Eastern Uses Second Half Comeback to Advance in the MAC Tournament

Tickets for Thursday's game against Buffalo are available through the EMU Ticket Office for $34. EMU students can purchase men's tournament tickets for $10 with a valid student ID. Ticket order reservations may be placed by calling 734.487.2282 or purchased at the EMU table in the main ticket area inside the northeast entrance at Quicken Loans Arena. Buying tickets through Eastern Michigan is the only way to guarantee a spot in the EMU fan section.

CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Led by its defense, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team overcame an 11-point halftime deficit, outscoring the Northern Illinois University Huskies 29-13 in the final 20 minutes of a thrilling 53-48 victory in the second round of the 2014 Mid-American Conference Tournament presented by Barbasol, March 12. Trailing by two with just three minutes to go, the Eagles ended the game at Quicken Loans Arena on a 9-2 run due to solid defense and clutch free throw shooting.

The victory not only keeps the Eastern alive in the MAC Tournament, but it also marks the 20th win for EMU (20-13) to become the first Eastern Michigan men's team to accomplish that win total since the 1997-98 Eagles that advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The victory was also a historical one for Head Coach Rob Murphy, who collected his 50th career win at the helm of the Green and White.

Not only did the Eagles and Huskies square off for the third time this season, but the two squads also matched up for the third straight MAC Tournament. With the comeback win, Eastern will advance to the third round of the tournament for the second consecutive season. EMU will battle the University at Buffalo Bulls at approximately 9 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena, March 13.

Three Eagles reached double figures, including two off the bench. Karrington Ward (Lockport, Ill.-Lockport Township (Moraine Valley C.C.)) posted his fourth double-double of the season, recording team highs in points (13) and rebounds (12) in large part due to a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. Sixth man Glenn Bryant (Detroit, Mich.-Oak Hill Academy (Arkansas)) added 12 while fellow senior J.R. Sims (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Snider) recorded 11 off the bench. The Eagles' bench scored 33 of the team's 53 points. EMU shot just 13-of-44 from the floor (29.5 percent), but made up for it at the foul line by sinking 24-of-31.

The EMU defense held NIU to just three field goals in the second half as the Huskies mustered just 3-of-21 shooting (14.3) in the final 20 minutes. No Huskies reached double figures in scoring on the night. For the game, Northern Illinois shot 31.8 percent from the field (14-of-44) led by nine points from Jordan Threloff and Aaric Armstead. The duo also led their team in rebounds with 10 and nine, respectively.

Da'Shonte Riley (Detroit, Mich.-Country Day (Syracuse)), the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, picked up his second foul just 2:23 into the game, forcing Coach Murphy to send him to the bench for the remainder of the half. The Eagles found themselves trailing, 8-2, in the first three minutes of the contest before Ward threw down a thunderous two-hand slam. Following a pair of free throws from Mike Talley (Detroit, Mich.-Melvindale ABT (Duquesne)), Ward drilled a triple to give Eastern the one-point advantage. However, the 7-0 run ended on the next possession as the Huskies hit a three of their own to lead 11-9 with 15:20 left in the first half.

After scoring just two first half points in the opening round game against Central Michigan before rattling off 18 in the second half, Ward got off to a fast start against NIU. The All-MAC Third Team honoree scored nine of EMU's first 11 points. He reached double figures with a pair of free throws at 7:13 in the first half, cutting NIU's lead to just three.

Northern Illinois ended the half on an 11-2 run, holding the Green and White without a field goal for the final 4:45 of the opening half. Going into the locker room, the Eagles trailed by a 35-24 margin. The Eagles shot just 5-of-18 from the floor for a 27.8 percent clip. Half of Eastern's points came from the charity stripe as the team knocked down 12-of-16, including a perfect 6-of-6 by Ward who led all scorers with 11 while grabbing nine boards to fall just one shy of a double-double in the first half.

The Huskies made 47.8 of their attempts from the field (11-of-23), including 5-of-11 from long range. NIU was also successful from the line, sinking 8-of-10. Aaric Armstead tallied a team-high nine first half points along with a pair of steals. With Riley on the bench due to early foul trouble, NIU controlled the post, out-scoring the Eagles 12-2 in the paint.

Riley came out to start the second half and made an immediate impact on the defensive side of the floor, proving why he was named the MAC's Defensive Player of the Year. With Riley anchoring the EMU 2-3 zone, the Eagles limited NIU to just one field goal in the first six minutes of the second half. Moreover, the solid Eastern defense kept the Huskies to just four points in the first nine minutes. However, with 10:18 to go, Riley fouled out of the contest. Despite Riley out for the remainder of the game, the Eagles fought and played inspired basketball to score seven straight points, led by Bryant and Sims. Bryant drilled a baseline jumper before Sims' fastbreak lay-in gave EMU its first lead since the 12:16 mark of the opening half, 44-42.

NIU answered with four straight points to take a two-point lead, but Combs put the Eagles on top by converting three straight free throws after being fouled on a shot from beyond the arc. Following a defensive stop, Darell Combs (Chicago, Ill.-Thornwood (Blinn College)) broke away down the floor and was fouled going up for a lay-up. This time, he missed both attempts at the line, and NIU knocked down two free throws to take the lead, 48-47, with 3:05 remaining.

Bryant provided a huge tip-in as the lead swung back in favor of the Green and White, 49-48, with just 1:12 left. On Northern's possession, Threloff was fouled away from the ball, but missed the front end of a one-and-one. After the Eagles came up empty on the next possession, Sims caught NIU off guard to pick a pocket and get the ball back for his team. Trapped in the corner, he was able to throw the ball out front, forcing the Huskies to foul. Ward knocked down both clutch free throws to increase the lead to three with 13 seconds left. After forcing a thirty-footer, the ball went out-of-bounds off NIU. Harrison put the game on ice with two from the stripe as the Eagles capped off the 53-48 comeback victory.

Eastern Uses Second Half Comeback to Advance in the MAC Tournament

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Team Stats

Karrington Ward

Glenn Bryant

J.R. Sims

Darell Combs

Eastern Michigan Athletics