0 run and opened up a 14-point spread. Harrison snapped that run with a bucket, but Riley scored his first three-ball of the half on the ensuing possession at 12:04 to put UMass on top, 57-42.
Despite continued efficiency on the offensive side of the ball, the Eagles failed to cut into their deficit, which remained 15 points, 63-48, with 7:33 left. At that point, EMU was converting at a better-than 50-percent pace (9-of-17), but UMass was 11-of-18 (61.1 percent).
Thompson hit a three-pointer with 22 seconds remaining to put EMU over the 60-point plateau, but it would not be enough as the Eagles fell for a sixth-consecutive game on the road.
The 2012-13 MAC season gets underway Wednesday, Jan. 9, when the Eagles begin defending their West Division crown against Ball State University inside the Convocation Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Team Stats
EMU
UMASS
FG%
.434
.448
3FG%
.400
.440
FT%
.692
.667
RB
35
30
TO
20
13
STL
7
12
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
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