Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, December 3
Convocation Center
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
7-1
85
vs
79
Valparaiso
5-4
1
2
F
Valparaiso
32
47
79
Eastern Michigan
42
43
85
Eagles Soar to 7-1 Record With Win Over Valparaiso
12/3/2019 9:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Ty Groce and Noah Morgan set career-highs with 23 and 21 points, respectively
Postgame Press Conference.
Postgame Recap Video.
Photo Gallery.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team rallied from a late, six-point deficit to knock off Valparaiso University, 85-79, Tuesday, Dec. 3, inside the Convocation Center.
With the Eagles (7-1) trailing 69-68 heading into the final media timeout, junior Noah Morgan (Mount Vernon, N.Y.-Mount Vernon (Northwest Florida State)) sank a pair of free throws to put the Green and White in front, before knocking down a three-pointer to extend the lead to 73-69 with 3:12 left in regulation. Redshirt junior Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) then went 2-for-2 from the charity stripe to open up a six-point cushion with 2:24 to go in the contest.
Valparaiso (5-4) standout Javon Freeman-Liberty responded with a deep triple to make it a one-possession game, but redshirt senior Boubacar Toure (Dakar, Senegal-Phase One Academy (Grand Canyon)) returned to the court and buried a layup to push EMU's margin to 77-72 with 1:31 remaining. The Eagles needed free throws to finish off the Crusaders and seal an 85-79 victory over their Missouri Valley Conference opposition.
Groce was among four Eagles to reach double-digits in points as he led the team with a career-high 23 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while adding five boards, a pair of assists, and a block. Morgan also eclipsed the 20-point plateau, tallying a personal-best 21 points while recording a half-dozen boards, an assist, and a steal.
Making his debut for the Green and White, junior Thomas Binelli (Bologna, Italy-Bergen Catholic (Monroe College)) added 12 points off the bench in just nine minutes of game action, while Toure logged 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting and pulled down a team-best seven rebounds. Additionally, redshirt junior Chris Barnes (Compton, Calif.-Compton (Tulsa)) showed nine points and led EMU with three helpers.
The Eagles authored a stellar performance on the offensive end, setting season-highs with a 61.4 field-goal percentage (27-of-44) and a 56.3 percent (9-of-16 efficiency from beyond the arc. Valparaiso finished 48.4 percent (30-of-62) from the floor, and also ended the night with nine triples. EMU out-rebounded the Crusaders, 30-27, and edged the visitors in fast-break points (13-8) and bench points (22-21)
The Green and White got off to a fast start against Valpo, as Groce knocked down a jumper before Toure added a layup to give the hosts a quick 4-0 lead. Valpo recovered to grab a 10-5 lead, but a three-pointer from Groce capped a 7-0 EMU run to put the Eagles back in front, 13-10, with 12:48 to go in the first half.
Binelli made an instant impact his first career appearance with EMU, burying each of his first three attempts from beyond the arc to give the hosts a 30-21 lead with 6:20 left in the first period. Eastern led by as many as 12 in the opening half, and held a 42-32 advantage at the break.
The Eagles looked to hang on in the second half, as Valpo rallied to slice the lead to 48-47 with 14:46 left in the second half. EMU then rattled off a 6-0 run to build a 54-47 edge, but the Crusaders battled back with nine unanswered points to jump ahead, 56-54, with 11:18 to go in the final frame.
Valpo was ahead by as many as six in the second half, but the Eagles pushed back with a 7-1 run to reclaim the lead, 68-67, with 4:40 left in regulation. Morgan's three-pointer staked EMU to a one-point edge, but the Crusaders responded on their next possession to pull back in front, 69-68, with one media stoppage remaining.
Eastern will travel east down I-94 to take on Detroit Mercy Saturday, Dec. 7 for a 1 p.m. tipoff inside Calihan Hall.
Postgame Recap Video.
Photo Gallery.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team rallied from a late, six-point deficit to knock off Valparaiso University, 85-79, Tuesday, Dec. 3, inside the Convocation Center.
With the Eagles (7-1) trailing 69-68 heading into the final media timeout, junior Noah Morgan (Mount Vernon, N.Y.-Mount Vernon (Northwest Florida State)) sank a pair of free throws to put the Green and White in front, before knocking down a three-pointer to extend the lead to 73-69 with 3:12 left in regulation. Redshirt junior Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) then went 2-for-2 from the charity stripe to open up a six-point cushion with 2:24 to go in the contest.
Valparaiso (5-4) standout Javon Freeman-Liberty responded with a deep triple to make it a one-possession game, but redshirt senior Boubacar Toure (Dakar, Senegal-Phase One Academy (Grand Canyon)) returned to the court and buried a layup to push EMU's margin to 77-72 with 1:31 remaining. The Eagles needed free throws to finish off the Crusaders and seal an 85-79 victory over their Missouri Valley Conference opposition.
Groce was among four Eagles to reach double-digits in points as he led the team with a career-high 23 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while adding five boards, a pair of assists, and a block. Morgan also eclipsed the 20-point plateau, tallying a personal-best 21 points while recording a half-dozen boards, an assist, and a steal.
Making his debut for the Green and White, junior Thomas Binelli (Bologna, Italy-Bergen Catholic (Monroe College)) added 12 points off the bench in just nine minutes of game action, while Toure logged 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting and pulled down a team-best seven rebounds. Additionally, redshirt junior Chris Barnes (Compton, Calif.-Compton (Tulsa)) showed nine points and led EMU with three helpers.
The Eagles authored a stellar performance on the offensive end, setting season-highs with a 61.4 field-goal percentage (27-of-44) and a 56.3 percent (9-of-16 efficiency from beyond the arc. Valparaiso finished 48.4 percent (30-of-62) from the floor, and also ended the night with nine triples. EMU out-rebounded the Crusaders, 30-27, and edged the visitors in fast-break points (13-8) and bench points (22-21)
The Green and White got off to a fast start against Valpo, as Groce knocked down a jumper before Toure added a layup to give the hosts a quick 4-0 lead. Valpo recovered to grab a 10-5 lead, but a three-pointer from Groce capped a 7-0 EMU run to put the Eagles back in front, 13-10, with 12:48 to go in the first half.
Binelli made an instant impact his first career appearance with EMU, burying each of his first three attempts from beyond the arc to give the hosts a 30-21 lead with 6:20 left in the first period. Eastern led by as many as 12 in the opening half, and held a 42-32 advantage at the break.
The Eagles looked to hang on in the second half, as Valpo rallied to slice the lead to 48-47 with 14:46 left in the second half. EMU then rattled off a 6-0 run to build a 54-47 edge, but the Crusaders battled back with nine unanswered points to jump ahead, 56-54, with 11:18 to go in the final frame.
Valpo was ahead by as many as six in the second half, but the Eagles pushed back with a 7-1 run to reclaim the lead, 68-67, with 4:40 left in regulation. Morgan's three-pointer staked EMU to a one-point edge, but the Crusaders responded on their next possession to pull back in front, 69-68, with one media stoppage remaining.
Eastern will travel east down I-94 to take on Detroit Mercy Saturday, Dec. 7 for a 1 p.m. tipoff inside Calihan Hall.
Team Stats
VALPO
EMU
FG%
.484
.614
3FG%
.409
.563
FT%
.625
.733
RB
27
30
TO
14
18
STL
10
7
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
9
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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