Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, January 2
Muncie, Ind.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
9-5, 0-1MAC
62
at
72
Ball State
10-4, 1-0MAC
1
2
F
Eastern Michigan
36
26
62
Ball State
31
41
72
Sluggish Second Half Dooms EMU in MAC Opener at Ball State, 72-62
1/2/2018 9:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Elijah Minnie scored 25 points to lead the Eagles
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team struggled in the second half against Ball State University Tuesday, Jan. 2, falling 70-62 to open up Mid-American Conference play at Worthen Arena.
For the first time this season, EMU (9-5, 0-1 MAC) lost in a game in which it led at halftime, as BSU (10-4, 1-0 MAC) outscored the Eagles 39-26 in the second stanza to send the Eagles back home with the loss.
Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Lincoln Park (Robert Morris) had fantastic first half, pouring in 17 of his 25 points in the opening stanza. He was joined in double figures by fellow redshirt junior Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King (Eastern Kentucky)), who scored 14 points and had four assists. Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) had a well-rounded performance, with nine points and eight boards to go along with a pair of assists.
After Eastern shot a blistering 48 percent (15-of-31) from the floor in the first half, including 56 percent (5-of-9) from the three-point line, Ball State held EMU to just 30 percent (9-of-30) from the floor in the second half, and 25 percent (3-for-12) from downtown. The Cardinals used a 15-2 scoring run over a five-minute span midway through the second stanza to turn a five-point deficit into an eight-point advantage, and never turned back.
The Green and White came in to the conference opener leading the league in steals per game, team blocks, and turnovers forced, and once again hit high marks. The Eagles had eight steals, led by Minnie's four, added seven blocks, and forced the Cardinals into 13 turnovers. Unfortunately, Ball State held the advantages in assists (20-8), rebounds (42-33), and second chance points (21-10).
The Eagles return to the Convocation Center Saturday, Jan. 6 for its first bit of home #MACtion, taking on Bowling Green at 12 p.m. as part of a double header with EMU's women's team, who takes on Toledo.
For the first time this season, EMU (9-5, 0-1 MAC) lost in a game in which it led at halftime, as BSU (10-4, 1-0 MAC) outscored the Eagles 39-26 in the second stanza to send the Eagles back home with the loss.
Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Lincoln Park (Robert Morris) had fantastic first half, pouring in 17 of his 25 points in the opening stanza. He was joined in double figures by fellow redshirt junior Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King (Eastern Kentucky)), who scored 14 points and had four assists. Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) had a well-rounded performance, with nine points and eight boards to go along with a pair of assists.
After Eastern shot a blistering 48 percent (15-of-31) from the floor in the first half, including 56 percent (5-of-9) from the three-point line, Ball State held EMU to just 30 percent (9-of-30) from the floor in the second half, and 25 percent (3-for-12) from downtown. The Cardinals used a 15-2 scoring run over a five-minute span midway through the second stanza to turn a five-point deficit into an eight-point advantage, and never turned back.
The Green and White came in to the conference opener leading the league in steals per game, team blocks, and turnovers forced, and once again hit high marks. The Eagles had eight steals, led by Minnie's four, added seven blocks, and forced the Cardinals into 13 turnovers. Unfortunately, Ball State held the advantages in assists (20-8), rebounds (42-33), and second chance points (21-10).
The Eagles return to the Convocation Center Saturday, Jan. 6 for its first bit of home #MACtion, taking on Bowling Green at 12 p.m. as part of a double header with EMU's women's team, who takes on Toledo.
Team Stats
EMU
BSU
FG%
.393
.456
3FG%
.381
.217
FT%
.500
.750
RB
33
42
TO
10
13
STL
8
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
10
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Ben Braun Video at MAC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Friday, May 30
Ben Braun at MAC Hall of Fame Induction
Friday, May 30
Charles E. Ramsey - MAC Hall of Fame Induction of Ben Braun
Friday, May 30
Jack Brusewitz - MAC Hall of Fame Induction of Ben Braun
Friday, May 30