Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 2
Convocation Center
12 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
8-5
77
vs
82
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North Florida
11-6
1
2
F
North Florida
46
36
82
Eastern Michigan
45
32
77
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagles Fall In Non-Conference Finale to North Florida
1/2/2016 2:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Six players finished with double-figure scoring efforts
Video Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - Despite six student-athletes reaching double digits in scoring, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team dropped their non-conference finale to the University of North Florida, 82-77, Saturday, Jan. 2. It was a tight game from wire-to-wire, as neither team led by more than seven points.
Leading in the scoring column for the Eagles (8-5, 0-0 MAC) was freshman James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist), who finished with 18 and nine rebounds. Thompson was a perfect 9-of-9 from the floor, coming away just one rebound shy of his eighth double-double of the year. The others registered double digit scoring efforts includedredshirt junior Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) with 15, junior Ty Toney (Alpharetta, Ga.-Alpharetta (Georgia Highlands/Appalachian St.)) who had 13, junior Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va.-Marshall (San Jacinto College)) who had 11, and redshirt junior Jodan Price (Indianapolis, Ind.-Detroit Country Day (Depaul)) ,as well as senior Brandon Nazione (Howell, Mich.-Howell (Des Moines Area C.C.)), who each had 10. Nazione finished with the third double-double of his career, as he had 10 rebounds as well.
As a team, EMU shot 49.2 percent from the field (29-of-59), while hitting 36 percent of their threes (9-of-25). The nine triples marked the highest to this point in the 2015-16 season, nearly doubling the Eagles' season average. They out rebounded the Ospreys (11-6, 0-0 ASun), 31-30, and forced two more turnovers, including nine steals. Meanwhile, the often hot three point shooting North Florida squad was sharp once again, connecting on 45.8 percent of their three point attempts (11-of-24).
Both the Eagles and Ospreys came out firing, both shooting over 60 percent in the first seven minutes. As UNF often does, they started by shooting at a high volume from beyond the arc, hitting six of their first 10 triple tries. Despite the aerial assault, EMU remained in the game by pounding the paint and shooting better than 60 percent (14-of-23) from the field early on. At the under-eight timeout the score sat at 34-28 in the Eagles' favor.
The six-point lead proved to be the furthest EMU would be ahead of UNF in the first half, as the Ospreys showed no signs of slowing down. Grinding their way back, they retook the lead with just under two minutes to go until the first stanza, whichwas North Florida's first lead since the 17:50 mark. After trading a few points down the stretch, North Florida took a 46-45 lead into the break.
Lee and Price led the EMU offense in the opening frame pitching in 10 points apiece, while Mangum was an efficient 3-of-4 from the floor, knocking down a pair of three pointers, good for eight points. As a team, the Green and White connected on 54.8 percent (17-of-31) of its attempts from the floor, whille hitting 41.7 percent (5-of-12) of its three point attempts. Eastern struggled from the charity stripe, converting on just six of its 11 attempts (54.5 percent).
UNF began the second half by going on a 5-0 run to jump out to a quick six point lead, however, back-to-back buckets from Lee and Nazionekept the Ospreys from extending their advantage. With the deficit down to one, UNF went on another run, scoring six straight to take its largest lead of seven, 61-54, lead with just under 12 minutes to play.
Needing a quick response, EMU got it from Toney as he nailed back-to-back three point shots to whittle the deficit down to just one point with nine minutes to go. Over the next five minutes of action, EMU could not break through to get the lead back, trailing between two and fourpoints the whole way, and ultimately trailing 75-71 heading into the final media timeout.
Out of the timeout, EMU staged a 6-0 run, with four of the points coming from Thompson, to take back the lead for the first time since the first half at 77-75. UNF responded immediately with their 11th three of the game to regain the advantage. Following an empty possession from EMU, UNF nailed a jumper to take a three point edge with 30 seconds to go.
Coming out of a timeout, EMU was unable to execute the play they had drawn up, as they turned the ball on an errant pass. After fouling to send UNF to the free throw line, the first attempt was missed, giving EMU the chance to tie things up. The ensuing Mangum three-pointer came up short, and North Florida captured the rebound and put in a late bucket to seal the 82-77 victory.
With non-conference play in the books for Eastern, the Eagles now turn their attention towards Mid-American Conference play opening up the MAC campaign Wednesday, Jan. 6. The Green and White head to Mount Pleasant, Mich. for a 7 p.m. contest with Central Michigan University. Fans can tune into 89.1 FM WEMU for all of the action from McGuirk Arena.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - Despite six student-athletes reaching double digits in scoring, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team dropped their non-conference finale to the University of North Florida, 82-77, Saturday, Jan. 2. It was a tight game from wire-to-wire, as neither team led by more than seven points.
