Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 13
DeKalb, Ill.
3:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
10-7 (1-3MAC)
66
at
72
Northern Illinois
9-8 (2-2MAC)
1
2
F
Eastern Michigan
33
33
66
Northern Illinois
27
45
72
Late Threes Doom EMU in Loss at NIU
1/13/2018 6:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Eastern was led by 19 points from Paul Jackson
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team was in the game for a majority of the contest, but in the end late clutch threes from Northern Illinois University buried the Eagles in a 72-66 defeat inside the NIU Convocation Center Saturday afternoon, Jan. 13.
Eastern (10-7, 1-3 MAC) led by as many as eight in the first half, and never trailed by more than 11, but six three-balls from the Huskies (9-8, 2-2 MAC) in the second frame sealed the deal late. Both teams shot 45 percent from the field, but NIU's 33 percent clip from deep ended up being the difference. NIU also controlled its possessions all game, holding EMU to a season-low four steals.
Redshirt junior Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King Jr. (Eastern Kentucky)) was EMU's leading scorer with 19 points, while junior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) registered the 51st double-double of his career with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Redshirt junior Jordan Nobles (Canton, Mich.-Canton) was the other EMU player in double figures, finishing with 11.
EMU began the game with a corner three from Nobles, but the Huskies remained close early on, trailing just 5-4, at the first media. EMU then went on an 11-2 run to go up by eight, 16-8, about midway through the first half.
NIU responded with a run of their own to tie the contest up at 16-all with nine minutes left on the clock. They would go on to grab their largest lead to that point of the game by three, 22-19, at the under-eight timeout.
Both teams then began to trade blows, as neither could gain more than a two-point advantage heading into the final three minutes of the half. In the final three, EMU gained some momentum before the break, getting four from each Jackson and redshirt freshman Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) to end it on an 8-2 run, and take a six point lead, 33-27, into the locker room.
Out of the break NIU came out firing, scoring the first 10 points to storm back ahead, 37-33. EMU got out of the funk before too long, breaking the run with Jackson free throws and a fast break layup. Those gave him 12 on the day, and tied the score at 37 at the first break in the action of the second half.
The Eagles continued to play in a rut, going down by seven two minutes later. Despite a five point flush to get it within two, NIU responded with seven more consecutive points to gain a nine point advantage, 51-42, at the midway point of the second frame.
The deficit went to as many as 11, but EMU continued to battle, getting the score down to 54-49 with about seven and a half to play. Eastern struggled to get any closer though, as NIU continued to hit clutch three pointers to maintain its steady lead.
Jackson continued to lead the comeback charge, as four more from him, combined with Nobles' third corner three of the contest, got Eastern back within three with four minutes to go. NIU's fourth second half three ball extended it back to six. Thompson then got it done from the free throw stripe, hitting four in a row to get back to within two.
NIU's hot shooting from three was unrelenting though, as the Huskies hit another to get back ahead by five with about a minute to play. After pulling within three, NIU's sixth second-half three was the final nail in the coffin, as the Eagles went on to drop the contest by six, 72-66.
The Eagles return home to start a two-game home swing next Tuesday, Jan. 16, when they welcome the University of Akron to the Convocation Center. Tipoff against the Zips is set for 7 p.m.
Eastern (10-7, 1-3 MAC) led by as many as eight in the first half, and never trailed by more than 11, but six three-balls from the Huskies (9-8, 2-2 MAC) in the second frame sealed the deal late. Both teams shot 45 percent from the field, but NIU's 33 percent clip from deep ended up being the difference. NIU also controlled its possessions all game, holding EMU to a season-low four steals.
Redshirt junior Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King Jr. (Eastern Kentucky)) was EMU's leading scorer with 19 points, while junior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) registered the 51st double-double of his career with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Redshirt junior Jordan Nobles (Canton, Mich.-Canton) was the other EMU player in double figures, finishing with 11.
EMU began the game with a corner three from Nobles, but the Huskies remained close early on, trailing just 5-4, at the first media. EMU then went on an 11-2 run to go up by eight, 16-8, about midway through the first half.
NIU responded with a run of their own to tie the contest up at 16-all with nine minutes left on the clock. They would go on to grab their largest lead to that point of the game by three, 22-19, at the under-eight timeout.
Both teams then began to trade blows, as neither could gain more than a two-point advantage heading into the final three minutes of the half. In the final three, EMU gained some momentum before the break, getting four from each Jackson and redshirt freshman Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) to end it on an 8-2 run, and take a six point lead, 33-27, into the locker room.
Out of the break NIU came out firing, scoring the first 10 points to storm back ahead, 37-33. EMU got out of the funk before too long, breaking the run with Jackson free throws and a fast break layup. Those gave him 12 on the day, and tied the score at 37 at the first break in the action of the second half.
The Eagles continued to play in a rut, going down by seven two minutes later. Despite a five point flush to get it within two, NIU responded with seven more consecutive points to gain a nine point advantage, 51-42, at the midway point of the second frame.
The deficit went to as many as 11, but EMU continued to battle, getting the score down to 54-49 with about seven and a half to play. Eastern struggled to get any closer though, as NIU continued to hit clutch three pointers to maintain its steady lead.
Jackson continued to lead the comeback charge, as four more from him, combined with Nobles' third corner three of the contest, got Eastern back within three with four minutes to go. NIU's fourth second half three ball extended it back to six. Thompson then got it done from the free throw stripe, hitting four in a row to get back to within two.
NIU's hot shooting from three was unrelenting though, as the Huskies hit another to get back ahead by five with about a minute to play. After pulling within three, NIU's sixth second-half three was the final nail in the coffin, as the Eagles went on to drop the contest by six, 72-66.
The Eagles return home to start a two-game home swing next Tuesday, Jan. 16, when they welcome the University of Akron to the Convocation Center. Tipoff against the Zips is set for 7 p.m.
Team Stats
EMU
NIU
FG%
.453
.450
3FG%
.211
.333
FT%
.737
.647
RB
33
35
TO
11
10
STL
4
6
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
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