Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 23
Convocation Center
Noon
Eastern Michigan University
12-15, 5-7MAC
54
vs
57
Missouri State
9-20, 6-10MVC
1
2
F
Missouri State
21
36
57
Eastern Michigan
29
25
54
harper
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Men's Hoops Drops BracketBuster Tilt to Missouri State, 57-54
2/23/2013 5:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Eagles surrender second-half lead in final non-conference game of season
Postgame Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Despite holding the lead for 35 minutes and showcasing a diversified offense, Eastern Michigan University's men's basketball team fell to Missouri State University, 57-54, in the 2013 Ramada BracketBuster game Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Convocation Center.
The Eagles (12-15; 5-7 MAC) shot 20-of-44 (40.9 percent) and outrebounded the visiting Bears (9-20; 6-10 MVC), 32-29. Derek Thompson (Detroit, Mich.-Melvindale (Southeast Missouri State)) led all scorers with 19 points and Austin Harper (Grand Haven, Mich. –Grand Haven) demonstrated his skills as a playmaker, dishing out six assists in 29 minutes played.
Missouri State shot 18-of-44 (40.9 percent) and was led by Anthony Downing who scored 16. The Eagles committed 25 personal fouls, giving the Bears 30 attempts from the free-throw line where they made 16-of-30 (53.3 percent).
EMU is now 0-2 all time when facing MSU. The Eagles were 9-1 this season when leading at halftime going into today's game and held a 29-21 lead at the break.
The Bears were on the scoreboard first, scoring an easy layup off a back door cut by Marcus Marshall. Thompson opened the scoring for the Green and White, nailing a three with a hand in his face. During the Eagles' next possession, Da'Shonte Riley (Detroit, Mich. –Detroit Country Day) brought the crowd at the Convo to its feet, when he rolled into the lane and finished at the rim with authority. After J.R. Sims (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Snider) and Thompson each contributed a three, the Eagles had built an early four-point lead.
Halfway through the first stanza, the Eagles had pushed their lead to 10 following a Glenn Bryant (Detroit, Mich.-Oak Hill Academy (Arkansas)) turnaround jumper from the high post and five hard earned-points from point Harper.
Coach Rob Murphy's defensive scheme stifled the Bears' offense, holding MSU scoreless for five minutes until Dorrian Williams converted on a free throw to end a six-possession drought.
With five minutes remaining in the opening half, MSU answered the with an 8-o run of its own, led by Downing, to cut Eastern's lead to five. Sims answered the bell for the Eagles, hitting a three to stop the bleeding and end the half. The Eagles went into the break leading, 29-21.
The Eagles shot 10-of-24 (41.7 percent) in the first half, compared to 6-of-21 (28.6 percent) by Missouri State. The Eagles found the range in the first half, completing 6-of-9 from beyond the arc, including three timely makes by Sims. The junior shooter led all scorers in the opening half.
Missouri State's Christian Kirk got the scoring underway in the second half with four straight points in the paint. Thompson scored the first second half points for the Eagles, losing his man with a pump fake then draining an open midrange jumper. Thompson followed that up with a four-point play, making the trey, drawing the foul, and then the ensuing free-throw.
With 12:20 remaining in the contest, Harper found an open Jamell Harris (Euclid, Ohio-Euclid) down low. The senior forward then proceeded to hammer the dunk home. That played sparked a 6-0 run for the Eagles to push their lead back to nine.
Four minutes later, Harris again emphatically dunked, this time over a pair of Bear defenders. Harris still had the energy to hurry back on Missouri State's next possession where he denied Kirk's dunk, meeting him at the rim.
MSU's Nathan Scheer converted a three from the corner with 4:30 remaining to spark a 14-0 run for the Bears. This cut the Eagles' lead to only one point, their smallest since the opening minutes. With 2:34 left in the game, Dorrian Williams hit on a floater in the lane to seize Missouri State's first lead of the afternoon. The Bears then stretched their lead to six.
With only 39 seconds still on the clock, Thompson rose up for a successful three pointer to bring the Eagles back to within one score. EMU then resorted to putting the Bears on the line to save the clock. MSU's Downing made both shots to build the Bears' lead back to five. Senior Center Matt Balkema (Roseville, Mich.-Cousino) scored his first points of the game with five ticks left to give the Eagles one more chance.
On the ensuing inbound the referee called a double technical putting both teams on the charity stripe. Marshall making both of his for the Bears and Sims making both of his for the Eagles, the clock and deficit for the Eagles to overcome remained the same. Unfortunately, Thomas had fouled out for the final possession.
Despite a gutsy performance down the stretch, the game came down to a desperation full court shot that was unsuccessful for the Eagles.
