Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Andrew Mascharka
Eagles Stifle Titans in Second Half on Way to 87-61 Win
11/30/2016 9:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Eastern Michigan held Detroit Mercy to just six field goals in the second half
Photo Gallery.
Postgame Press Conference.
DETROIT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Riding a two-game winning streak, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team hit the road and extended that streak to three, Wednesday, Nov. 30, when it knocked off the University of Detroit Mercy, 87-61. Despite leading by just four at the half, the Eagles' (5-3) offense exploded for 48 second half points and held the Titans (1-6) to just six field goal makes in the second half on their way to downing Detroit Mercy in Calihan Hall for the first time since 1988.
Senior Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va.-Marshall (San Jacinto College)) was the Eagles' leading scoring, pouring in 21, while redshirt senior Ray Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) added 17. Sophomore James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) and senior Ty Toney (Atlanta, Ga.-Alpharetta (Georgia Highlands)) each added double-digit scoring performances with 14 and 13, respectively. Thompson also grabbed his sixth-straight double-double with 13 rebounds. As a team, Eastern shot 49.2 percent from the floor, while holding Detroit Mercy to just a 38 percent clip.
The Eagles opened up the scoring with a thunderous alley-oop from redshirt senior Quaran Jones (Fargo, N.D.-Ecorse (Findlay)) to Lee, but the Titans went on a quick 12-0 run to take a 12-2 lead with 16:17 left in the first half. Thompson broke the Eagles' scoring drought with a free throw, which sparked a 15-5 run for EMU to knot things up at 17-17 with 11:43 to go in the half.
The two squads began to trade buckets each way until Eastern was able to retake the lead with 7:24 left in the half, 23-21, and held on for the remainder of the first half. EMU extended that lead up to six, 30-24, with just under six minutes to go. The two squads went back-and-forth for the remainder of the half, as the Green and White came into the break with a four-point, 39-35, lead.
Mangum led the offense with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, with three long balls, while Thompson added seven points and six rebounds. EMU turned the ball over just four times, while forcing UDM into nine first half turnovers. The Eagles shot 44.1 percent from the floor and outrebounded Detroit Mercy, 17-16.
Lee opened the scoring again in the second half, knocking down a mid-range jumper to take a six point lead, 41-35. After a quick bucket by UDM, the Eagles took off on a 15-0 run, capped off by a three-ball from Jordan Nobles (Canton, Mich.-Canton) to give Eastern a 19-point, 56-37.
After trading buckets, the Eagles again scored six-straight to jump out to a 24-point advantage, 65-41, with just under 12 minutes to go. The Green and White maintained a 20-plus point lead through much of the remaining half. EMU was able to extend its lead to as many as 30, 84-54, and outscored the Titans, 48-26, in the final 20 minutes of play on its way to an 87-61 victory.
Eastern takes a long break from the hardwood, not playing until Dec. 11, when the Eagles welcome Siena Heights University at the Convocation Center. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Ypsilanti.
Postgame Press Conference.
DETROIT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Riding a two-game winning streak, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team hit the road and extended that streak to three, Wednesday, Nov. 30, when it knocked off the University of Detroit Mercy, 87-61. Despite leading by just four at the half, the Eagles' (5-3) offense exploded for 48 second half points and held the Titans (1-6) to just six field goal makes in the second half on their way to downing Detroit Mercy in Calihan Hall for the first time since 1988.
Senior Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va.-Marshall (San Jacinto College)) was the Eagles' leading scoring, pouring in 21, while redshirt senior Ray Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) added 17. Sophomore James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) and senior Ty Toney (Atlanta, Ga.-Alpharetta (Georgia Highlands)) each added double-digit scoring performances with 14 and 13, respectively. Thompson also grabbed his sixth-straight double-double with 13 rebounds. As a team, Eastern shot 49.2 percent from the floor, while holding Detroit Mercy to just a 38 percent clip.
The Eagles opened up the scoring with a thunderous alley-oop from redshirt senior Quaran Jones (Fargo, N.D.-Ecorse (Findlay)) to Lee, but the Titans went on a quick 12-0 run to take a 12-2 lead with 16:17 left in the first half. Thompson broke the Eagles' scoring drought with a free throw, which sparked a 15-5 run for EMU to knot things up at 17-17 with 11:43 to go in the half.
The two squads began to trade buckets each way until Eastern was able to retake the lead with 7:24 left in the half, 23-21, and held on for the remainder of the first half. EMU extended that lead up to six, 30-24, with just under six minutes to go. The two squads went back-and-forth for the remainder of the half, as the Green and White came into the break with a four-point, 39-35, lead.
Mangum led the offense with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, with three long balls, while Thompson added seven points and six rebounds. EMU turned the ball over just four times, while forcing UDM into nine first half turnovers. The Eagles shot 44.1 percent from the floor and outrebounded Detroit Mercy, 17-16.
Lee opened the scoring again in the second half, knocking down a mid-range jumper to take a six point lead, 41-35. After a quick bucket by UDM, the Eagles took off on a 15-0 run, capped off by a three-ball from Jordan Nobles (Canton, Mich.-Canton) to give Eastern a 19-point, 56-37.
After trading buckets, the Eagles again scored six-straight to jump out to a 24-point advantage, 65-41, with just under 12 minutes to go. The Green and White maintained a 20-plus point lead through much of the remaining half. EMU was able to extend its lead to as many as 30, 84-54, and outscored the Titans, 48-26, in the final 20 minutes of play on its way to an 87-61 victory.
Eastern takes a long break from the hardwood, not playing until Dec. 11, when the Eagles welcome Siena Heights University at the Convocation Center. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Ypsilanti.
Team Stats
EMU
DETMERCY
FG%
.492
.380
3FG%
.333
.182
FT%
.615
.704
RB
40
34
TO
8
19
STL
12
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
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