Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 18
Kalamazoo, Mich.
4 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
80
at
88
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Western Michigan
Photo by: Andrew Mascharka
Lee’s Season-High 27 Points Not Enough at Rival Western Michigan
2/18/2017 6:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Lee set the program’s career games played mark by appearing in his 129th contest
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Despite a hot-shooting afternoon, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team could not match Western Michigan University's sharp-shooting in an 88-80 setback Saturday, Feb. 18, in Mid-American Conference action inside University Arena. The Broncos (11-15, 7-7 MAC) connected on eight three-point tries to squander a 58.2 percent (35-of-55) shooting performance by the Eagles (13-14, 5-9 MAC).
Playing in his 129th career game in an EMU uniform, redshirt senior Ray Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) became the program's all-time leader in games played surpassing Jamell Harris (2009-13). Lee returned to his previous form with his best game since Jan. 24 with a 27-point performance on 10-for-17 shooting. The total was Lee's most since the season-opener in double-overtime at Pittsburgh, Nov. 11, 2016..
Senior Ty Toney (Atlanta, Ga.-Alpharetta-Georgia Highlands College) and sophomore James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) were the only other Eagles in double figures with 13 points apiece, respectively. For the game, EMU shot above 50 percent for just the third time in conference play, but struggled from the free throw line going 12-of-21.
With the victory, Western Michigan (11-15, 7-7 MAC) avenged an earlier loss to EMU at the Convocation Center and kept pace in a compacted MAC West Division. Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan (13-14, 5-9 MAC) dropped its sixth consecutive contest for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
Senior Tucker Haymond led the way with 26 for the Broncos, going 10-for-11 at the charity stripe.
EMU jumped out to the early 8-2 edge just two minutes into the contest thanks in part to three steals on the defensive end of the floor. The Bronco's offensive woes continued as the field goal drought grew for more than four minutes before Wilder answered with an off-balance shot in the lane to cut the EMU edge to four, 8-4, with 15:34 remaining.
WMU was able to add another bucket before an offensive stalemate that took EMU more than four minutes to overcome. Lee finally ended the WMU run with a basket and free throw opportunity with 13:27 showing in the period to push the EMU edge to 11-6.
Lee's early production continued to pay off with his first three-pointer since Jan. 24 to make it 18-13, however, Jarrin Randel answered with a trey of his own for the home team. Another triple promptly followed for the Broncos following an EMU strip at midcourt to give WMU its first lead of the game at 21-20 with 9:56 still to play in the half.
The advantage continued to see saw back and forth with neither side able to build a leader larger than four. A layup by Haymond at the 3:06 mark finally broke the spell and gave the senior his 11th point of the half at 35-29.
Western used a trio of free throws by Wilder with 1:38 to go to up its advantage to its largest of the game, 40-33, but free throws late by Eastern cut it to four. However, with time winding down, Randall hit his second three of the day to send the teams to the half with WMU leading 43-36.
Eastern was red-hot from the floor in the first half, shooting a season-best 60 percent (15-of-25) with Lee leading the way with 10 points. WMU was even better from outside making five threes as they shot a 54 percent clip (15-of-28) overall. The other telling number of the stanza, the Broncos ability to get to open look with nine assists to just two for the Eagles.
Out of the locker room, EMU went inside to Thompson on its first three possessions of the half to pull back within four, 43-39. Much as was the case though in the opening frame, each time WMU answered with a run of its own to keep the momentum squarely in its favor.
Four turnovers by the Eagles helped key an 11-2 WMU run that was capped by Reggie Jones' second three of the afternoon. Eastern showed no quit though with a quick 6-0 run to cut the margin back to nine, 59-50, with 13:37 remaining.
The Eagles' defense continued to be up to the task, but foul troubles were beginning to mount with four different players having to play with three-or-more fouls. Playing the odds, Haymond was able to sneak free down low to connect on his eighth field goal with 9:28 left to make it 67-54.
Needing an answer, Lee drilled another trey to get back within single-digits. The sides would continue to battle but EMU was unable to get any closer than eight for the remainder of the contest as the Broncos captured an 88-78 victory.
