Eastern Michigan Athletics

Tuesday, January 22
Convocation Center
7 p.m.

Eastern Michigan University

8-11 (2-4MAC)

67
vs
80

Bowling Green

14-5 (6-0MAC)

1
2
F
Bowling Green
36
44
80
Eastern Michigan
27
40
67
Photo by: Richard Palaikis II

Men's Basketball Slips at Home to BGSU

1/22/2019 10:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

All five EMU starters reached double-digits in cross-division matchup

Press Conference Video.

Photo Gallery.

Game Highlights.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)
– The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team was unable to halt Bowling Green State University's perfect start to Mid-American Conference play in an 80-67 setback Tuesday, Jan. 22, inside the Convocation Center. All five EMU (8-11, 2-4 MAC) starters reached double-digits in the contest, but BGSU (14-5, 6-0 MAC) pulled away late in the first half to secure its 10th consecutive victory.
 
Senior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) paced the Green and White with 16 points and 12 rebounds, matching a career-high with a pair of triples en route to his eighth double-double of the campaign. Sophomore Kevin McAdoo (Pontiac, Mich.-West Bloomfield) notched 13 points and added a team-high with three assists, while redshirt senior Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Lincoln Park (Robert Morris)) tallied 12 points and led the Eagles with two blocks and a steal. Redshirt senior Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King Jr. (Eastern Kentucky)) and redshirt junior Boubacar Toure (Dakar, Senegal-Phase One Academy (Grand Canyon)) each contributed 11 points.
 
EMU committed nine turnovers, equaling its season-low against NCAA Division I opposition set against Drexel, Nov. 9, 2018. Though the Eagles finished 42.3 percent (22-of-52) from the floor, BGSU ended the night at 48.3 percent (29-of-60) and narrowly outrebounded the Eagles, 37-33. The Green and White out-blocked the Falcons by a 3-2 margin and tallied 22 points in the paint compared to BGSU's total of 20.
 
Minnie's corner three put the Eagles on the board, before Jackson connected on a fade-away jumper to give EMU a 5-3 edge with 17:30 to go in the opening frame. After BGSU senior Demajeo Wiggins split a pair of free throws, Thompson completed an old-fashioned three-point play to stake the Eagles' largest lead of the night, 8-4, with 16:54 left in the first.
 
In a first half that featured six ties and two lead changes, junior Damari Parris (Bowie Md.-Eevelyn Mack Academy (Trinity Valley C.C.)) nailed a mid-range jump shot to even the score at 16 with 8:52 left in the first. However, the Falcons eventually seized the momentum and held a 36-27 advantage at the break.
 
The Eagles started the second stanza on a high note, as Jackson set up Thompson for an alley-oop 34 seconds into the period. Trailing by as many as 18, EMU used a 9-3 run to trim the deficit to 59-47 with 9:13 left in regulation. McAdoo added two three-pointers in the closing stages as the Green and White fell to 7-4 this season inside the Convocation Center.
 
After three consecutive games against MAC East opposition, Eastern Michigan returns to divisional play Saturday, Jan. 26 as it travels to int-state rival Western Michigan University for a 2 p.m. tipoff.
 
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