Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 13
Convocation Center
12 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
13-12 (5-7MAC)
75
vs
70
Kent State
16-9 (7-5MAC)
1
2
F
Kent State
23
47
70
Eastern Michigan
31
44
75
Photo by: Jonathan Knight Photography
Eagles Hold Off Kent State in 75-70 Victory
2/13/2016 2:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Five Eagles finish in double-figures for EMU
Photo Gallery.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Behind a balanced scoring attack, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team got revenge on Kent State University in a 75-70 win at the Convocation Center Saturday afternoon, Feb. 13. Five EMU players finished with double-digit scoring efforts in the game, as the Eagles (13-12, 5-7 MAC) won back-to-back games in conference play for the first time this season.
Leading the way for Eastern was freshman James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist), who finished with 20 points and a career-high 18 rebounds for his 16th double-double of the season. It was the sixth time he went for 20-or-more points this season. The other four Eagles in double figures were junior Ty Toney (Alpharetta, Ga,- Alpharetta (Georgia Highlands College)) who went for 17 points and three steals, sophomore Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College High School) with 14 points, senior Brandon Nazione (Howell, Mich.-Howell) who dropped 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while redshirt-junior Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) notched 11 points off the bench.
As a team, EMU shot 43.5 percent (27-of-62) from the floor, while only hitting one three point attempt all game. The Eagles out-rebounded the Golden Flashes (16-9, 7-5 MAC) by a 41-32 margin, including 19-10 on the offensive glass. The Green and White forced KSU into 15 turnovers, turning them into 12 of their points. Eight of the turnovers were EMU steals. Finally, Eastern dominated in the paint, outscoring KSU 46-36.
Eastern knocked down the first bucket of the game, but from there struggled to get anything going offensively. KSU scored the next seven points to take a 7-2 advantage early on, before the squads began to heat up as the period rolled on, especially Thompson, who scored eight out of the first 10 points for Eastern. After the second media timeout, EMU trailed 12-10.
Soon after that, Eastern took the lead with free throws and a Nazione fast break dunk. After trading buckets, EMU scored the next six points to open up a 20-14 lead midway through the half.
Kent State knocked down the next two buckets, but EMU answered back going on an 11-2 run, highlighted by a Bond three ball and four Nazione points. Down the stretch of the first half, Eastern held its largest lead of the game at that point, 31-20. The Eagles failed to score in the last four minutes, but held KSU to only three points, taking a 31-23 lead into the half.
Shooting just 40 percent (14-of-35) in the first half, Thompson nearly recorded a double-double in the opening 20 minutes, grabbing 12 points, nine rebounds, a block and a steal. Bond was the next high scorer with seven points while Nazione and Toney completed the first half scoring for EMU with six points apiece. Although Kent State shot at a 40 percent (8-of-20) clip as well, the Eagles shot 15 more from the floor in the opening half helping them to the eight point lead at the break.
Out of the half, both teams shot at a high volume as EMU would not let the Flashes get much closer. Maintaining a steady six-to-eight point lead, Eastern Michigan led, 41-33, at the first media timeout.
From there, KSU began to claw their way back into the contest, outscoring EMU 9-4 over the next stretch to only trail 45-42 at the next media timeout. KSU kept the pressure up after that, retaking the lead at 9:40 for their first advantage, 51-50, since the 11 minute mark of the first half.
Eastern handled the adversity though, scoring seven of the next nine to retake a 57-53 lead. After a huge dunk from Lee put EMU up 59-53, KSU called a timeout with just under six minutes to play in the game. After not much activity following the slam, EMU maintained a 61-56 lead coming out of the final media timeout.
Kent State got to within four points with around three minutes to play, but EMU extended it back to double-digits with just under a minute to play. Despite Kent hitting a pair of three pointers and getting the lead back down to 73-70 with five seconds to go, Toney hit two clutch free throws to secure the 75-70 victory.
