Eagles Tame Bobcats in Dominating 76-40 Performance at Home

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Postgame Highlights.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team never played from behind, leading for 39 of the 40 minutes in a dominating 76-40 victory over Ohio University Tuesday night, Jan. 27, at the Convocation Center. The Mid-American Conference win improved the Eagles to 13-7 (2-5 MAC) on the 2014-15 campaign and was the largest conference victory since EMU cruised to a 104-67 decision over Central Michigan University 18 years ago, Jan. 8, 1997.

The 36-point win was also the Eagles largest margin of victory over a Division I opponent since Eastern downed Navy, 99-52, on Jan. 7, 2004. Behind an impressive defensive display, EMU held Ohio (7-11, 2-5 MAC) to its lowest point total in program history since the March 14, 1985 when the Bobcats fell to Kansas, 49-38, in the NCAA Midwest Regional.

Behind a team-high 19 points from Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus), 11 different Eagles scored throughout the game. Mike Talley (Detroit, Mich.-Melvindale ABT (Duquesne)) recorded 16 points, while dishing out seven assists and Karrington Ward (Lockport, Ill.-Lockport (Moraine Valley, C.C.)) reached double figures with 12 points as well. While he was one of two Eagles to not find the bucket, Olalekan Ajayi (Winston Salem, N.C.-Quality Education Academy (Collin College)) pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds. Eastern found success on offense, sinking half of its shots by going 32-of-64 from the floor. The Eagles' defense forced 18 Ohio turnovers and converted them into 24 points. EMU also dominated the paint, 44-18, and pushed the ball down the court to hold a 24-2 advantage in fastbreak points.

Antonio Campbell posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Bobcats in the setback. OU only made 22.8 percent of its shots from the field (13-of-57), including just 2-of-19 from beyond the arc. Ohio made nearly as many free throws as it did field goals, sinking 12-of-17 from the charity stripe.

The Eagles raced to an early 8-2 lead as Ward made his presence known on both sides of the court. In the first five minutes of the contest, the senior forward scored four points while adding a pair of steals and rebounds on defense. Behind the leadership of the EMU wingman, Eastern forced Ohio to start off 1-of-5 from the field. Another spark to the Eastern offense came from Talley, who scored eight of the Eagles' first 16 points. Driving down the right side of the lane and dealing with contact, the shifty guard was able to remain under control to get the bucket to go, increasing the lead to double digits, 16-6, with 11:30 remaining in the first half.

EMU's 2-3 zone continued to cause problems for the OU offense as the Bobcats made just five of their 31 first half shots for a 16.1 percent clip, including 0-of-11 from three-point land. The scoring struggles allowed the Eagles to build a 19-point cushion as Lee started to heat up from the floor, knocking down a triple to make it a 31-12 contest. Eastern held the Ohio without a field goal for the final 5:22 of the first half, but four OU free throws down the stretch saw the Eagles take a 31-16 advantage into the locker room.

Lee led the way with 11 points in the opening stanza, going 5-of-8 from the floor. Talley was a perfect 4-of-4 from the stripe and added a pair of field goals for eight points, while Ward chipped in with six points. As a team, the Eagles made 44.8 percent from the field (13-of-29), but went just 1-of-9 from long range. EMU had trouble taking care of the basketball, turning the ball over 10 times in the first half, but Ohio only scored two points off of the miscues. The Eagles also controlled the paint, scoring as many points in that area as the Bobcats' entire first half total.

Campbell scored a team-high six points and hauled in seven rebounds as Ohio's only real threat in the first half. The 16 points allowed by the EMU defense was the fewest surrendered to a Division I opponent in one half all season long.

Coming out for the second half, Ward quickly kept the momentum in favor of the Eagles by delivering a thunderous slam that brought the crowd to its feet. The Lockport, Ill. native added a jumper, and Brandon Nazione (Howell, Mich.-Howell(Des Moines Area C.C.)) showed his ability to create at the rim with an up-and-under move to increase the lead to 37-16. Meanwhile, Ohio's offensive woes continued as the Bobcats missed their first five shots of the second half.

The 10-minute field goal drought finally ended for OU with a buck down in the post, but Lee drilled a three from the top of the key on EMU's next possession to double up the Bobcats, 44-22. After trading baskets, the Eagles went on a 8-0 run that included freshman guard Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College High) rise up to complete an alley-oop from Lee, drawing applause from the EMU faithful. The stretch brought the difference to 30 with EMU on top, 54-24.

The Eagles' lead continued to grow in the final minutes of the second half. When the final horn sounded, the scoreboard read 76-40 in favor of the home Green and White to get EMU within two games of the top spot in the MAC West.

Eastern Michigan will remain at home for its next contest, hosting rival Western Michigan University, Jan. 31, as part of a doubleheader with the EMU women's basketball team. The MAC West Division showdown will begin at noon followed by the women taking on Buffalo at 2:30 p.m..

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Team Stats

Ray Lee

Mike Talley

Karrington Ward

Tim Bond

Players Mentioned

Olalekan Ajayi

Tim Bond

Ray Lee

Brandon Nazione

Mike Talley

Karrington Ward

Players Mentioned

Olalekan Ajayi

Tim Bond

Ray Lee

Brandon Nazione

Mike Talley

Karrington Ward

Eastern Michigan Athletics