Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, March 2
DeKalb, Ill.
2 p.m. CT
Eastern Michigan University
14-15 (8-8MAC)
75
at
69
Northern Illinois
13-16 (6-10MAC)
1
2
F
Eastern Michigan
38
37
75
Northern Illinois
36
33
69
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Strong Second Half Lifts Eagles Over Huskies, 75-69
3/2/2019 6:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
James Thompson IV and Boubacar Toure dominated the paint to lead EMU to victory
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team erased an eight-point second half deficit, knocking down 15-of-17 free throws in the final period, to secure a comeback victory over Northern Illinois University, 74-69, from the NIU Convocation Center Saturday, March 2.
With the win, Eastern keeps its hopes for a first-round bye in the MAC Tournament alive, and has at least secured an opening round game at home in the friendly confines of the Convocation Center. Additionally, the win marks Eastern's first in DeKalb since Feb. 21, 2015, snapping a three-game skid.
In a game that saw 10 lead changes between the two MAC West foes, EMU (14-15, 8-8 MAC) was able to pull away late thanks to one of its best free throw performances of the season. Eastern finished the game shooting 82.1 percent (23-of-28) from the charity stripe, marking its third-best percentage from the line on the campaign and its most free throw makes. NIU (13-16, 6-10 MAC) went to the line just 16 times, shooting 75 percent (12-of-16).
Senior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) led the way with 15 points and 17 rebounds, registering his 13th double-double of the season. The forward is now just 18 rebounds away from the all-time rebounding record of 1,426, currently held by EMU Hall of Famer Kennedy McIntosh.
Leading the way in the scoring was redshirt senior Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King Jr. (Eastern Kentucky)) who dropped in 13 of his team-high 19 points in the second half. The guard also added six assists, four rebounds, and two blocks on the afternoon. Redshirt junior Boubacar Toure (Dakar, Senegal-Phase One Academy (Grand Canyon)) turned in his eighth double-double of the season with 12 points and a career-best 16 rebounds. Rounding out the double-digit scoring was sophomore Kevin McAdoo (Pontiac, Mich.-West Bloomfield), who dropped in 10 points.
Though the paint points were even between the two at 28-to-28, Eastern dominated in rebounding (45-to-26) and second chance points (17-to-18). In fact, the duo of Thompson and Toure out-rebounded the Huskies themselves, 33-to-26. The Eagles finished with a narrow advantage in shooting percentage (42.6 percent to 42.4 percent), and three-point shooting (42.9 percent to 33.3 percent).
EMU returns home for its final regular season game of the 2018-19 campaign when it hosts Ball State University Tuesday, March 5 at 7 p.m. The Eagles will honor its four seniors, Isaiah Green (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield (Lansing C.C.), Jackson, Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Lincoln Park (Robert Morris)), and Thompson IV prior to the contest.
With the win, Eastern keeps its hopes for a first-round bye in the MAC Tournament alive, and has at least secured an opening round game at home in the friendly confines of the Convocation Center. Additionally, the win marks Eastern's first in DeKalb since Feb. 21, 2015, snapping a three-game skid.
In a game that saw 10 lead changes between the two MAC West foes, EMU (14-15, 8-8 MAC) was able to pull away late thanks to one of its best free throw performances of the season. Eastern finished the game shooting 82.1 percent (23-of-28) from the charity stripe, marking its third-best percentage from the line on the campaign and its most free throw makes. NIU (13-16, 6-10 MAC) went to the line just 16 times, shooting 75 percent (12-of-16).
Senior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) led the way with 15 points and 17 rebounds, registering his 13th double-double of the season. The forward is now just 18 rebounds away from the all-time rebounding record of 1,426, currently held by EMU Hall of Famer Kennedy McIntosh.
Leading the way in the scoring was redshirt senior Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King Jr. (Eastern Kentucky)) who dropped in 13 of his team-high 19 points in the second half. The guard also added six assists, four rebounds, and two blocks on the afternoon. Redshirt junior Boubacar Toure (Dakar, Senegal-Phase One Academy (Grand Canyon)) turned in his eighth double-double of the season with 12 points and a career-best 16 rebounds. Rounding out the double-digit scoring was sophomore Kevin McAdoo (Pontiac, Mich.-West Bloomfield), who dropped in 10 points.
Though the paint points were even between the two at 28-to-28, Eastern dominated in rebounding (45-to-26) and second chance points (17-to-18). In fact, the duo of Thompson and Toure out-rebounded the Huskies themselves, 33-to-26. The Eagles finished with a narrow advantage in shooting percentage (42.6 percent to 42.4 percent), and three-point shooting (42.9 percent to 33.3 percent).
EMU returns home for its final regular season game of the 2018-19 campaign when it hosts Ball State University Tuesday, March 5 at 7 p.m. The Eagles will honor its four seniors, Isaiah Green (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield (Lansing C.C.), Jackson, Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Lincoln Park (Robert Morris)), and Thompson IV prior to the contest.
Team Stats
EMU
NIU
FG%
.426
.424
3FG%
.429
.333
FT%
.821
.750
RB
45
26
TO
18
9
STL
7
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
9
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's BasketballF/C
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballBen 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