Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, January 17
Convocation Center
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
12-6, 4-1MAC
86
vs
80
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Western Michigan
6-11, 2-3MAC
1
2
F
Western Michigan
33
47
80
Eastern Michigan
28
58
86
Photo by: Andrew Mascharka
Eagles Best Broncos, 86-80, Behind Thompson's Big Day
1/17/2017 9:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The sophomore had a season-high 26 points in his 10th double-double of the season
Photo Gallery.
Video Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team secured its sixth win in the past seven games, defeating Western Michigan 86-80 in an offensive battle today, Jan. 17 at the Convocation Center. The game remained close for the first 25 minutes of play, but the Eagles (12-6, 4-1 MAC) caught fire in the second half to defeat the Broncos (6-11, 2-3 MAC).
The Eagles had a stellar offensive performance, going 29-of-50 (58 percent) from the field, including an excellent 16-of-23 (69.6 percent) in the second half. The Green and White controlled the paint throughout the game, finishing with 34 points in the paint, compared to WMU's 24. Additionally, EMU cashed in 15 Western turnovers for 21 points.
Sophomore James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La. – Parkview Baptist) had his finest game of the season, going 10-of-12 from the floor, scoring a season-high 26 points and pulling down 11 rebounds, marking his 10th double-double of the season. Additionally, the 26 points was the best mark of his career against an NCAA Division I opponent. Senior Ty Toney (Atlanta, Ga. – Alpharetta (Georgie Highlands College)) also had another solid game, scoring 16 points, while senior Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va. – Marshall (San Jacinto College)) scored 15, including a pair of big three-pointers. Finally, sophomore Baylee Steele (Norwalk, Iowa – Norwalk (Des Moines Area C.C.)) also finished in double digits, pouring in 11 and snagging five rebounds.
After a three from the Broncos to start the game, Thompson came back on the next possession and sunk a hook shot to make the score 3-2 through the opening minutes of play. The hot shooting Broncos sunk two more three-pointers, opening a 9-2 lead, but junior Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md. – City College High School) quickly scored to make it 9-4 at the first media timeout.
Following a steal, Bond drove the lane and converted a tough, contested layup, making it 9-6. EMU's offensive attack continued with a Steele jumper, cutting the lead to just one, 9-8. Thompson then gave EMU its first lead of the game on another hook shot, making it 10-9. Another from Thompson and then a fast break layup from Toney pushed the Eagles in front by three, 14-11, at the next media timeout.
The Broncos retook the lead shortly after, going ahead 16-14 after scoring a quick five points. Both teams continued trading baskets, as WMU remained in front, 18-17, near the eight-minute mark. Thompson kept up his excellent offensive play, scoring on back-to-back possessions to keep EMU within two, 23-21.
Western went on another quick run, pushing the lead to seven, 28-21, before Toney responded with a layup to pull the Green and White back within five. Redshirt sophomore Jordan Nobles (Canton, Mich. – Canton) scored his first points of the game shortly after, sinking a three to make it 30-26 with less than two minutes remaining in the first. Redshirt senior Ray Lee (Detroit, Mich. – Romulus) then pulled WMU within two, but the Broncos came right back and nailed a three, making the halftime score 33-28 with the Broncos in front.
Toney kicked off the second half with a pair from the charity stripe, putting him at six points on the day. A Broncos three followed on the next possession, but Thompson once again came right back and scored two on a pair from the charity stripe. Toney then scored five-points through the next two possessions, keeping the team within two, 39-37.
The first media timeout of the second half saw Eastern still trailing by two, 42-40. Toney then tied things up at 42 after converting a pair of free throws, but the lead was short lived, as WMU retook the lead on the next possession. Eastern returned the favor, as Steele converted a three-point play to go up by one, 45-44.
Both teams traded baskets, as the score remained tied at 47 with 13:30 remaining. A pair of three-pointers from Mangum, however, quickly pushed the Green and White in front by six, 53-47, their largest lead of the day. He followed with a pair of free throws, maintaining EMU's six-point lead, 55-49.
Eastern continued the offensive push, as a Thompson put-back increased the lead to eight, 57-49, and a Toney floater pushed it to 10 with less than nine minutes to go in the game. The Broncos continued attacking, cutting the lead to six, 63-57, as the seven-minute mark approached. A WMU three then pulled the Broncos back within three, but a dunk in traffic from Steele pushed it back to five.
Bond then made his presence known with the five-minute mark approaching, sinking a clutch three to keep the EMU lead at six, 68-62. As had been the case throughout the game, both teams kept trading baskets, as the score stood at 71-66 with 3:16 to go. Toney continued his solid day from the line, sinking two more to make him 7-of-9 on the day.
Thompson padded the EMU lead with another layup, making it 75-67 with just over two minutes to play. The sophomore continued his excellent game with a big offensive rebound and layup with just over a minute to go. Steele then threw down another dunk with under a minute to play, giving him 11 points, while Thompson followed with a dunk of his own to keep EMU in front by nine, 85-76. Despite a few more points from WMU, the Eagles closed out the 86-80 victory.
