Talley Comes Up Clutch in Comeback Victory over the Huskies, 56-52

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University's men's basketball team struggled for the middle portion of its matchup against Northern Illinois University, March 1, inside the Convocation Center, but senior Mike Talley (Detroit, Mich.-Melvindale ABT (Duquesne)) drained a game-winning three-pointer with 24 seconds to play as EMU pulled through with a victory over the Huskies, 56-52.

The victory marked the first comeback win when EMU trailed with less than five minutes in the game in the 2013-14 season and just the second time the Green and White has pulled out a victory when trailing at the half. Eastern trailed by as many as 13 which was the largest deficit overcome to win this season. With the win, the Eagles now hold a 17-12 record (9-7 MAC), while the Huskies fall to 13-15 (7-9 MAC).

Talley tied his career-high of 21 points, going 6-of-18 from the field and a flawless 7-of-7 from the free throw line. The senior also dished out a game-high three assists and snatched a career-high four steals and six rebounds in the victory. Darell Combs (Chicago, Ill.-Thornwood (Blinn)) poured in an additional 11 points and also turned in a perfect performance from the charity stripe, draining six free throws.

As a team, the Eagles were 17-of-52 from the field for 32.7 percent. The team excelled on the defensive side of the ball, notching 11 steals and eight blocks. Glenn Bryant (Detroit, Mich.-Oak Hill Academy (Arkansas) led the swat team with a game-high four rejections. The Huskies were held to 37.2 percent shooting, going 16-of 43 from the field. NIU had a great deal of success in free throws, only missing three-of-20 attempts. Aaric Armstead paced the Huskies with 11 points, but was held to just two points in the second half. The Eagles also held the advantage on the boards, out-rebounding the Huskies, 38-28.

The squad showed heart right off the bat when a scramble out of the tipoff gave EMU possession. Combs opened up scoring with a triple from the right sideline, which was reciprocated with a three-pointer from Travon Baker on the Huskie side to knot the score, 3-3, in the opening seconds of the contest.

Though NIU had its own defensive force in the paint in Jordan Threloff, Daylen Harrison (Akron, Ohio-St. Vincent-St. Mary (Wyoming) made his way past the junior center for a putback shot, which opened up on Talley the perimeter for a three to give the Eagles an early 8-3 edge. The advantage was short-lived when Aaric Armstead single-handedly tied up the contest once again courtesy of a baseline three-pointer to go with a pair of free throws after being fouled on a fast-break layup attempt. The Huskies took their first lead of the afternoon when a layup by Daveon Balls made its way through the rim to give NIU the 10-8 lead with 13:14 remaining.

A block from Karrington Ward (Lockport, Ill.-Lockport Township (Moraine CC)) on Threloff sparked some energy into team, and the Eagles were able to take the lead when Talley sent a lofty shot from the paint over the outstretched arms of NIU's Pete Rakocevic. A jumper just inside the arc from Ward increased the Eagles' scoring count before Talley swiped the ball and tore down the court for an easy two to make it a 16-12 game with eight minutes to play in the half.

The Huskies tied up the contest once more after Norwegian product Aksel Bolin made a spritely drive to the hoop, but Da'Shonte Riley (Detroit, Mich.-Detroit Country Day (Syracuse)) hit a turnaround hookshot off the glass to keep the Green and White in control of the scoreboard.

Scoring continued to be distributed in a back-and-forth fashion between the two squads, as NIU would find ways to keep pace with the Eagles. The Huskies strung together a 10-0 run to establish their largest lead of the game, 28-21, and hold the Eagles scoreless for nearly four minutes.

The Green and White was unable to score any more field goals in the half, recording its final two points off a pair of free throws from Jalen Ross (Greensboro, N.C.-Greensboro Day), heading into the locker room trailing, 28-22. Talley led all players with 10 points and two steals, while Olalekan Ajayi (Winston-Salem, N.C.-Quality Education Academy) led on the boards with five rebounds. The Eagles shot 8-of-26 from the field for 30.8 percent, and were unable to keep NIU to the usual low defensive shooting percentage as the Huskies went 9-of-22 from the field for a 40.9 percent shooting efficiency.

The Eagles started to chip away at the deficit right out of the gates, beginning with a pair of free throws from Combs. Talley's aggression on drives proved to be a continued strength for the senior, bringing the Green and White within two points of NIU, 28-16. The Huskies answered back with their own run to build up to a 43-30 lead, thanks in large part to an 11-point combined effort from Bowie and Balls. The Green and White was able to record a few points to break up the run when Combs hit a pair of free throws and Ward dropped in a layup to score the first Eagles' field goal after a six-minute dry spell.

A speedy trip to the basket by Combs plus a handful of free throws brought the Eagles within three points, and J.R. Sims (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Snider) capped off a 12-0 run for the Green and White before NIU Head Coach Mark Montgomery was forced to call for a pause in the action.

The teams traded points from the charity stripe to keep the margin at one point, but the Huskies managed to build their lead back up to a 50-44 edge with 5:42 remaining. The Eagles took off on a 6-2 run in the next four minutes off an inside move by Ward. Ward stole the ball on the following possession, which ended up in the hands of Bryant, who swished a jumper from the top of the key to tie the contest up at 52 apiece and spark a vibrant energy on the court.

With 24 seconds remaining and two seconds on the shot clock, Head Coach Rob Murphy called a timeout to deliberate the ensuing play. Sims handed off to Talley, who was wide open on the left sideline for a triple and nailed the clutch shot, giving the Eagles the lead, 55-52. After the Huskies called a timeout, Armstead found himself with a lane to the basket but was unable to convert as Sims held on tight to the rebound and drew the foul, sending him to the line with six seconds on the clock. Sims missed his first shot, but hit the second to turn the game into a two-possession contest.

Travon Baker attempted a last-second three-pointer but missed the mark on the final shot of the afternoon, giving the Green and White a final victory of 56-52.

The Eagles will return to the Convocation Center for one final game in the regular season, when they take on Ball State University in a 7 p.m. Senior Night contest, Tuesday, March 4.

Talley Comes Up Clutch in Comeback Victory over the Huskies, 56-52

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Team Stats

Mike Talley

Darell Combs

Karrington Ward

Glenn Bryant

Eastern Michigan Athletics