Eastern Michigan returns to the hardwood Wednesday, Feb. 27, against Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Despite holding the lead for 35 minutes and showcasing a diversified offense, Eastern Michigan University's men's basketball team fell to Missouri State University, 57-54, in the 2013 Ramada BracketBuster game Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Convocation Center.
The Eagles (12-15; 5-7 MAC) shot 20-of-44 (40.9 percent) and outrebounded the visiting Bears (9-20; 6-10 MVC), 32-29. Derek Thompson (Detroit, Mich.-Melvindale (Southeast Missouri State)) led all scorers with 19 points and Austin Harper (Grand Haven, Mich. –Grand Haven) demonstrated his skills as a playmaker, dishing out six assists in 29 minutes played.
Missouri State shot 18-of-44 (40.9 percent) and was led by Anthony Downing who scored 16. The Eagles committed 25 personal fouls, giving the Bears 30 attempts from the free-throw line where they made 16-of-30 (53.3 percent).
EMU is now 0-2 all time when facing MSU. The Eagles were 9-1 this season when leading at halftime going into today's game and held a 29-21 lead at the break.
The Bears were on the scoreboard first, scoring an easy layup off a back door cut by Marcus Marshall. Thompson opened the scoring for the Green and White, nailing a three with a hand in his face. During the Eagles' next possession, Da'Shonte Riley (Detroit, Mich. –Detroit Country Day) brought the crowd at the Convo to its feet, when he rolled into the lane and finished at the rim with authority. After J.R. Sims (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Snider) and Thompson each contributed a three, the Eagles had built an early four-point lead.
Halfway through the first stanza, the Eagles had pushed their lead to 10 following a Glenn Bryant (Detroit, Mich.-Oak Hill Academy (Arkansas)) turnaround jumper from the high post and five hard earned-points from point Harper.
Coach Rob Murphy's defensive scheme stifled the Bears' offense, holding MSU scoreless for five minutes until Dorrian Williams converted on a free throw to end a six-possession drought.
With five minutes remaining in the opening half, MSU answered the with an 8-o run of its own, led by Downing, to cut Eastern's lead to five. Sims answered the bell for the Eagles, hitting a three to stop the bleeding and end the half. The Eagles went into the break leading, 29-21.
The Eagles shot 10-of-24 (41.7 percent) in the first half, compared to 6-of-21 (28.6 percent) by Missouri State. The Eagles found the range in the first half, completing 6-of-9 from beyond the arc, including three timely makes by Sims. The junior shooter led all scorers in the opening half.
Missouri State's Christian Kirk got the scoring underway in the second half with four straight points in the paint. Thompson scored the first second half points for the Eagles, losing his man with a pump fake then draining an open midrange jumper. Thompson followed that up with a four-point play, making the trey, drawing the foul, and then the ensuing free-throw.
With 12:20 remaining in the contest, Harper found an open Jamell Harris (Euclid, Ohio-Euclid) down low. The senior forward then proceeded to hammer the dunk home. That played sparked a 6-0 run for the Eagles to push their lead back to nine.
Four minutes later, Harris again emphatically dunked, this time over a pair of Bear defenders. Harris still had the energy to hurry back on Missouri State's next possession where he denied Kirk's dunk, meeting him at the rim.
MSU's Nathan Scheer converted a three from the corner with 4:30 remaining to spark a 14-0 run for the Bears. This cut the Eagles' lead to only one point, their smallest since the opening minutes. With 2:34 left in the game, Dorrian Williams hit on a floater in the lane to seize Missouri State's first lead of the afternoon. The Bears then stretched their lead to six.
With only 39 seconds still on the clock, Thompson rose up for a successful three pointer to bring the Eagles back to within one score. EMU then resorted to putting the Bears on the line to save the clock. MSU's Downing made both shots to build the Bears' lead back to five. Senior Center Matt Balkema (Roseville, Mich.-Cousino) scored his first points of the game with five ticks left to give the Eagles one more chance.
On the ensuing inbound the referee called a double technical putting both teams on the charity stripe. Marshall making both of his for the Bears and Sims making both of his for the Eagles, the clock and deficit for the Eagles to overcome remained the same. Unfortunately, Thomas had fouled out for the final possession.
Despite a gutsy performance down the stretch, the game came down to a desperation full court shot that was unsuccessful for the Eagles.
Eastern Michigan returns to the hardwood Wednesday, Feb. 27, against Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Team Stats
MSU
EMU
FG%
.409
.455
3FG%
.238
.500
FT%
.533
.545
RB
29
32
TO
10
16
STL
10
5
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
2025-26 Field of 68 Men's Basketball Preview: Eastern Michigan Eagles
Tuesday, October 21
Men's Basketball Alumni Game All Call
Tuesday, October 21
2025 E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
Saturday, October 11
E-Club Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Cinematic Recap
Saturday, October 11