Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, January 16
Convocation Center
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
11-7 (2-3MAC)
63
vs
49
Akron
8-9 (1-4MAC)
1
2
F
Akron
27
22
49
Eastern Michigan
34
29
63
EMU Men’s Basketball Zips Past Akron, 63-49
1/16/2018 9:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Elijah Minnie tallies 22 points, four blocks, and four steals
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team got back in the win column with a convincing 63-49 victory over the University of Akron Tuesday, Jan. 16, inside the Convocation Center.
The Eagles (11-7, 2-3 MAC) defeated the Zips (8-9, 1-4 MAC) for the first time since Feb. 14, 2015, snapping a four-game skid.
For the third time this season, EMU had at least two players record 20 or more points in a single game. Redshirt junior Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Lincoln Park (Robert Morris)) paced the Eagles with 22 points in addition to five rebounds, four blocks, and a team-high four steals. Redshirt junior Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King Jr. (Eastern Kentucky)) tallied 20 points, eight boards, and a team-best four assists. Junior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) added eight points, eight boards, and four blocks, while senior Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College High School) collected five rebounds and led the Green and White with six assists.
The Eagles were the superior team on offense, shooting 46.7 percent (21-of-45) from the floor compared to Akron's 30.9 percent (17-of-55) clip. On the defensive end, the Eagles out-blocked the Zips by a 10-2 margin and out-rebounded the visitors, 34-32.
EMU started the scoring with a three-point play from Jackson early in the contest. After falling behind 8-5, Minnie and Nobles connected on back-to-back corner threes to put the Green and White back in front, 11-8. The Eagles' offense was in command in the early stages, using a 14-5 run late in the stanza to build a seven-point advantage. For the fourth time in five Mid-American Conference games, EMU led at the break as they took a 34-27 lead into the locker room.
The Eagles carried the play to begin the second half, with Minnie's layup giving the Green and White its largest lead to that point, 41-31, heading into the first media timeout of the final frame. Leading 43-35, a thunderous one-handed slam from Minnie restored the Eagles' 10-point cushion with 10:12 remaining in the second stanza, prompting Akron head coach John Groce to burn a full timeout.
After Akron cut the lead to five, Bond set up Minnie for an alley-oop to give EMU a 47-40 edge with 8:21 to play in the second half. The Eagles grabbed a 51-43 lead when Minnie beat the shot clock with a three from NBA range with 6:33 left in regulation.
The Eagles pulled away in the closing stages, at one stage going on a 10-0 run to open up a 63-47 lead. EMU knocked off Akron, 63-49, to improve to 9-1 inside the Convocation Center this season.
Eastern Michigan returns to the Convocation Center Saturday, Jan. 20 when it takes on Ohio University at 2 p.m.
The Eagles (11-7, 2-3 MAC) defeated the Zips (8-9, 1-4 MAC) for the first time since Feb. 14, 2015, snapping a four-game skid.
For the third time this season, EMU had at least two players record 20 or more points in a single game. Redshirt junior Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Lincoln Park (Robert Morris)) paced the Eagles with 22 points in addition to five rebounds, four blocks, and a team-high four steals. Redshirt junior Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King Jr. (Eastern Kentucky)) tallied 20 points, eight boards, and a team-best four assists. Junior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) added eight points, eight boards, and four blocks, while senior Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College High School) collected five rebounds and led the Green and White with six assists.
The Eagles were the superior team on offense, shooting 46.7 percent (21-of-45) from the floor compared to Akron's 30.9 percent (17-of-55) clip. On the defensive end, the Eagles out-blocked the Zips by a 10-2 margin and out-rebounded the visitors, 34-32.
EMU started the scoring with a three-point play from Jackson early in the contest. After falling behind 8-5, Minnie and Nobles connected on back-to-back corner threes to put the Green and White back in front, 11-8. The Eagles' offense was in command in the early stages, using a 14-5 run late in the stanza to build a seven-point advantage. For the fourth time in five Mid-American Conference games, EMU led at the break as they took a 34-27 lead into the locker room.
The Eagles carried the play to begin the second half, with Minnie's layup giving the Green and White its largest lead to that point, 41-31, heading into the first media timeout of the final frame. Leading 43-35, a thunderous one-handed slam from Minnie restored the Eagles' 10-point cushion with 10:12 remaining in the second stanza, prompting Akron head coach John Groce to burn a full timeout.
After Akron cut the lead to five, Bond set up Minnie for an alley-oop to give EMU a 47-40 edge with 8:21 to play in the second half. The Eagles grabbed a 51-43 lead when Minnie beat the shot clock with a three from NBA range with 6:33 left in regulation.
The Eagles pulled away in the closing stages, at one stage going on a 10-0 run to open up a 63-47 lead. EMU knocked off Akron, 63-49, to improve to 9-1 inside the Convocation Center this season.
Eastern Michigan returns to the Convocation Center Saturday, Jan. 20 when it takes on Ohio University at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
AKRON
EMU
FG%
.309
.467
3FG%
.241
.389
FT%
1.000
.700
RB
32
34
TO
12
14
STL
7
9
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
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