Eastern Michigan remains on the road Tuesday, Feb. 22, with a visit to Ball State University. Game time is schedule for 7 p.m. at Worthen Arena in Muncie, Ind.
Playing in his 129th career game in an EMU uniform, redshirt senior Ray Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) became the program's all-time leader in games played surpassing Jamell Harris (2009-13). Lee returned to his previous form with his best game since Jan. 24 with a 27-point performance on 10-for-17 shooting. The total was Lee's most since the season-opener in double-overtime at Pittsburgh, Nov. 11, 2016..
Senior Ty Toney (Atlanta, Ga.-Alpharetta-Georgia Highlands College) and sophomore James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) were the only other Eagles in double figures with 13 points apiece, respectively. For the game, EMU shot above 50 percent for just the third time in conference play, but struggled from the free throw line going 12-of-21.
With the victory, Western Michigan (11-15, 7-7 MAC) avenged an earlier loss to EMU at the Convocation Center and kept pace in a compacted MAC West Division. Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan (13-14, 5-9 MAC) dropped its sixth consecutive contest for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
Senior Tucker Haymond led the way with 26 for the Broncos, going 10-for-11 at the charity stripe.
EMU jumped out to the early 8-2 edge just two minutes into the contest thanks in part to three steals on the defensive end of the floor. The Bronco's offensive woes continued as the field goal drought grew for more than four minutes before Wilder answered with an off-balance shot in the lane to cut the EMU edge to four, 8-4, with 15:34 remaining.
WMU was able to add another bucket before an offensive stalemate that took EMU more than four minutes to overcome. Lee finally ended the WMU run with a basket and free throw opportunity with 13:27 showing in the period to push the EMU edge to 11-6.
Lee's early production continued to pay off with his first three-pointer since Jan. 24 to make it 18-13, however, Jarrin Randel answered with a trey of his own for the home team. Another triple promptly followed for the Broncos following an EMU strip at midcourt to give WMU its first lead of the game at 21-20 with 9:56 still to play in the half.
The advantage continued to see saw back and forth with neither side able to build a leader larger than four. A layup by Haymond at the 3:06 mark finally broke the spell and gave the senior his 11th point of the half at 35-29.
Western used a trio of free throws by Wilder with 1:38 to go to up its advantage to its largest of the game, 40-33, but free throws late by Eastern cut it to four. However, with time winding down, Randall hit his second three of the day to send the teams to the half with WMU leading 43-36.
Eastern was red-hot from the floor in the first half, shooting a season-best 60 percent (15-of-25) with Lee leading the way with 10 points. WMU was even better from outside making five threes as they shot a 54 percent clip (15-of-28) overall. The other telling number of the stanza, the Broncos ability to get to open look with nine assists to just two for the Eagles.
Out of the locker room, EMU went inside to Thompson on its first three possessions of the half to pull back within four, 43-39. Much as was the case though in the opening frame, each time WMU answered with a run of its own to keep the momentum squarely in its favor.
Four turnovers by the Eagles helped key an 11-2 WMU run that was capped by Reggie Jones' second three of the afternoon. Eastern showed no quit though with a quick 6-0 run to cut the margin back to nine, 59-50, with 13:37 remaining.
The Eagles' defense continued to be up to the task, but foul troubles were beginning to mount with four different players having to play with three-or-more fouls. Playing the odds, Haymond was able to sneak free down low to connect on his eighth field goal with 9:28 left to make it 67-54.
Needing an answer, Lee drilled another trey to get back within single-digits. The sides would continue to battle but EMU was unable to get any closer than eight for the remainder of the contest as the Broncos captured an 88-78 victory.
Eastern Michigan remains on the road Tuesday, Feb. 22, with a visit to Ball State University. Game time is schedule for 7 p.m. at Worthen Arena in Muncie, Ind.
2025-26 Field of 68 Men's Basketball Preview: Eastern Michigan Eagles
Tuesday, October 21
Men's Basketball Alumni Game All Call
Tuesday, October 21
2025 E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
Saturday, October 11
E-Club Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Cinematic Recap
Saturday, October 11