Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, January 14
Convocation Center
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
10-7 (0-4MAC)
52
vs
69
Ball State
10-7 (3-1MAC)
1
2
F
Ball State
32
37
69
Eastern Michigan
14
38
52
Comeback Falls Short as Men's Hoops Falls to Ball State
1/14/2020 9:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EMU is still searching for its first Mid-American Conference victory in 2020
Postgame Press Conference | Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team was defeated by Mid-American Conference West Division rival Ball State University, 69-52, today, Jan. 14. The loss leaves EMU still in search of its first conference victory after going 10-3 in its non-conference slate.
Eastern Michigan (10-7; 0-4 MAC) was greeted by a stingy Ball State (10-7, 3-1 MAC) defense which held the Eagles to its lowest first half scoring total of the season at just 14 points. Although the Eagles fought back in the second half, the Cardinals proved too powerful to overcome.
EMU was paced by Noah Morgan (Mount Vernon, N.Y.-Mount Vernon (Northwest Florida State)), who led the team in scoring with 14 points while also keeping busy on the defensive-end, wrangling five rebounds and one steal. Yeikson Montero (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-Redemption Christian Academy (Pensacola State)) reached double-digits in scoring as well with 12 points, and pestered the Cardinal offense by gathering three steals. Coming into the game, Montero ranked fourth in steals per game in the MAC averaging just under two. His performance marked his sixth-straight game recording a steal. Thomas Binelli (Bologna, Italy-Bergen Catholic (Monroe College)) put on a valiant defensive effort, acquiring a career-high six rebounds.
Eastern was held without a field goal for the first 4:17, until Montero broke the seal via a layup. The Eagles closed the gap early on, eventually taking an 11-10 advantage fueled by a Morgan bucket with 9:53 remaining.
Despite its apparent momentum, EMU was denied another basket for over eight minutes, until Boubacar Toure (Dakar, Senegal-Phase One Academy (Grand Canyon)) grabbed his own rebound and muscled in for the score. Additionally, Binelli registered his first career block, denying a Cardinal and then hitting a deep-three to keep the game competitive in first half action.
Morgan jump-started the Eagles' offense in the second half, opening the frame with a hard-fought lay-up, which sparked a 21-8 Eagle run. Highlighting the Green and White's stint were back-to-back dunks from Toure, a highly-contested jumper by Binelli, and two Morgan three-pointers. The passionate play brought a 18-point deficit to just four with just over 10 minutes remaining. The Cardinals did not shy away, finishing the game on a 29-12 stretch to close the 69-52 victory.
The Eagles will face off against the Ohio University Bobcats, Saturday, Jan. 18 to complete its two-game homestand. Fans can catch the Eagles on the court for a 2 p.m. tipoff inside the Convocation Center.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team was defeated by Mid-American Conference West Division rival Ball State University, 69-52, today, Jan. 14. The loss leaves EMU still in search of its first conference victory after going 10-3 in its non-conference slate.
Eastern Michigan (10-7; 0-4 MAC) was greeted by a stingy Ball State (10-7, 3-1 MAC) defense which held the Eagles to its lowest first half scoring total of the season at just 14 points. Although the Eagles fought back in the second half, the Cardinals proved too powerful to overcome.
EMU was paced by Noah Morgan (Mount Vernon, N.Y.-Mount Vernon (Northwest Florida State)), who led the team in scoring with 14 points while also keeping busy on the defensive-end, wrangling five rebounds and one steal. Yeikson Montero (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-Redemption Christian Academy (Pensacola State)) reached double-digits in scoring as well with 12 points, and pestered the Cardinal offense by gathering three steals. Coming into the game, Montero ranked fourth in steals per game in the MAC averaging just under two. His performance marked his sixth-straight game recording a steal. Thomas Binelli (Bologna, Italy-Bergen Catholic (Monroe College)) put on a valiant defensive effort, acquiring a career-high six rebounds.
Eastern was held without a field goal for the first 4:17, until Montero broke the seal via a layup. The Eagles closed the gap early on, eventually taking an 11-10 advantage fueled by a Morgan bucket with 9:53 remaining.
Despite its apparent momentum, EMU was denied another basket for over eight minutes, until Boubacar Toure (Dakar, Senegal-Phase One Academy (Grand Canyon)) grabbed his own rebound and muscled in for the score. Additionally, Binelli registered his first career block, denying a Cardinal and then hitting a deep-three to keep the game competitive in first half action.
Morgan jump-started the Eagles' offense in the second half, opening the frame with a hard-fought lay-up, which sparked a 21-8 Eagle run. Highlighting the Green and White's stint were back-to-back dunks from Toure, a highly-contested jumper by Binelli, and two Morgan three-pointers. The passionate play brought a 18-point deficit to just four with just over 10 minutes remaining. The Cardinals did not shy away, finishing the game on a 29-12 stretch to close the 69-52 victory.
The Eagles will face off against the Ohio University Bobcats, Saturday, Jan. 18 to complete its two-game homestand. Fans can catch the Eagles on the court for a 2 p.m. tipoff inside the Convocation Center.
Team Stats
BSU
EMU
FG%
.426
.321
3FG%
.267
.190
FT%
.500
.500
RB
45
40
TO
10
15
STL
9
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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