Eastern Michigan Athletics

Wednesday, November 23
Convocation Center
2 p.m.

Eastern Michigan University

3-3

97
vs
60

Madonna

1-5

1
2
F
Madonna
31
29
60
Eastern Michigan
51
46
97
Photo by: Andrew Mascharka

Eagles Use High Powered Offense to Cruise Past the Crusaders, 97-60

11/23/2016 4:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball

EMU shot a season-best 60.3 percent from the floor

Photo Gallery.

Highlights.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team returned to the Convocation Center Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 23, for a Thanksgiving Eve tilt against Madonna University. The Eagles (3-3, 0-0 MAC) never trailed en route to a 97-60 win over the Crusaders (1-5, 0-2 WHAC) behind an outstanding offensive performance.

Sophomore James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La. –Parkview Baptist) was dominant for the Eagles, leading the offensive onslaught for the Green and White. Thompson scored 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks for his fourth double-double of the year. Redshirt senior Ray Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) chipped in 20 points and senior Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va.-Marshall (San Jacinto College)) added 17, while senior Ty Toney (Atlanta, Ga.-Alpharetta (Georgia Highlands College)) rounded out the double digit efforts. Toney finished with 10 points and dished out a career-high-tying eight assists to go along with four steals, while orchestrating the EMU offense.

As a team, Eastern converted 60.3 percent of its shots, connecting on 38-of-63 attempts, while Madonna shot 40.4 from the field. In addition to shooting at a high percentage, the Eagles shared the ball, handing out a season-high 17 assists. Defensively, the Green and White registered a season-best 16 steals and forced 23 Madonna turnovers. EMU cashed in on the Madonna miscues to the tune of a 29-7 advantage in points off turnovers. Eastern Michigan also held the edge in paint, outscoring the Crusaders 54-24.

Thompson IV scored four points and Lee added a triple to give the Eagles a quick 11-0 lead, but Madonna stormed back with a pair of three-pointers and a bucket in transition to cut EMU's lead to 13-8, at the 15:51 mark.

Eastern rattled off back-to-back-to-back buckets for the next two minutes, pushing the Green and White's lead to 19-8. Mangum connected with Jones for a jumper before Thompson IV and Toney threw down a pair of dunks to give EMU the double digit advantage. From there, the teams traded baskets, leaving the score 35-19 at the media timeout with 7:58 left in the half.

The Crusaders knocked down a pair of three-pointers to offset a trio of baskets by the Eagles, but EMU maintained its large lead, owning a 42-25 edge, with just over three minutes to play in the frame.

A three-point play by Mangum capped the 51-point half for the Eagles. Catching the pass on the wing, Mangum used a quick fake to create a lane to the hoop. Pulling up for the floater, Mangum hit the basket and drew the foul, only to complete the play at the charity stripe.

Through 20 minutes of play, the Eagles held a 51-31 lead. EMU's 51 first half points were the most by the Green and White in a half this season.

Behind the unselfish play of their post players, the Eagles pushed the score to 64-34 at the 16-minute mark. Thompson IV and sophomore Baylee Steele (Norwalk, Iowa-Norwalk (Des Moines Area C.C.)) combined for six points over the first four minutes of the half to extend the score to 64-36 in favor of Eastern Michigan.

From there, the Green and White continued to overpower the Crusaders to earn the 97-60 win. With the victory, the Eagles improved to 2-0 on their home court and broke the 90-point barrier for the second time this season. Additionally, the margin of victory was the largest for EMU since Eastern topped Marygrove, 108-64, Nov. 25, 2015.

EMU returns to action after the holiday when it hosts Omaha Saturday, Nov. 26. Tip versus the Mavericks is slated for 1 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
 

Team Stats

MUMB
EMU
FG%
.404
.603
3FG%
.409
.333
FT%
.600
.714
RB
27
36
TO
23
11
STL
5
16

Game Leaders

Pts
24
FGM
11
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0

Players Mentioned

G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
F/C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
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