Eagles Hang Tight, Ultimately Fall on Road to Syracuse

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team hung in for most of the game, but ultimately fell to Syracuse University, 62-47, Wednesday night, Dec. 27, at the Carrier Dome. The Eagles (8-4) were tied with the Orange (11-2) at 24 at the half, but SU outscored EMU, 38-23, to pull away in the second stanza.

Redshirt junior Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Lincoln Park (Robert Morris)) led EMU with 13 points, while fellow junior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) added 12 to go along with a team-best nine rebounds. Redshirt junior Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King Jr. (Eastern Kentucky)) was the third Eagle in double figures, notching 10 total.

As a team, EMU shot 37.0 percent (20-of-54) from the field, while SU was only 2.1 percent better at 39.1 (18-of-46). The biggest disparity of the game came at the free throw line, as EMU finished just 4-of-6 (66.7 %) from the stripe, while SU was 20-of-26 (76.9 %). EMU controlled the paint, 28-20, while also totaling 13 points off its seven steals.

Syracuse started the game scoring the first five points, but EMU responded with an 11-0 run to storm ahead by six at the 12 minute mark. Thompson tallied six of the points as he dominated the paint early.

The Eagles extended the advantage to seven soon after, but SU hit their first three of the day at the 8:48 mark, after starting 0-for-8, to cut into the lead. Midway through the half, EMU maintained its advantage, 15-13.

A pair of SU free throws tied the game, but Minnie responded with a three ball to get the lead back. Syracuse continued to cash in from the charity stripe, tying the game again, and another Orange three gave them their first lead since the 16-minute mark, 21-18. A Jackson fast break layup made it a one-point contest at the final media timeout of the first half.

Down the stretch both teams traded buckets, and EMU remained down just two with 30 seconds to go. With the final possession, a senior Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College High School) three ball rimmed out, but Minnie was there to tip in the rebound right before the buzzer to make it 24-24 at the half.

Coming out of the break, Syracuse went on a 7-0 run to take their largest lead of the night, 33-26. A thunderous Bond dunk got Eastern back within five at the first timeout. Syracuse extended the lead to nine not long after, but the Eagles continued to battle, keeping it a five-point game with 11 minutes to play.

Eastern cut the deficit to just two on a Thompson layup and redshirt junior Terry Harris (Dix Hills, N.Y.-Half Hollow Hills West (Houston Baptist)) three pointer, but SU would not relinquish the lead, getting back up by six at the under eight timeout. The Orange rode the momentum to a 10-point lead with six minutes to go, and extended it further before the under four, 58-43. EMU would not get any closer, finishing with the 15-point defeat.

The Eagles close out the 2017 calendar year at home later this week against Rochester College, Friday, Dec. 29. Tip-off from the Convocation Center is set for 2 p.m.

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Team Stats

Elijah Minnie

James Thompson IV

Paul Jackson

Terry Harris

Players Mentioned

Tim Bond

Terry Harris

Paul Jackson

Elijah Minnie

James Thompson IV

Players Mentioned

Tim Bond

Terry Harris

Paul Jackson

Elijah Minnie

James Thompson IV

Eastern Michigan Athletics