Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 6
Buffalo, N.Y.
3:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
11-12, 3-7MAC
70
at
80
Buffalo
14-9, 7-3MAC
1
2
F
Eastern Michigan
36
34
70
Buffalo
32
48
80
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagles Unable to Hold Off Buffalo in 80-70 Setback
2/6/2016 7:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball
James Thompson IV posted his 14th double-double of the 2015-16 season
BUFFALO, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team traveled to Buffalo, N.Y. Saturday afternoon, Feb. 6, to square off with the University at Buffalo in a rematch of an EMU victory earlier this season. Despite leading for more than 35 minutes in the game, the Eagles (11-12, 3-7 MAC) dropped an 80-70 decision to the Bulls (14-9, 7-3 MAC) who won their fourth-straight game.
James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) led the Eagles on both ends of the floor, collecting his 14th double-double of the 2015-16 campaign, while blocking four UB shots. Thompson finished the game with 18 points and 14 rebounds, while four other Eagles managed double-digit scoring performances as well. Ty Toney (Alpharetta, Ga.-Alpharetta (Georgia Highlands)) poured in 16, while Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) and Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va.-Marshall (San Jacinto College)) notched 11 and 10, respectively. In addition, Brandon Nazione (Howell, Mich.-Howell (Des Moines Area C.C.)) went for a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. As a team, the Green and White shot 40.7 percent from the floor.
The Eagles opened up the scoring with nice high-low play from Nazione to Thompson, sparking an 18-3 run through the first six and a half minutes of the game. With all the momentum in favor of the Green and White, the Bulls fought back going and cut into the Eagles' advantage quickly.
Looking at a 29-16 lead after Toney split a pair of free throws with 5:50 left in the first half, Buffalo clipped into the lead yet again, grabbing a quick 5-0 run to make it an eight-point, 29-21, game at the 5:10 mark. After that run, the Eagles and Bulls traded points, before UB scored seven in a row to come within one point, 32-31, with just 24 seconds remaining in the half.
Planning on running the clock to close out the half, Rob Murphy's squad took the ball on the offensive and Toney drove the lane but was called for a charge, giving the Bulls a crack at the last shot. On the ensuing possession, the Green and White forced Buffalo to step on the out of bounds line, giving EMU another shot at the last shot of the half with two seconds left. Toney passed the ball into Mangum who raised for a half court shot just inside the timeline and buried it to give the Eagles a 36-32 lead at the break.
For the first stanza, the Eagles shot at a 39.4 percent clip (13-of-33), while connecting on 30 percent (3-of-10) of their three point attempts. Thompson led the offense with 10 points, while Mangum and Toney poured in eight apiece. In addition, Nazione pulled down seven rebounds, while Thompson added six. Although he did not crack the scoring column in the first half, Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) distributed three assists in the first 20 minutes.
The Eagles struggled out of the gate as Buffalo brought EMU lead to just two, 40-38. After trading buckets, Eastern Michigan used a quick 7-0 run to jump on top by 10, 54-44, with just 11:43 remaining in the game.
The score again bounced back and forth over the next four minutes of play before 14-5 run tied up the game for the first time since the opening tip, 64-64, with 4:14 left. On the ensuing possession, Buffalo's C.J. Massinburg was fouled and sank a pair of free throws to give the Bulls their first lead of the game. UB never relinquished the lead, holding on for an 80-70 victory.
Eastern Michigan returns to the floor Tuesday, Feb. 9, to square off with Central Michigan University for the second time this season. The Green and White will take on the Chippewas at 7 p.m. from the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich.
James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) led the Eagles on both ends of the floor, collecting his 14th double-double of the 2015-16 campaign, while blocking four UB shots. Thompson finished the game with 18 points and 14 rebounds, while four other Eagles managed double-digit scoring performances as well. Ty Toney (Alpharetta, Ga.-Alpharetta (Georgia Highlands)) poured in 16, while Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) and Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va.-Marshall (San Jacinto College)) notched 11 and 10, respectively. In addition, Brandon Nazione (Howell, Mich.-Howell (Des Moines Area C.C.)) went for a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. As a team, the Green and White shot 40.7 percent from the floor.
The Eagles opened up the scoring with nice high-low play from Nazione to Thompson, sparking an 18-3 run through the first six and a half minutes of the game. With all the momentum in favor of the Green and White, the Bulls fought back going and cut into the Eagles' advantage quickly.
Looking at a 29-16 lead after Toney split a pair of free throws with 5:50 left in the first half, Buffalo clipped into the lead yet again, grabbing a quick 5-0 run to make it an eight-point, 29-21, game at the 5:10 mark. After that run, the Eagles and Bulls traded points, before UB scored seven in a row to come within one point, 32-31, with just 24 seconds remaining in the half.
Planning on running the clock to close out the half, Rob Murphy's squad took the ball on the offensive and Toney drove the lane but was called for a charge, giving the Bulls a crack at the last shot. On the ensuing possession, the Green and White forced Buffalo to step on the out of bounds line, giving EMU another shot at the last shot of the half with two seconds left. Toney passed the ball into Mangum who raised for a half court shot just inside the timeline and buried it to give the Eagles a 36-32 lead at the break.
For the first stanza, the Eagles shot at a 39.4 percent clip (13-of-33), while connecting on 30 percent (3-of-10) of their three point attempts. Thompson led the offense with 10 points, while Mangum and Toney poured in eight apiece. In addition, Nazione pulled down seven rebounds, while Thompson added six. Although he did not crack the scoring column in the first half, Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) distributed three assists in the first 20 minutes.
The Eagles struggled out of the gate as Buffalo brought EMU lead to just two, 40-38. After trading buckets, Eastern Michigan used a quick 7-0 run to jump on top by 10, 54-44, with just 11:43 remaining in the game.
The score again bounced back and forth over the next four minutes of play before 14-5 run tied up the game for the first time since the opening tip, 64-64, with 4:14 left. On the ensuing possession, Buffalo's C.J. Massinburg was fouled and sank a pair of free throws to give the Bulls their first lead of the game. UB never relinquished the lead, holding on for an 80-70 victory.
Eastern Michigan returns to the floor Tuesday, Feb. 9, to square off with Central Michigan University for the second time this season. The Green and White will take on the Chippewas at 7 p.m. from the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Team Stats
EMU
UB
FG%
.407
.365
3FG%
.267
.261
FT%
.783
.737
RB
42
42
TO
18
12
STL
5
9
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
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