Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, November 8
Convocation Center
9:45 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
1-0
93
vs
51
Siena Heights
0-2
1
2
F
Siena Heights
26
25
51
Eastern Michigan
49
44
93
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagles Soar in Season Opening Win Over Siena Heights, 93-51
11/8/2019 12:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Six Eagles reach double-digits in convincing win over Saints
Photo Gallery.
Postgame Press Conference.
Postgame Recap Video.
Postgame Press Conference.
Postgame Recap Video.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team tipped off the 2019-20 campaign with a decisive 93-51 win over Siena Heights University Friday, Nov. 8, inside the Convocation Center.
With the victory in the first leg of the EMU's annual Education Day doubleheader, the Green and White improve to 8-1 in home openers under head coach Rob Murphy. The Eagles (1-0) had a half-dozen players reach double-figures in points in their season opener, which also occurred last season in a 90-72 triumph against the Saints (1-2), Dec. 22, 2018.
Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure (Dakar, Senegal-Phase One Academy (Grand Canyon)) logged his ninth-career double-double with the Green and White as he notched 13 points and a team-best 10 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass. Redshirt junior Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) led EMU with 15 points while adding four boards and a pair of helpers, as fellow redshirt junior Chris Barnes (Compton, Calif.-Compton (Tulsa)) finished with eight points and a team-high six assists off the bench in his EMU debut.
Junior newcomers Yeikson Montero (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-Redemption Christian Academy (Penascola State)) and Noah Morgan (Mount Vernon, N.Y.-Mount Vernon (Northwest Florida State)) each tallied 11 points, with the latter contributing five assists. Freshman Chris James (Long Beach, Calif.-St. John Bosco) added 13 points off the bench, going 4-of-5 from downtown along with four boards and a pair of steals, while junior Jalen King (Pasco, Wash.-Kings Academy) notched 10 bench points, four boards, a team-leading three blocks, and two swipes.
EMU finished 57.1 percent (32-of-56) from the floor and made half of its 18 three-point attempts, while holding Siena Heights to a 33.9 percent (19-of-56) efficiency. The Eagles overmatched the Saints in steals (11-1), assists (20-9), points in the paint (44-14), points off turnovers (27-9), fast-break points (18-2), and blocks (6-3). The hosts also went 20-of-24 from the charity stripe, as SHU converted on just 4-of-15 free throw attempts.
The Eagles traded baskets with the Saints through the opening couple of minutes, but the Green and White grabbed the lead for good with 11 unanswered points to make it a 15-6 contest heading into the first media stoppage. EMU continued to pull away from SHU, as back-to-back corner threes from freshman Shamar Dillard (South Bend, Ind.-Riley (SPIRE Institute)) and James gave the hosts a commanding 25-9 lead with 11:59 left in the first half. In all, the Eagles erased an early two-point deficit with a 21-3 run lasting nearly seven minutes, and held a 49-26 advantage at the intermission.
After Siena Heights cut EMU's lead to 18 in the second period, the Eagles erupted for a 20-3 run spanning more than seven minutes to jump ahead, 67-37, with 9:31 left in the contest. With the result well in hand, EMU posted a 9-0 run in the waning moments to earn a convincing 42-point win and rise to 5-0 all-time against the Saints.
Eastern will remain at home to take on a pair of NAIA opponents, as it welcomes Goshen College to the Convocation Center Tuesday, Nov. 12 before facing Michigan-Dearborn Thursday, Nov. 14. Both games are set to begin at 7 p.m.
With the victory in the first leg of the EMU's annual Education Day doubleheader, the Green and White improve to 8-1 in home openers under head coach Rob Murphy. The Eagles (1-0) had a half-dozen players reach double-figures in points in their season opener, which also occurred last season in a 90-72 triumph against the Saints (1-2), Dec. 22, 2018.
Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure (Dakar, Senegal-Phase One Academy (Grand Canyon)) logged his ninth-career double-double with the Green and White as he notched 13 points and a team-best 10 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass. Redshirt junior Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) led EMU with 15 points while adding four boards and a pair of helpers, as fellow redshirt junior Chris Barnes (Compton, Calif.-Compton (Tulsa)) finished with eight points and a team-high six assists off the bench in his EMU debut.
Junior newcomers Yeikson Montero (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-Redemption Christian Academy (Penascola State)) and Noah Morgan (Mount Vernon, N.Y.-Mount Vernon (Northwest Florida State)) each tallied 11 points, with the latter contributing five assists. Freshman Chris James (Long Beach, Calif.-St. John Bosco) added 13 points off the bench, going 4-of-5 from downtown along with four boards and a pair of steals, while junior Jalen King (Pasco, Wash.-Kings Academy) notched 10 bench points, four boards, a team-leading three blocks, and two swipes.
EMU finished 57.1 percent (32-of-56) from the floor and made half of its 18 three-point attempts, while holding Siena Heights to a 33.9 percent (19-of-56) efficiency. The Eagles overmatched the Saints in steals (11-1), assists (20-9), points in the paint (44-14), points off turnovers (27-9), fast-break points (18-2), and blocks (6-3). The hosts also went 20-of-24 from the charity stripe, as SHU converted on just 4-of-15 free throw attempts.
The Eagles traded baskets with the Saints through the opening couple of minutes, but the Green and White grabbed the lead for good with 11 unanswered points to make it a 15-6 contest heading into the first media stoppage. EMU continued to pull away from SHU, as back-to-back corner threes from freshman Shamar Dillard (South Bend, Ind.-Riley (SPIRE Institute)) and James gave the hosts a commanding 25-9 lead with 11:59 left in the first half. In all, the Eagles erased an early two-point deficit with a 21-3 run lasting nearly seven minutes, and held a 49-26 advantage at the intermission.
After Siena Heights cut EMU's lead to 18 in the second period, the Eagles erupted for a 20-3 run spanning more than seven minutes to jump ahead, 67-37, with 9:31 left in the contest. With the result well in hand, EMU posted a 9-0 run in the waning moments to earn a convincing 42-point win and rise to 5-0 all-time against the Saints.
Eastern will remain at home to take on a pair of NAIA opponents, as it welcomes Goshen College to the Convocation Center Tuesday, Nov. 12 before facing Michigan-Dearborn Thursday, Nov. 14. Both games are set to begin at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
SH
EMU
FG%
.339
.571
3FG%
.321
.500
FT%
.267
.833
RB
34
35
TO
20
10
STL
1
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballC
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