Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, January 6
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
9-5, 1-0MAC
99
at
80
Central Michigan
7-7, 0-1MAC
1
2
F
Eastern Michigan
45
54
99
Central Michigan
41
39
80
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagles' Offense Makes History in MAC Opening 99-80 Win at CMU
1/6/2016 9:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EMU's offensive efficiency ranked as one of the best in school history
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Opening up Mid-American Conference action, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team traveled north to Mount Pleasant, Mich. to square off with the MAC preseason favorite Central Michigan University, Jan. 6. The Eagles (9-5, 1-0 MAC) put on an offensive clinic, defeating the Chippewa (7-7, 0-1 MAC), 99-80. The 99 points was the most EMU has scored versus an NCAA Division I opponent since Jan. 7, 2003 when the Green and White matched that total in a victory over Navy.
As a team, the Green and White shot 66 percent (33-of-50) from the floor, including 72 percent (18-of-25) in the second half. The Eagles' overall shooting percentage not only was the best this season and in EMU Head Coach Rob Murphy's tenure, but the number ranks as the second-best team field goal percentage in a single game in Eastern Michigan history. In addition, EMU connected on 65 percent (13-of-20) three point attempts, good for the best in school laurels. Eastern's potent offense was led by redshirt junior Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) who poured in a game-high and season-best 32 points, while junior Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va.-Marshall (San Jacinto College)), redshirt junior Jodan Price (Indianapolis, Ind.-Detroit Country Day (DePaul)) and freshman James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) each recorded 19. For Price, the 19 points were a career-high, while he also connected on a career-best five three pointers. Thompson led the game in rebounding with 14 caroms.
On the opposite side of the floor, the Chippewas hit on 44.4 percent (28-of-63) of their shots, while connecting on 39.3 percent (11-of-28) of their three point opportunities. Josh Kozinski led CMU off the bench with 18 points, posting six three point makes, while four other Chippewas recorded double-digit scoring nights.
EMU opened the scoring with an old fashioned three-point play in the first possession of the game as Thompson was fouled on a layup, before hitting the and-one opportunity. The score went back-and-forth for the first five minutes of the game before CMU went on a 14-4 run where Kozinski knocked down four three-balls before setting up Chris Fowler on mid-range jumper, giving the Chippewas a 10-point, 24-14 lead at the 11:19 mark.
Central was able to get up by as many as 11, 28-17, with 9:50 left in the half, but the Eagles didn't wilt as they fought back to a seven-point deficit before a three-point barrage began for EMU. Lee sparked an 11-5 Eastern run, bringing EMU to within five, 36-31, with 4:50 on the clock. At the 4:29 mark, Price began a 13-2 run to give Eastern its biggest lead of six, 38-44, with just over a minute on the clock. Through that run, the Eagles knocked down four three pointers before the Chippewas were able to bring it within four, 45-41, to head into the break.
Eastern was lights out in the opening 20 minutes, shooting 60 percent (15-of-25) from the floor, including a 66.7 mark (8-of-12) from beyond the arc. Price and Mangum led the way with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Both Price and Mangum hit 3-of-4 from downtown, while Lee was able to post a pair of triples in the first half. In addition, Thompson went a perfect 3-for-3, scoring eight, while leading grabbing a half-high eight rebounds.
The Green and White's high octane offense continued to cruise in the second half, never losing the lead after the Chippewas tied up the game, 47-47, with 18:45 left in the game on a Braylon Rayson triple. Lee responded on the next trip with a three pointer of his own, followed up by two more EMU treys to give Eastern a seven point, 56-49, lead with 17:03 remaining.
The two squads traded blows over the next four minutes before Lee, Thompson and Mangum scored buckets on three-straight trips down to the floor, giving the Green and White its biggest lead of eight to that point, 66-58. With the eight-point advantage, the Eagles started up a 14-4 run to grab an 18 point, 83-65 advantage with 4:53 left.
The EMU offense continued on cruise control adding to its scoring total on five of its next six trips down the floor, capped off by an alley-oop dunk from Thompson, assisted by Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) to give the Green and White a 20 point, 93-73, edge. The Eagles added on to their lead with 1:28 left when Brandon Nazione (Howell, Mich.-Howell) sank a pair of free throws to give EMU its largest lead, 99-77, before Central connected on three free throws in the final minute to give Eastern the 99-80 victory on the road.
