Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 4
DeKalb, Ill.
3:30 p.m. CT
Eastern Michigan University
13-10 (5-5MAC)
69
at
81
Northern Illinois
14-9 (6-4MAC)
1
2
F
Eastern Michigan
33
36
69
Northern Illinois
40
41
81
Photo by: Andrew Mascharka
Despite Quick Start, Eastern Falls 81-69 at NIU
2/4/2017 6:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Green and White were up early but eventually dropped the MAC West battle
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team dropped a road game in DeKalb, Ill. today, Feb. 4, against Northern Illinois University by a final score of 81-69. The Eagles (13-10, 5-5 MAC) kept things close in the early goings, but the Huskies (13-10, 5-5 MAC) ran away throughout the second half.
The Green and White finished the game 25-of-55 (45.5 percent) from the floor, mirroring the offensive performance from Northern Illinois. The difference came at the free throw line, however, as NIU finished 24-of-29 (82.8 percent), while EMU was 12-of-20 (60 percent). Eastern came out on top in second chance points, 16-10, in addition to also matching the Huskies with seven three pointers.
Senior Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va.-Marshall (San Jacinto College)) paced the EMU attack, totaling 17 points with four three pointers, along with four assists. Both sophomore James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) and senior Ty Toney (Atlanta, Ga.-Alpharetta (Georgia Highlands College)) notched 12 points, with Thompson also pitching in seven boards and three assists, while Toney notched two rebound and two assists.
Thompson was the first Eagle to score, using a nice under the basket move to drop the layup and make it 2-0 in the early goings. Mangum was up next, drilling his first three of the game to make it 5-2 with two minutes down. Thompson came right back on the next possession, corralling a tough offensive rebound and sinking the layup to keep the lead at two, 7-5.
The trend continued, as Mangum scored once again on a long three, doubling up the Huskies, 10-5, while Toney scored his first points of the game to make it 12-7 at the first media timeout. After a block from redshirt junior Lamar Wofford-Humphrey (Chicago, Ill.-Homewood-Flossmoor (Butler C.C.)), Toney took it the whole way and sunk the tough layup to push the lead to seven, 14-7.
Thompson continued his solid overall start to the game, dishing a nice assist to redshirt junior Nick Madray (Mississauga, Ontario-Stephen Lewis (Binghamton)) for an easy layup. After that, a 5-0 Huskies run pulled NIU within two, 16-14, at the second media timeout of the half. After a brief lead for Northern Illinois, junior Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College High School) sunk EMU's third three pointer of the game to make it 19-17. After the Huskies tied it up, Toney sunk a mid-range jumper to put the Green and White back in front by two, 21-19.
After being fouled on a three-point attempt, Mangum sunk all three from the charity stripe, giving him nine in the game. A wild shot attempt from Toney bounced off the rim and in, keeping the Eagles in front by five, 26-21.NIU then went on a 7-0 run, retaking the lead by two, 28-26. Northern continued attacking, pushing the lead to six, 32-26, forcing an EMU timeout.
Mangum got the Green and White back on track with another very long three, which was his third of the game. Toney then snuck past the NIU defense, dropping in the easy layup to give him 10 on the day. However, Northern Illinois continued sinking shots and converting free throws, as NIU's lead stood at nine with less than 40 seconds in the first.
Thompson was then hacked on a dunk attempt with less than 10 seconds to go, and the sophomore sunk both to keep EMU within seven. At half, the Huskies held a 40-33 lead in large part due to 16 free throws.
The second half began with a beautiful feed from Toney to sophomore Baylee Steele (Norwalk, Iowa-Norwalk (Des Moines Area C.C.)), who scored his first points of the game and made it 40-35. A put back from Thompson continued the attack, making it 40-37 through the first three minutes of the half. An unfortunate swing went in favor of NIU shortly after, as Eastern nearly swiped the Huskies' pocket for an easy bucket, but instead Northern took it right back for an easy dunk.
The NIU offense continued scoring, pushing the lead to nine, 46-37, before Mangum sunk his fourth three of the game. After three more points for Northern, Toney went to the line on back-to-back possessions and tacked two for EMU, with the score standing at 51-42 with about 12 minutes left to play. The Huskies then pushed the lead to double digits, 54-44, at the media timeout.
A three from Wofford-Humphrey cut the score back down to single digits, 55-47, but NIU came right back on the other end with a pair of free throws. Mangum then banked in a shot off the glass, pulling within seven, 56-49 as the 10-minute mark passed. As had been the trend, anytime that the Eagles began to chip away at the lead, NIU came right back and halted the run. At the 8:24 mark, Eastern trailed by 11, 62-51.
Steele then showed off some quick hands, corralling a tough pass and laying it in for two. From there, the Eagles struggled to get things moving offensively, while the Huskies padded their lead to make it 68-53 with just over five minutes remaining. The onslaught continued, as NIU hit a three to push the score to 73-54.
Thompson then threw down a nice dunk, getting fouled in the process. Senior Ray Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) then notched his third point of the game on a pair of free throws, but NIU remained in front by 17, 77-60. Wofford-Humphrey followed with a nice put back bucket, giving him seven on the day, which is just one behind his career-high. Redshirt sophomore Jordan Nobles (Canton, Mich.-Canton) then scored his first points of the game on a three, making it 78-65 with two minutes left. The Huskies chewed up clock from there, with the game coming to an end with a final tally of 81-69.