Leading in the scoring column for the Eagles (8-5, 0-0 MAC) was freshman James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist), who finished with 18 and nine rebounds. Thompson was a perfect 9-of-9 from the floor, coming away just one rebound shy of his eighth double-double of the year. The others registered double digit scoring efforts includedredshirt junior Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) with 15, junior Ty Toney (Alpharetta, Ga.-Alpharetta (Georgia Highlands/Appalachian St.)) who had 13, junior Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va.-Marshall (San Jacinto College)) who had 11, and redshirt junior Jodan Price (Indianapolis, Ind.-Detroit Country Day (Depaul)) ,as well as senior Brandon Nazione (Howell, Mich.-Howell (Des Moines Area C.C.)), who each had 10. Nazione finished with the third double-double of his career, as he had 10 rebounds as well.
As a team, EMU shot 49.2 percent from the field (29-of-59), while hitting 36 percent of their threes (9-of-25). The nine triples marked the highest to this point in the 2015-16 season, nearly doubling the Eagles' season average. They out rebounded the Ospreys (11-6, 0-0 ASun), 31-30, and forced two more turnovers, including nine steals. Meanwhile, the often hot three point shooting North Florida squad was sharp once again, connecting on 45.8 percent of their three point attempts (11-of-24).
Both the Eagles and Ospreys came out firing, both shooting over 60 percent in the first seven minutes. As UNF often does, they started by shooting at a high volume from beyond the arc, hitting six of their first 10 triple tries. Despite the aerial assault, EMU remained in the game by pounding the paint and shooting better than 60 percent (14-of-23) from the field early on. At the under-eight timeout the score sat at 34-28 in the Eagles' favor.
The six-point lead proved to be the furthest EMU would be ahead of UNF in the first half, as the Ospreys showed no signs of slowing down. Grinding their way back, they retook the lead with just under two minutes to go until the first stanza, whichwas North Florida's first lead since the 17:50 mark. After trading a few points down the stretch, North Florida took a 46-45 lead into the break.
Lee and Price led the EMU offense in the opening frame pitching in 10 points apiece, while Mangum was an efficient 3-of-4 from the floor, knocking down a pair of three pointers, good for eight points. As a team, the Green and White connected on 54.8 percent (17-of-31) of its attempts from the floor, whille hitting 41.7 percent (5-of-12) of its three point attempts. Eastern struggled from the charity stripe, converting on just six of its 11 attempts (54.5 percent).
UNF began the second half by going on a 5-0 run to jump out to a quick six point lead, however, back-to-back buckets from Lee and Nazionekept the Ospreys from extending their advantage. With the deficit down to one, UNF went on another run, scoring six straight to take its largest lead of seven, 61-54, lead with just under 12 minutes to play.
Needing a quick response, EMU got it from Toney as he nailed back-to-back three point shots to whittle the deficit down to just one point with nine minutes to go. Over the next five minutes of action, EMU could not break through to get the lead back, trailing between two and fourpoints the whole way, and ultimately trailing 75-71 heading into the final media timeout.
Out of the timeout, EMU staged a 6-0 run, with four of the points coming from Thompson, to take back the lead for the first time since the first half at 77-75. UNF responded immediately with their 11th three of the game to regain the advantage. Following an empty possession from EMU, UNF nailed a jumper to take a three point edge with 30 seconds to go.
Coming out of a timeout, EMU was unable to execute the play they had drawn up, as they turned the ball on an errant pass. After fouling to send UNF to the free throw line, the first attempt was missed, giving EMU the chance to tie things up. The ensuing Mangum three-pointer came up short, and North Florida captured the rebound and put in a late bucket to seal the 82-77 victory.
With non-conference play in the books for Eastern, the Eagles now turn their attention towards Mid-American Conference play opening up the MAC campaign Wednesday, Jan. 6. The Green and White head to Mount Pleasant, Mich. for a 7 p.m. contest with Central Michigan University. Fans can tune into 89.1 FM WEMU for all of the action from McGuirk Arena.
Team Stats
UNF
EMU
FG%
.534
.492
3FG%
.458
.360
FT%
.750
.625
RB
30
31
TO
13
11
STL
4
9
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's BasketballC
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