The Eagles will next head down to Akron for a matchup with the Zips, Friday, Jan. 20. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. inside James A. Rhodes Arena. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Video Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team secured its sixth win in the past seven games, defeating Western Michigan 86-80 in an offensive battle today, Jan. 17 at the Convocation Center. The game remained close for the first 25 minutes of play, but the Eagles (12-6, 4-1 MAC) caught fire in the second half to defeat the Broncos (6-11, 2-3 MAC).
The Eagles had a stellar offensive performance, going 29-of-50 (58 percent) from the field, including an excellent 16-of-23 (69.6 percent) in the second half. The Green and White controlled the paint throughout the game, finishing with 34 points in the paint, compared to WMU's 24. Additionally, EMU cashed in 15 Western turnovers for 21 points.
Sophomore James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La. – Parkview Baptist) had his finest game of the season, going 10-of-12 from the floor, scoring a season-high 26 points and pulling down 11 rebounds, marking his 10th double-double of the season. Additionally, the 26 points was the best mark of his career against an NCAA Division I opponent. Senior Ty Toney (Atlanta, Ga. – Alpharetta (Georgie Highlands College)) also had another solid game, scoring 16 points, while senior Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va. – Marshall (San Jacinto College)) scored 15, including a pair of big three-pointers. Finally, sophomore Baylee Steele (Norwalk, Iowa – Norwalk (Des Moines Area C.C.)) also finished in double digits, pouring in 11 and snagging five rebounds.
After a three from the Broncos to start the game, Thompson came back on the next possession and sunk a hook shot to make the score 3-2 through the opening minutes of play. The hot shooting Broncos sunk two more three-pointers, opening a 9-2 lead, but junior Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md. – City College High School) quickly scored to make it 9-4 at the first media timeout.
Following a steal, Bond drove the lane and converted a tough, contested layup, making it 9-6. EMU's offensive attack continued with a Steele jumper, cutting the lead to just one, 9-8. Thompson then gave EMU its first lead of the game on another hook shot, making it 10-9. Another from Thompson and then a fast break layup from Toney pushed the Eagles in front by three, 14-11, at the next media timeout.
The Broncos retook the lead shortly after, going ahead 16-14 after scoring a quick five points. Both teams continued trading baskets, as WMU remained in front, 18-17, near the eight-minute mark. Thompson kept up his excellent offensive play, scoring on back-to-back possessions to keep EMU within two, 23-21.
Western went on another quick run, pushing the lead to seven, 28-21, before Toney responded with a layup to pull the Green and White back within five. Redshirt sophomore Jordan Nobles (Canton, Mich. – Canton) scored his first points of the game shortly after, sinking a three to make it 30-26 with less than two minutes remaining in the first. Redshirt senior Ray Lee (Detroit, Mich. – Romulus) then pulled WMU within two, but the Broncos came right back and nailed a three, making the halftime score 33-28 with the Broncos in front.
Toney kicked off the second half with a pair from the charity stripe, putting him at six points on the day. A Broncos three followed on the next possession, but Thompson once again came right back and scored two on a pair from the charity stripe. Toney then scored five-points through the next two possessions, keeping the team within two, 39-37.
The first media timeout of the second half saw Eastern still trailing by two, 42-40. Toney then tied things up at 42 after converting a pair of free throws, but the lead was short lived, as WMU retook the lead on the next possession. Eastern returned the favor, as Steele converted a three-point play to go up by one, 45-44.
Both teams traded baskets, as the score remained tied at 47 with 13:30 remaining. A pair of three-pointers from Mangum, however, quickly pushed the Green and White in front by six, 53-47, their largest lead of the day. He followed with a pair of free throws, maintaining EMU's six-point lead, 55-49.
Eastern continued the offensive push, as a Thompson put-back increased the lead to eight, 57-49, and a Toney floater pushed it to 10 with less than nine minutes to go in the game. The Broncos continued attacking, cutting the lead to six, 63-57, as the seven-minute mark approached. A WMU three then pulled the Broncos back within three, but a dunk in traffic from Steele pushed it back to five.
Bond then made his presence known with the five-minute mark approaching, sinking a clutch three to keep the EMU lead at six, 68-62. As had been the case throughout the game, both teams kept trading baskets, as the score stood at 71-66 with 3:16 to go. Toney continued his solid day from the line, sinking two more to make him 7-of-9 on the day.
Thompson padded the EMU lead with another layup, making it 75-67 with just over two minutes to play. The sophomore continued his excellent game with a big offensive rebound and layup with just over a minute to go. Steele then threw down another dunk with under a minute to play, giving him 11 points, while Thompson followed with a dunk of his own to keep EMU in front by nine, 85-76. Despite a few more points from WMU, the Eagles closed out the 86-80 victory.
The Eagles will next head down to Akron for a matchup with the Zips, Friday, Jan. 20. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. inside James A. Rhodes Arena. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Team Stats
WMU
EMU
FG%
.519
.580
3FG%
.500
.417
FT%
.786
.767
RB
27
27
TO
15
10
STL
5
8
Game Leaders
Pts
26
FGM
10
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballF/C
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