Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 25
Oxford, Ohio
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
10-10 (0-7MAC)
68
at
73
Miami
9-11 (2-5MAC)
1
2
F
Eastern Michigan
37
31
68
Miami
34
39
73
Men’s Basketball Drops Nailbiter at Miami
1/25/2020 5:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Four Eagles recorded double-figure scoring performances
OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Another hard-fought fight came up short, as the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball program dropped a 73-68 affair in Mid-American Conference action to Miami University this afternoon, Jan. 25, inside Millett Hall.
The Eagles (10-10, 0-7 MAC) trailed by five (65-60) with four minutes left in the second half. However, Eastern Michigan responded with a 6-2 run over three and a half minutes with junior Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)) draining two clutch free throws to cut Miami's (9-11, 2-5 MAC) lead to one (69-68) with 30 ticks left in the game. The RedHawks were able to hold off the Eagles by sealing the 73-69 victory with a fastbreak layup and two free throws down the stretch.
Four Eagles recorded double-figure scoring performances, as junior Thomas Binelli (Bologna, Italy-Bergen Catholic (Monroe College)) led EMU with a career-high 17 points, including five triples. Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure (Dakar, Senegal-Phase One Aademy (Grand Canyon)) was the second Eagle to reach double digits, as he finished the day with 16 points to go along with 12 rebounds – his seventh double-double of the season. Spottsville added 12 points with four assists and redshirt junior Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) added 10 points and pulled down six rebounds.
Miami was led by Isaiah Coleman-Lands, who ended the afternoon with 16 points and shot 6-of-10 from the floor. Nike Sibande, Dae Dae Grant, and Dalonte Brown each chipped in double-figures at 14, 13, and 10, respectively.
EMU shot nearly 46 percent (21-of-46) from the field, and struggled from the three-point line in the second half, ending the day with 28.6 clip (6-of-21). The Eagle went 5-of-12 (41.7 percent) from deep in the first half. The RedHawks edged EMU in both categories, as Miami finished with a 48.3 efficiency (28-of-58) from the field and made 9-of-26 (35 percent) from beyond the arc.
Spottville led the Eagles with an and-one situation in the first 17 seconds of the game, but Miami's offense sparked an 11-2 run over the next three minutes to take the early 11-5 lead. Binelli hit three triples to highlight an Eagle 16-6 stint over five minute to reclaim the lead at 21-17 halfway through the first half. Eastern Michigan continued its momentum and took a nine-point lead (31-22) off of a 10-5 run with six minutes to play before halftime. But, the RedHawks went on a 12-4 to cut EMU's lead to three (37-34) before heading into the locker room.
To start the second stanza, Miami came out of the locker room strong as the RedHawks went on an 1-8 run to tie the game at 45-all at the 15:58 mark. The Eagles regained the lead (50-47) on a 5-2 stint highlighted by a Toure old-fashioned three-point play. Over the next nine minutes, MU posted a 17-10 run to take its largest lead of the game of five points (65-60). With 30 ticks left in the second half, two Spottsville free throws cuts Miami's lead to one (69-68), but EMU was unable to hold off the RedHawks in the final seconds of the game.
Eastern Michigan will take a week off before it welcome MAC West Division rival Toledo to the Convocation Center Saturday, Feb. 1. Game action is slated for 2 p.m.
The Eagles (10-10, 0-7 MAC) trailed by five (65-60) with four minutes left in the second half. However, Eastern Michigan responded with a 6-2 run over three and a half minutes with junior Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)) draining two clutch free throws to cut Miami's (9-11, 2-5 MAC) lead to one (69-68) with 30 ticks left in the game. The RedHawks were able to hold off the Eagles by sealing the 73-69 victory with a fastbreak layup and two free throws down the stretch.
Four Eagles recorded double-figure scoring performances, as junior Thomas Binelli (Bologna, Italy-Bergen Catholic (Monroe College)) led EMU with a career-high 17 points, including five triples. Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure (Dakar, Senegal-Phase One Aademy (Grand Canyon)) was the second Eagle to reach double digits, as he finished the day with 16 points to go along with 12 rebounds – his seventh double-double of the season. Spottsville added 12 points with four assists and redshirt junior Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) added 10 points and pulled down six rebounds.
Miami was led by Isaiah Coleman-Lands, who ended the afternoon with 16 points and shot 6-of-10 from the floor. Nike Sibande, Dae Dae Grant, and Dalonte Brown each chipped in double-figures at 14, 13, and 10, respectively.
EMU shot nearly 46 percent (21-of-46) from the field, and struggled from the three-point line in the second half, ending the day with 28.6 clip (6-of-21). The Eagle went 5-of-12 (41.7 percent) from deep in the first half. The RedHawks edged EMU in both categories, as Miami finished with a 48.3 efficiency (28-of-58) from the field and made 9-of-26 (35 percent) from beyond the arc.
Spottville led the Eagles with an and-one situation in the first 17 seconds of the game, but Miami's offense sparked an 11-2 run over the next three minutes to take the early 11-5 lead. Binelli hit three triples to highlight an Eagle 16-6 stint over five minute to reclaim the lead at 21-17 halfway through the first half. Eastern Michigan continued its momentum and took a nine-point lead (31-22) off of a 10-5 run with six minutes to play before halftime. But, the RedHawks went on a 12-4 to cut EMU's lead to three (37-34) before heading into the locker room.
To start the second stanza, Miami came out of the locker room strong as the RedHawks went on an 1-8 run to tie the game at 45-all at the 15:58 mark. The Eagles regained the lead (50-47) on a 5-2 stint highlighted by a Toure old-fashioned three-point play. Over the next nine minutes, MU posted a 17-10 run to take its largest lead of the game of five points (65-60). With 30 ticks left in the second half, two Spottsville free throws cuts Miami's lead to one (69-68), but EMU was unable to hold off the RedHawks in the final seconds of the game.
Eastern Michigan will take a week off before it welcome MAC West Division rival Toledo to the Convocation Center Saturday, Feb. 1. Game action is slated for 2 p.m.
Team Stats
EMU
MIAMI
FG%
.457
.483
3FG%
.286
.346
FT%
.769
1.000
RB
29
29
TO
14
10
STL
7
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
16
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
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