Men’s Hoops Drops Scoring Battle at Oakland, 91-81

Postgame Audio with Rob Murphy.

ROCHESTER, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team dropped its first contest of the 2015-16 season in a 91-81 shootout, Wednesday evening, Nov. 18, to Oakland University. The Eagles (1-1) led by as many as nine in the opening stanza, but were unable to spoil opening night at the Athletics Center O'Rena for a Golden Grizzlies (1-0) squad, which finished the first half on a 23-7 run and continued its momentum into the final 20 minutes.

Wednesday's setback was the first for Head Coach Rob Murphy's Eagles in the last three meetings against Oakland, which entered the contest No. 14 in the
CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll.

Junior Ty Toney (Alpharetta, Ga.—Alpharetta) found his offensive stride with 14 second-half points for a game total of 18 (7-of-13) to pace the EMU attack. Toney also added seven rebounds and eight assists, which were the most by an EMU player since Mike Talley's 10 dimes at Miami University, Jan. 10, 2015.

Junior Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va.—Marshall) filled 5-of-14 shots from beyond the arc for 15 points before fouling out late in the game and freshman James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) added eight points and eight rebounds in the loss.

Also in double figures were Redshirt junior Jodan Price (Indianapolis, Ind.—Detroit Country Day) (15 points; 5-of-12) and senior Brandon Nazione (Howell, Mich.—Howell) (11 points; 4-of-9). Price set a career-high with 15 points, while Nazione tied his career-best.

As a team, Eastern Michigan shot 30-of-76 (39.5 percent) from the field and 7-of-30 (23.3 percent) from downtown. At the free-throw line, the Green and White hit 14-of-19 (73.7) shots.

Oakland went to the line early and often in the first half and finished the game 21-of-24 (87.5 percent) from the charity stripe. The Grizzlies converted 12-of-31 (38.7 percent) three-pointers to go with a 29-of-71 (40.8 percent) showing overall.

Kahlil Felder finished with a double-double (27 points, 12 assists) for Oakland and was one-of-four Grizzlies to attain double-digit points. Percy Gibson also notched double-double with 25 points and 10 boards. Sherron Dorsey-Walker ended the game with 19 points, while Max Hooper added 12.

Eastern Michigan forced eight Oakland turnovers during the first seven minutes, with Bond taking advantage of one of those OU giveaways by stuffing home a dunk to give the Eagles a four-point edge, 18-14.

Oakland's offense sputtered midway through the half as the Grizzlies managed just 7-of-21 from the field with 7:39 showing on the clock. EMU took advantage with three unanswered buckets including a triple from Magnum. The visiting Eagles pulled ahead, 25-16.

Thompson was forced to take at seat after his second foul with 7:10 to play in the half. After that, the Grizzlies' offense ended the half on a 23-7 run and sent the Eagles into halftime trailing, 39-32. Oakland's run was highlighted by a Hooper three-pointer, which gave the home squad its first lead since early in the game, 30-29.

Despite good looks from the offense, the Eagles struggled to regain their scoring touch while fouls allowed the Grizzlies into the double bonus. Oakland sunk 13-of-14 free throws in the period to go along with 11-of-35 (31.4 percent) shooting.

EMU ended the half 14-of-38 (36.8 percent) from the floor and 3-of-17 (17.6 percent) from long range.

Felder fed Gibson on consecutive lay-ins to open the second-half scoring. Sophomore Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.—City College) stuffed another OU scoring chance under the basket for EMU's fourth block of the night, but Gibson completed the possession with another two points.

Following an EMU turnover, Hooper cashed in on another three-ball as Oakland broke out to a 48-34 lead with 17:28 left in the contest.

Toney continued his strong performance on both sides of the ball to get the Eagles back to within 10 points, 60-50. The junior guard forced a turnover and ran the length of the court for the score and his eighth point of the night.

At 6:54, Toney would strike again. He would be followed by Mangum, who buried his fifth triple of the evening to cut what was once a 22-point Oakland lead to nine, 76-67.

Mangum fouled out with 5:47 to play, leaving it up to the rest of the EMU offense to stage a comeback. Contributions from Toney and Price kept the Eagles alive, but the Grizzles responded on each occasion sending EMU away with the 91-81 setback.

Next up for the Green and White is a home contest at the Convocation Center with Siena Heights University. The non-conference tilt is slated for 11 a.m. Friday morning, Nov. 20.

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Team Stats

Ty Toney

Willie Mangum IV

Jodan Price

Brandon Nazione

Players Mentioned

Tim Bond

Willie Mangum IV

Brandon Nazione

Jodan Price

Mike Talley

James Thompson IV

Ty Toney

Players Mentioned

Tim Bond

Willie Mangum IV

Brandon Nazione

Jodan Price

Mike Talley

James Thompson IV

Ty Toney

Eastern Michigan Athletics