The Eagles remain on the road for their second MAC contest of the 2015-16 campaign when they travel to DeKalb, Ill. to take on Northern Illinois University. Game time is slated for 8:30 p.m. ET from the NIU Convocation Center.
As a team, the Green and White shot 66 percent (33-of-50) from the floor, including 72 percent (18-of-25) in the second half. The Eagles' overall shooting percentage not only was the best this season and in EMU Head Coach Rob Murphy's tenure, but the number ranks as the second-best team field goal percentage in a single game in Eastern Michigan history. In addition, EMU connected on 65 percent (13-of-20) three point attempts, good for the best in school laurels. Eastern's potent offense was led by redshirt junior Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) who poured in a game-high and season-best 32 points, while junior Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va.-Marshall (San Jacinto College)), redshirt junior Jodan Price (Indianapolis, Ind.-Detroit Country Day (DePaul)) and freshman James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) each recorded 19. For Price, the 19 points were a career-high, while he also connected on a career-best five three pointers. Thompson led the game in rebounding with 14 caroms.
On the opposite side of the floor, the Chippewas hit on 44.4 percent (28-of-63) of their shots, while connecting on 39.3 percent (11-of-28) of their three point opportunities. Josh Kozinski led CMU off the bench with 18 points, posting six three point makes, while four other Chippewas recorded double-digit scoring nights.
EMU opened the scoring with an old fashioned three-point play in the first possession of the game as Thompson was fouled on a layup, before hitting the and-one opportunity. The score went back-and-forth for the first five minutes of the game before CMU went on a 14-4 run where Kozinski knocked down four three-balls before setting up Chris Fowler on mid-range jumper, giving the Chippewas a 10-point, 24-14 lead at the 11:19 mark.
Central was able to get up by as many as 11, 28-17, with 9:50 left in the half, but the Eagles didn't wilt as they fought back to a seven-point deficit before a three-point barrage began for EMU. Lee sparked an 11-5 Eastern run, bringing EMU to within five, 36-31, with 4:50 on the clock. At the 4:29 mark, Price began a 13-2 run to give Eastern its biggest lead of six, 38-44, with just over a minute on the clock. Through that run, the Eagles knocked down four three pointers before the Chippewas were able to bring it within four, 45-41, to head into the break.
Eastern was lights out in the opening 20 minutes, shooting 60 percent (15-of-25) from the floor, including a 66.7 mark (8-of-12) from beyond the arc. Price and Mangum led the way with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Both Price and Mangum hit 3-of-4 from downtown, while Lee was able to post a pair of triples in the first half. In addition, Thompson went a perfect 3-for-3, scoring eight, while leading grabbing a half-high eight rebounds.
The Green and White's high octane offense continued to cruise in the second half, never losing the lead after the Chippewas tied up the game, 47-47, with 18:45 left in the game on a Braylon Rayson triple. Lee responded on the next trip with a three pointer of his own, followed up by two more EMU treys to give Eastern a seven point, 56-49, lead with 17:03 remaining.
The two squads traded blows over the next four minutes before Lee, Thompson and Mangum scored buckets on three-straight trips down to the floor, giving the Green and White its biggest lead of eight to that point, 66-58. With the eight-point advantage, the Eagles started up a 14-4 run to grab an 18 point, 83-65 advantage with 4:53 left.
The EMU offense continued on cruise control adding to its scoring total on five of its next six trips down the floor, capped off by an alley-oop dunk from Thompson, assisted by Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) to give the Green and White a 20 point, 93-73, edge. The Eagles added on to their lead with 1:28 left when Brandon Nazione (Howell, Mich.-Howell) sank a pair of free throws to give EMU its largest lead, 99-77, before Central connected on three free throws in the final minute to give Eastern the 99-80 victory on the road.
The Eagles remain on the road for their second MAC contest of the 2015-16 campaign when they travel to DeKalb, Ill. to take on Northern Illinois University. Game time is slated for 8:30 p.m. ET from the NIU Convocation Center.
Team Stats
EMU
CMU
FG%
.660
.444
3FG%
.650
.393
FT%
.714
.565
RB
36
25
TO
13
7
STL
5
4
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
19
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballC
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