Eastern remains on the road next week, making the quick trip south for a game against Toledo, Tuesday, Feb. 7. Action in Toledo, Ohio is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
The Green and White finished the game 25-of-55 (45.5 percent) from the floor, mirroring the offensive performance from Northern Illinois. The difference came at the free throw line, however, as NIU finished 24-of-29 (82.8 percent), while EMU was 12-of-20 (60 percent). Eastern came out on top in second chance points, 16-10, in addition to also matching the Huskies with seven three pointers.
Senior Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va.-Marshall (San Jacinto College)) paced the EMU attack, totaling 17 points with four three pointers, along with four assists. Both sophomore James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) and senior Ty Toney (Atlanta, Ga.-Alpharetta (Georgia Highlands College)) notched 12 points, with Thompson also pitching in seven boards and three assists, while Toney notched two rebound and two assists.
Thompson was the first Eagle to score, using a nice under the basket move to drop the layup and make it 2-0 in the early goings. Mangum was up next, drilling his first three of the game to make it 5-2 with two minutes down. Thompson came right back on the next possession, corralling a tough offensive rebound and sinking the layup to keep the lead at two, 7-5.
The trend continued, as Mangum scored once again on a long three, doubling up the Huskies, 10-5, while Toney scored his first points of the game to make it 12-7 at the first media timeout. After a block from redshirt junior Lamar Wofford-Humphrey (Chicago, Ill.-Homewood-Flossmoor (Butler C.C.)), Toney took it the whole way and sunk the tough layup to push the lead to seven, 14-7.
Thompson continued his solid overall start to the game, dishing a nice assist to redshirt junior Nick Madray (Mississauga, Ontario-Stephen Lewis (Binghamton)) for an easy layup. After that, a 5-0 Huskies run pulled NIU within two, 16-14, at the second media timeout of the half. After a brief lead for Northern Illinois, junior Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College High School) sunk EMU's third three pointer of the game to make it 19-17. After the Huskies tied it up, Toney sunk a mid-range jumper to put the Green and White back in front by two, 21-19.
After being fouled on a three-point attempt, Mangum sunk all three from the charity stripe, giving him nine in the game. A wild shot attempt from Toney bounced off the rim and in, keeping the Eagles in front by five, 26-21.NIU then went on a 7-0 run, retaking the lead by two, 28-26. Northern continued attacking, pushing the lead to six, 32-26, forcing an EMU timeout.
Mangum got the Green and White back on track with another very long three, which was his third of the game. Toney then snuck past the NIU defense, dropping in the easy layup to give him 10 on the day. However, Northern Illinois continued sinking shots and converting free throws, as NIU's lead stood at nine with less than 40 seconds in the first.
Thompson was then hacked on a dunk attempt with less than 10 seconds to go, and the sophomore sunk both to keep EMU within seven. At half, the Huskies held a 40-33 lead in large part due to 16 free throws.
The second half began with a beautiful feed from Toney to sophomore Baylee Steele (Norwalk, Iowa-Norwalk (Des Moines Area C.C.)), who scored his first points of the game and made it 40-35. A put back from Thompson continued the attack, making it 40-37 through the first three minutes of the half. An unfortunate swing went in favor of NIU shortly after, as Eastern nearly swiped the Huskies' pocket for an easy bucket, but instead Northern took it right back for an easy dunk.
The NIU offense continued scoring, pushing the lead to nine, 46-37, before Mangum sunk his fourth three of the game. After three more points for Northern, Toney went to the line on back-to-back possessions and tacked two for EMU, with the score standing at 51-42 with about 12 minutes left to play. The Huskies then pushed the lead to double digits, 54-44, at the media timeout.
A three from Wofford-Humphrey cut the score back down to single digits, 55-47, but NIU came right back on the other end with a pair of free throws. Mangum then banked in a shot off the glass, pulling within seven, 56-49 as the 10-minute mark passed. As had been the trend, anytime that the Eagles began to chip away at the lead, NIU came right back and halted the run. At the 8:24 mark, Eastern trailed by 11, 62-51.
Steele then showed off some quick hands, corralling a tough pass and laying it in for two. From there, the Eagles struggled to get things moving offensively, while the Huskies padded their lead to make it 68-53 with just over five minutes remaining. The onslaught continued, as NIU hit a three to push the score to 73-54.
Thompson then threw down a nice dunk, getting fouled in the process. Senior Ray Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) then notched his third point of the game on a pair of free throws, but NIU remained in front by 17, 77-60. Wofford-Humphrey followed with a nice put back bucket, giving him seven on the day, which is just one behind his career-high. Redshirt sophomore Jordan Nobles (Canton, Mich.-Canton) then scored his first points of the game on a three, making it 78-65 with two minutes left. The Huskies chewed up clock from there, with the game coming to an end with a final tally of 81-69.
Eastern remains on the road next week, making the quick trip south for a game against Toledo, Tuesday, Feb. 7. Action in Toledo, Ohio is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
EMU
NIU
FG%
.455
.455
3FG%
.368
.412
FT%
.600
.828
RB
30
35
TO
14
11
STL
2
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballF/C
/ Men's BasketballF
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