Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, January 8
Muncie, Ind.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
84
at
82
Ball State
1
2
OT 1
OT 2
F
Eastern Mich.
34
31
8
11
84
Ball St.
32
33
8
9
82
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography 2018
Eastern Wins 2OT Thriller at Ball State, 84-82
1/8/2019 10:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Elijah Minnie led the way with 25 points, none bigger than a game-tying three to force OT
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – A three-pointer by redshirt senior Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Lincoln Park (Robert Morris)) with just 10 seconds left in regulation sent the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team to overtime at Ball State University Tuesday, Jan. 8, as the Eagles were able to pull out a road victory over the Cardinals in double overtime, 84-82, in Worthen Arena.
Redshirt senior Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King Jr. (Eastern Kentucky)) knocked down two free throws with just 17 seconds remaining, and senior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) rebounded a BSU (10-5, 1-1 MAC) miss to put the game on ice as EMU (7-8, 1-1 MAC) walked out of Worthen Arena victorious for the first time since 2015.
After leading, 34-32, at the break, Eastern struggled to get the offense flowing in the second half and Ball State pulled ahead by as many as seven points. The Eagles methodically cut the deficit down and trailed by just three with 15 seconds to play. With the game in the balance, Minnie drained a corner three to tie the score at 65.
Ball State had its own taste of heroics at the end of the first overtime, as Eastern controlled play for most of the extra period. With one second remaining in the contest and the Eagles ahead by three, the Cardinals knocked down a triple to tie the game at 73-73 and force a second OT.
Double overtime once again belonged to the Green and White, and with nearly every player on the court in foul trouble, Eastern grabbed the lead and did not relinquish it. With Ball State trailing by two, the EMU defense stood strong and a desperation heave fell short, giving the Eagles the win.
Minnie finished the night with a team-high 25 points, knocking down 6-of-8 three-pointers in the contest, to go along with seven boards and three steals. Thompson registered his fourth straight double-double with 18 points and a game-high 19 rebounds. The senior's 19 rebounds were his most since pulling down 20 at Miami, Jan. 28, 2017. Both Jackson and sophomore Kevin McAdoo (Pontiac, Mich.-West Bloomfield) finished with 15 points each, while Jackson added a team-high five assists. Redshirt sophomore Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) finished just shy of double-figures with nine points, and tied Minnie for the team lead of three steals.
The Eagles out-shot the Cardinals from the floor (50.0-percent to 44.6-percent), and dominated from downtown (61.5 percent to 36.0 percent). EMU also won the battle of the boards, 39 to 38, and converted on 75-percent (18-of-24) of its free throws, compared to BSU's 50-percent (15-of-30).
Eastern Michigan returns to the friendly confines of the Convocation Center Saturday, Jan. 12 for a 12 p.m. showdown against Kent State University. The game is the first part of a doubleheader, with the EMU women's basketball, which takes on Western Michigan in the second part of the double dip. It is also Game of Thrones beer tasting day for all fans.
Redshirt senior Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King Jr. (Eastern Kentucky)) knocked down two free throws with just 17 seconds remaining, and senior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) rebounded a BSU (10-5, 1-1 MAC) miss to put the game on ice as EMU (7-8, 1-1 MAC) walked out of Worthen Arena victorious for the first time since 2015.
After leading, 34-32, at the break, Eastern struggled to get the offense flowing in the second half and Ball State pulled ahead by as many as seven points. The Eagles methodically cut the deficit down and trailed by just three with 15 seconds to play. With the game in the balance, Minnie drained a corner three to tie the score at 65.
Ball State had its own taste of heroics at the end of the first overtime, as Eastern controlled play for most of the extra period. With one second remaining in the contest and the Eagles ahead by three, the Cardinals knocked down a triple to tie the game at 73-73 and force a second OT.
Double overtime once again belonged to the Green and White, and with nearly every player on the court in foul trouble, Eastern grabbed the lead and did not relinquish it. With Ball State trailing by two, the EMU defense stood strong and a desperation heave fell short, giving the Eagles the win.
Minnie finished the night with a team-high 25 points, knocking down 6-of-8 three-pointers in the contest, to go along with seven boards and three steals. Thompson registered his fourth straight double-double with 18 points and a game-high 19 rebounds. The senior's 19 rebounds were his most since pulling down 20 at Miami, Jan. 28, 2017. Both Jackson and sophomore Kevin McAdoo (Pontiac, Mich.-West Bloomfield) finished with 15 points each, while Jackson added a team-high five assists. Redshirt sophomore Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) finished just shy of double-figures with nine points, and tied Minnie for the team lead of three steals.
The Eagles out-shot the Cardinals from the floor (50.0-percent to 44.6-percent), and dominated from downtown (61.5 percent to 36.0 percent). EMU also won the battle of the boards, 39 to 38, and converted on 75-percent (18-of-24) of its free throws, compared to BSU's 50-percent (15-of-30).
Eastern Michigan returns to the friendly confines of the Convocation Center Saturday, Jan. 12 for a 12 p.m. showdown against Kent State University. The game is the first part of a doubleheader, with the EMU women's basketball, which takes on Western Michigan in the second part of the double dip. It is also Game of Thrones beer tasting day for all fans.
A huge #MACtion road win in double overtime tonight by @EMUHoops at Ball State. If you weren't 🔉 to @WEMU891 here are the highlights you missed...#EMUEagles | #DemandMore pic.twitter.com/OMX0RgeIbL
— EMU Athletics (@EMUAthletics) January 9, 2019
Team Stats
Eastern Mich.
Ball St.
FG%
.500
.446
3FG%
.615
.360
FT%
.750
.500
RB
39
38
TO
19
15
STL
10
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
8
3FGM
6
FTM
3
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballF/C
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