Eagles Fend Off Titans in an 88-73 Non-Conference Victory

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Powered by Eastern Michigan University senior forward Brandon Nazione's (Howell, Mich.-Howell (Des Moines Area C.C.)) career-high 23 points, the EMU men's basketball team came from nine points back to knock off the University of Detroit Mercy, 88-73, at the Convocation Center Monday, Dec. 28. The Eagles (8-4, 0-0 MAC) struggled offensively in the first half but a 57 point second half outburst gave the Green and White the win over the Titans (6-5, 0-0 Horizon).

Nazione posted his career high in points, while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds while also notching a career-high five steals. The other players with double-digit scoring nights were junior Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va.-Marshall (San Jacinto College)) with 16, redshirt junior Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) with 15 points, sophomore Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) who had 12, and freshman James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist), whose double-double streak ended at seven with 10 points and four rebounds.

As a team, EMU shot 44.8 percent (30-of-67) from the floor, but made up a good chunk of their points at the free throw line, converting 80 percent (24-of-30) of their attempts. The Green and White struggled from downtown hitting just 18.2 percent (4-of-22) of their three-point attempts. A key to victory was in the turnover department, Eastern coughed up the rock just 10 times, while it forced 23 turnovers, while increasing their Mid-American Conference leading steal average grabbing 13. The Eagles turned in 25 points of turnovers, while manhandling the Titans in the paint, outscoring them 48-30 down low.

Detroit was fast out of the gates, starting on a 7-0 run and leading by that margin for almost eight minutes. Around the 12 minute mark, Eastern went on a 7-0 run of their own, spearheaded by a Bond three, to tie things up at 16 apiece.

Despite the tie, EMU wasn't able to grasp a lead in the following minutes as Detroit stayed strong and led most of the rest of the way until just under two minutes when EMU tied it once again on a Mangum tip-in.

Mangum gave EMU their first lead of the game with just under 30 seconds by knocking down a triple, making making it 31-30 in favor of the home squad. However, Detroit answered right back with a three right before the buzzer to take the 33-31 lead into the half.

The Green and White's offense was pourous in the first half, scoring just 31 points on 10-of-33 (30.3 percent) from the floor. Lee and Nazione led the Eastern Michigan offense with six points apiece.

The second half started off in back and forth fashion before another Mangum three gave EMU a brief four point lead, 40-36, with 17:05 left in the game. Detroit was able to tie the game back up, but EMU answered back with a 13-3 run to take a 10 point lead, 53-43, at the 12 minute mark. The run was fueled by a three-point play from Lee, followed immediately by a steal and lay-in from Bond, throwing the crowd into a frenzy. The lead would be as much as 11 before the Eagles maintained a steady lead heading into the under eight timeout.

EMU pushed its lead got back to 10 briefly, before Detroit began to stage another comeback at the four minute mark, getting to within five points. The comeback would be stopped in its tracks though as five-straight Eagle points extended the lead back at 10. From there the Green and White would go on to put the game away for the 15-point victory, 88-73.

Eastern is now off until after the New Year when it returns to the Convocation Center for its non-conference finale against the University of North Florida, Saturday, Jan. 2. Tip-off is scheduled for noon, and will be immediately followed by the women's basketball game against Buffalo at 2:30 p.m.

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Team Stats

Brandon Nazione

Willie Mangum IV

Ray Lee

Tim Bond

Players Mentioned

Tim Bond

Ray Lee

Willie Mangum IV

Brandon Nazione

James Thompson IV

Players Mentioned

Tim Bond

Ray Lee

Willie Mangum IV

Brandon Nazione

James Thompson IV

Eastern Michigan Athletics