Eagles Drop 72-56 Decision to Central Michigan

Highlights

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University basketball team welcomed in-state rival Central Michigan University to EMU's Convocation Center on Tuesday, Feb. 24, night. The Chippewas knocked down a Convo record 16 three-pointers in the contest and completed the regular season sweep of the Eagles with a 72-56 victory. CMU improves to 21-5 overall and 11-4 in conference play while EMU drops to 17-11 overall and 6-9 in MAC action.

Redshirt-senior Mike Talley (Detroit, Mich.-Melvindale ABT (Duquesne)) led the Green and White with a team-high 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including a 3-for-8 mark from behind the arc. Karrington Ward (Lockport, Ill.-Lockport (Moraine Valley C.C.)) finished with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting to go along with his four rebounds and two assists. Redshirt-sophomore Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) had double-figures as well for the Eagles, netting 10 points before fouling out. The Eagles shot 42.2 percent (19-45) from the floor.

John Simons scored a game-high 23 points, knocking down a career-high seven triples for CMU. Josh Kozinski poured-in 18 points, matching a career-high with six three-pointers made. The Chippewas set a Convocation record not only in three-pointers made, but in three-pointers attempted as well. CMU shot 42.1 percent (24-57) for the game, and 43.2 percent (16-37) from downtown. The Chips out-rebounded the Eagles by a 35-28 margin, and scored 10 second chance points. CMU assisted on 19 of 24 field goals.

The Green and White were awarded two free throws to begin the contest as Central Michigan was hit with a technical foul for dunking in the pre-game warmups. Lee knocked down both freebies to give the Eagles a 2-0 advantage before the opening tip. Lee extended the Eagles' lead to 5-0 following a basket and a foul at the 18:47 mark. Wardanswered a CMU layup by knocking down his only triple of the half to give Eastern its largest lead of the game at 8-2. Another EMU three-pointer fromTalleyput the home team up 11-6. The Green and White's offense went cold over the next 4:38, which allowed the Chippewas to take their first lead of the game (13-11).

Ward ended the Eagle scoring drought, knocking down a pair of free throws to knot the score at 13. The Chips used four consecutive three-pointers to take their largest lead of the half of 12 points (25-13) with 7:19 to play in the opening half. Talley ended the CMU 12-0 run with his second triple of the first frame and cut the visitor's lead back down to single digits at 25-16. Central Michigan regained a double-digit lead (33-23) following John Simons third triple of the half, but the Eagles answered by scoring the final five points to cut the deficit down to five-points as the teams headed to the locker rooms for the halftime break.

Ward and Talley each scored eight points in the opening 20 minutes to lead the Eagles' offense. The pair combined to shoot 5-for-12, including 3-for-7 from behind the arc. Senior forward Jerome Hunter (Buffalo, N.Y.-Queen City Prep (Alabama A&M)) chipped-in with seven points, two rebounds, and one block in the opening frame. CMU's John Simons netted a first half-high of nine points, knocking down three of his six three-point attempts. The Chips owned the glass in the first half, grabbing 25 rebounds compared to 15 for the Eagles. CMU hauled-in 12 offensive rebounds, which turned into seven second chance points. Both teams did not shoot well in the first half, as the Eagles shot 34.8 percent (8-23) from the floor while the Chippewas made 36.1 (13-36) percent of their shots. CMU entered the contest as the MAC's leading scoring offense and field goal percentage.

The Eagles cut the CMU lead down to three points a couple of times to begin the second half. Lee's first triple of the contest made the score 38-35 in the Chips' favor with just under 18 minutes on the clock. CMU pushed its lead back out to 10 points at the 12:59 marker, but a pair of free throws by freshman Ethan Alvano (Corona, Calif.-Corona) cut the Eagle deficit back down to single-digits. The Chippewas pulled away using a 15-0 run over a span of 3:44 to take their largest lead of the contest of 21 points (69-48).

Lee put an end to the run with a layup at the 6:46 marker, but another three-pointer by CMU extended its lead back up to 21 points with just over six minutes showing on the game clock. EMU scored the final eight out of 11 points to make the final score 72-56 in the Chippewas favor.

Eastern Michigan is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 28, when the Eagles travel to Kalamazoo for a matchup with the Western Michigan Broncos. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. EMU defeated the Broncos in the teams' first matchup this season, 69-63 at the Convo on Jan. 31.

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Team Stats

Mike Talley

Karrington Ward

Ray Lee

Jerome Hunter

Players Mentioned

Ethan Alvano

Jerome Hunter

Ray Lee

Mike Talley

Karrington Ward

Players Mentioned

Ethan Alvano

Jerome Hunter

Ray Lee

Mike Talley

Karrington Ward

Eastern Michigan Athletics