Men's Hoops Downs Longwood, 79-48, to Take Title at EMU Showcase

Game Highlights

Photo Gallery

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team captured the title at the 2014 EMU Showcase, capping an unbeaten weekend with a 79-48 victory over Longwood University Sunday, Nov. 23, inside the Convocation Center. After winning the first ever matchup between the schools, the Eagles improved to 5-0, while the Lancers slipped to 2-3. It is the second consecutive season that the Green and White has started the season with five-straight victories.

Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) was honored as the tournament's Most Valuable Player, leading the Eagles over the three-day period with 55 points, going a remarkable 20-of-33 from the floor while draining eight shots for 57.1 percent from beyond the arc. Lee, who started all three games for the Eagles, showed his discipline on defense by committing just two fouls in 79 minutes, both of which came in the tournament opener Friday, Nov. 21, against Youngstown State. In addition Karrington Ward (Lockport, Ill.-Lockport Township (Moraine Valley C.C.)) was named to the all-tournament team. Lotanna Nwogbo of Longwood, Marcus Keene of Youngstown State and R.J. White from UNC Greensboro rounded out the EMU Showcase All-Tournament team.

The Green and White shared the wealth on offense against the Lancers as four players posted double-digit scoring affairs. Lee co-led the Eagles with 14 points, while Anali Okoloji (Brooklyn, N.Y.-Impact Academy (George Mason)) matched his tally and registered six boards, five steals, and three assists. Additionally, his five swipes mark the first time since Jan. 14 that an Eagle has recorded five steals, the last time being Daylen Harrison's five grabs against Western Michigan. Rounding out the top scorers were Mike Talley (Detroit, Mich.-Melvindale ABT (Duquesne)) with 13 points and Jodan Price (Indianapolis, Ind.-Detroit Country Day (DePaul)) with 10 points bolstered by a career-high three makes from three-point land. Leading the team in assists was Ethan Alvano (Corona, Calif.-Corona) with a career-best seven, while Mike Samuels (Bushkill, Pa.-East Stroudsberg North (Indiana State)) matched Okoloji's rebounding mark of six for a career-high.

The Eagles had their best offensive performance of the weekend, shooting 51.9 percent after going 27-of-52 from the floor, including a season-high nine three-pointers. The Lancers, on the other hand, had their worst offensive performance of the weekend, shooting a lackluster 32.7 percent from the floor, including hitting just nine shots out of 25 attempts in the second half. The Green and White swiped the ball 17 times, which ties for the fifth-most steals in a single contest since the statistic started being recorded in the 1998-99 season. Eastern forced Longwood into a total of 24 turnovers, while the Eagles surrendered just 12.

Nwogbo paced the Lancers with 14 points, converting all four opportunities from the charity stripe. Nwogbo also contributed six rebounds and a team-high two blocks. Ryan Badowski scored 12 points, including three of the team's six three-point baskets. Badowski added four rebounds and was one of seven Lancers to register a steal. Victor Dorsey led the Lancers with eight rebounds.

Longwood would draw first blood, grabbing a 4-0 lead inside the opening two minutes. However, this would prove to be the Lancers' largest lead of the afternoon. The Eagles, who had to wait until the 2:15 mark for their first field goal, took their first lead after Karrington Ward (Lockport, Ill.-Lockport Township (Moraine CC)) knocked down a three-pointer with 16:25 remaining. EMU went on a 13-4 run, taking a 13-8 lead into the first media timeout. After cutting the deficit to 16-13 on a Shaquille Johnshon three-pointer with 11:35 remaining, the Lancer offense had to wait nearly five minutes until their next field goal. In the meantime, the Eagles went on an 11-0 run to take a 27-13 lead with 7:04 remaining. The Eagles, who led by as many as 16 in the first half, took a 38-24 lead into the intermission.

Three Eagles reached double-digits in the first half. Okoloji co-led the Eagles with 11 points and added a team-high five steals, while Lee recorded 11 points and added two steals. Talley contributed 10 points and four assists in the opening 20 minutes of play. Samuels grabbed five rebounds, including two of three Eagles' offensive rebounds. The Eagles shot an impressive 53.8 percent from the floor, while converting five three-point tries. EMU also took full advantage of 15 Lancer turnovers, scoring 16 points following a Longwood miscue.

The Eagles got off to a hot start offensively in the second half, scoring the first six points of the second half to take a 44-24 lead with 18:29 remaining, forcing a Lancer timeout. EMU would score eight more points, capping a 16-0 run within just under five minutes of play, dating back to a Talley layup with 16 seconds remaining in the first half. The Lancers' offensive drought ended just after the 15-minute mark, when Quincy Taylor made a layup to cut the deficit to 52-26.

With the game in hand, the Green and White began to empty its bench by the midway point of the second half. In total, every eligible Eagle played at least seven minutes, and 11 Eagles earned spots on the scoresheet.

Price made the most of his 20 minutes off the bench, scoring 10 points, including a team-best three triples. Redshirt-freshman Trent Perry (Franklin, Tenn.-Independence) scored his first points as an Eagle on a three-pointer, giving the Eagles a 64-36 lead with 8:30 remaining. Jerome Hunter (Buffalo, N.Y.-Queen City Prep (Alabama A&M)) contributed a one-handed dunk to give the Eagles a 70-45 lead inside the final three minutes. After an intentional foul by Kanayo Obi-Rapu on a fast break with 31 seconds, Alvano could only hit the first of the two ensuing free throws, but an offensive team rebound on the second shot allowed the Eagles to run out the clock en route to a convincing 79-48 victory, ensuring that the EMU Showcase trophy would fall into the hands of Head Coach Rob Murphy's squad.

The Green and White look for its hottest start since the 1996-97 campaign when the Eagles welcome Rochester College to the Convocation Center Wednesday, Nov. 26. Tipoff with the Warriors is slated to begin at Noon.

Men's Hoops Downs Longwood, 79-48, to Take Title at EMU Showcase

Next Event

Team Stats

Ray Lee

Anali Okoloji

Mike Talley

Jodan Price

Players Mentioned

Ethan Alvano

Daylen Harrison

Jerome Hunter

Ray Lee

Anali Okoloji

Trent Perry

Jodan Price

Mike Samuels

Mike Talley

Karrington Ward

Players Mentioned

Ethan Alvano

Daylen Harrison

Jerome Hunter

Ray Lee

Anali Okoloji

Trent Perry

Jodan Price

Mike Samuels

Mike Talley

Karrington Ward

Eastern Michigan Athletics