Men's Hoops Sweeps Homestand with 83-52 Win Over Marygrove

Photo Gallery

Video Highlights

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team extended its home winning streak to 15 games Monday evening, Dec. 1, with an 83-52 victory over Marygrove College. Redshirt junior Mike Samuels (Bushkill, Pa.-East Stroudburg North (Indiana St.)) posted his first-career double-double, and all 12 EMU players registered at least two points.

Eastern Michigan kept its unblemished record intact, improving to 7-0 and earning its best start to a season since the 1995-96 campaign. All seven wins have come at the Convocation Center as the Eagles completed their season-opening homestand.

The win also the team's first since being ranked No. 20 in Collegeinsider.com's Mid-Major Poll. It is Eastern's second time appearing in the poll and highest ranking overall. A 31-point margin of victory marked the third-straight game in which the Eagles bested an opponent by at least 30 points.

Head Coach Rob Murphy's squad took control of the game early with plenty of speed and contributions on both ends of the ball from the entire roster. The Eagles' notoriously stingy defense overpowered Marygrove's offense to the tune of nine blocks and 21 turnovers. Dominant on the boards, EMU collected the most caroms (59) since Murphy took over the program in 2011 and the third most in program history. The Eagles' best rebounding performance also came against Marygrove, Nov. 14, 2008, when they racked up a staggering 76 boards.

Samuels poured in 10 points and collected 11 rebounds, while redshirt freshman Trent Perry (Franklin, Tenn.-Independence) set his all-time scoring mark with a trio of three-pointers for nine points. Redshirt senior Mike Talley (Detroit, Mich.-Melvindale ABT) was the other EMU player in double figures with 10 points. Five other Eagles chipped in eight points apiece.

As a team, the Eagles went 29-of-74 (39.2 percent) from the field, 8-of-24 (33.3 percent) from long range, and 17-of-21 from the free throw line.

Marygrove (1-8) was unable to break into double digits until 13:28 into the first half, by which time the Green and White already held a 17-point advantage. Darryll Dixon paced all scorers with 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting and 4-of-12 from downtown. As a team, Marygrove shot 20-of-68 (29.4 percent)

The visitors scored the game's first bucket, but four turnovers led to six of EMU's first eight points. Freshman Ethan Alvano (Corona, Calif.-Corona) forced two of those turnovers and Lee converted on consecutive layups for an 8-3 Eagles' lead. Perry joined the party with back-to-back treys including one of the fastbreak variety to put the home team ahead, 29-9, with 7:33 to play.

Alvano capped off the first half with a buzzer-beating layup and gave EMU a 29-point cushion, 47-18. Talley and redshirt sophomore Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) each had a team-best eight points at the break for the Eagles, who went 17-of-41 (41.5 percent) from the floor and 5-of-17 (29.4 percent) from beyond the arc.

Dixon accounted for half of Marygrove's first-half points with nine. The senior guard shot 3-of-8 as the team completed the half going 7-for-35 (20 percent) from the floor.

There would be no second-half reprieve for the Mustangs as consistent production on offense combined with Marygrove's inconsistency secured another Eagles' victory. Samuels built off a strong first half (four points, seven rebounds) with six additional points and four more boards.

The Eagles' first road contest of the year comes against a University of Dayton squad that competed in last year's Regional Final (Elite Eight) of the NCAA Tournament. Game time is slated for 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at UD Arena.

Next Event

Team Stats

Mike Talley

Mike Samuels

Trent Perry

Ray Lee

Players Mentioned

Ethan Alvano

Ray Lee

Trent Perry

Mike Samuels

Mike Talley

Players Mentioned

Ethan Alvano

Ray Lee

Trent Perry

Mike Samuels

Mike Talley

Eastern Michigan Athletics