Eastern now heads on the road for its final cross-divisional conest when the Eagles flock down to Athens, Ohio for a game with Ohio University. Tip-off from the OU Convocation Center is set for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 16.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Behind a balanced scoring attack, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team got revenge on Kent State University in a 75-70 win at the Convocation Center Saturday afternoon, Feb. 13. Five EMU players finished with double-digit scoring efforts in the game, as the Eagles (13-12, 5-7 MAC) won back-to-back games in conference play for the first time this season.
Leading the way for Eastern was freshman James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist), who finished with 20 points and a career-high 18 rebounds for his 16th double-double of the season. It was the sixth time he went for 20-or-more points this season. The other four Eagles in double figures were junior Ty Toney (Alpharetta, Ga,- Alpharetta (Georgia Highlands College)) who went for 17 points and three steals, sophomore Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College High School) with 14 points, senior Brandon Nazione (Howell, Mich.-Howell) who dropped 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while redshirt-junior Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) notched 11 points off the bench.
As a team, EMU shot 43.5 percent (27-of-62) from the floor, while only hitting one three point attempt all game. The Eagles out-rebounded the Golden Flashes (16-9, 7-5 MAC) by a 41-32 margin, including 19-10 on the offensive glass. The Green and White forced KSU into 15 turnovers, turning them into 12 of their points. Eight of the turnovers were EMU steals. Finally, Eastern dominated in the paint, outscoring KSU 46-36.
Eastern knocked down the first bucket of the game, but from there struggled to get anything going offensively. KSU scored the next seven points to take a 7-2 advantage early on, before the squads began to heat up as the period rolled on, especially Thompson, who scored eight out of the first 10 points for Eastern. After the second media timeout, EMU trailed 12-10.
Soon after that, Eastern took the lead with free throws and a Nazione fast break dunk. After trading buckets, EMU scored the next six points to open up a 20-14 lead midway through the half.
Kent State knocked down the next two buckets, but EMU answered back going on an 11-2 run, highlighted by a Bond three ball and four Nazione points. Down the stretch of the first half, Eastern held its largest lead of the game at that point, 31-20. The Eagles failed to score in the last four minutes, but held KSU to only three points, taking a 31-23 lead into the half.
Shooting just 40 percent (14-of-35) in the first half, Thompson nearly recorded a double-double in the opening 20 minutes, grabbing 12 points, nine rebounds, a block and a steal. Bond was the next high scorer with seven points while Nazione and Toney completed the first half scoring for EMU with six points apiece. Although Kent State shot at a 40 percent (8-of-20) clip as well, the Eagles shot 15 more from the floor in the opening half helping them to the eight point lead at the break.
Out of the half, both teams shot at a high volume as EMU would not let the Flashes get much closer. Maintaining a steady six-to-eight point lead, Eastern Michigan led, 41-33, at the first media timeout.
From there, KSU began to claw their way back into the contest, outscoring EMU 9-4 over the next stretch to only trail 45-42 at the next media timeout. KSU kept the pressure up after that, retaking the lead at 9:40 for their first advantage, 51-50, since the 11 minute mark of the first half.
Eastern handled the adversity though, scoring seven of the next nine to retake a 57-53 lead. After a huge dunk from Lee put EMU up 59-53, KSU called a timeout with just under six minutes to play in the game. After not much activity following the slam, EMU maintained a 61-56 lead coming out of the final media timeout.
Kent State got to within four points with around three minutes to play, but EMU extended it back to double-digits with just under a minute to play. Despite Kent hitting a pair of three pointers and getting the lead back down to 73-70 with five seconds to go, Toney hit two clutch free throws to secure the 75-70 victory.
Eastern now heads on the road for its final cross-divisional conest when the Eagles flock down to Athens, Ohio for a game with Ohio University. Tip-off from the OU Convocation Center is set for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 16.
Team Stats
KENTST
EMU
FG%
.472
.429
3FG%
.385
.071
FT%
.714
.625
RB
32
42
TO
15
9
STL
3
8
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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