Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, February 4
Convocation Center
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
12-10 (2-7MAC)
66
vs
62
Buffalo
14-9 (5-5MAC)
1
2
F
Buffalo
30
32
62
Eastern Michigan
35
31
66
Ballard's Clutch Performance Propels Eagles Past Buffalo
2/4/2020 10:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Three Eagles recorded double-digit scoring performances
Photo Gallery | Video Recap | Press Conference
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team notched second consecutive victory as it thwarted the University of Buffalo 66-62, Tuesday, Feb. 4, inside the Convocation Center. The win marks the first EMU victory over the Bulls since January 2016. The Eagles' (12-10, 2-7 MAC) showing notches its second Mid-American Conference victory and brings the Bulls (14-9, 5-5 MAC) to even heading into the final stretch before the MAC Tournament.
The win tallied the 200th victory for the Eastern Michigan men's basketball program inside the Convocation Center since it's opening during the 1998-99 season.
Junior Yeikson Montero (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-Redemption Christian Academy (Pensacola State)) kept his hands busy registering four rebounds and five steals, tying his career-high in the latter. This season, Montero has had more games acquiring five steals than finishing games with none. Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure (Dakar, Senegal-Phase One Academy (Grand Canyon)) fought valiantly ending the night with eight points, five rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. Toure's performance marks the eleventh time he's seized a block and steal in the same game in the 2019-2020 season.
In addition, redshirt sophomore Derek Ballard Jr. (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield-Lathrup) seized every opportunity thrown at him as he scored five points (2-2 from the field), five rebounds, and one steal in just seven minutes of action. Redshirt junior Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) did a little bit of everything for EMU. The Ypsilanti-native paced the Eagles with 14 points, while dishing out three assists, swiping four steals, and tying his career-high in blocks (3).
Junior Thomas Binelli (Bologna, Italy-Bergen Catholic (Monroe College)) opened up the night scoring with a highly-contested triple, his first of three in the first half of play. Multiple Eagles set the tone on defense as they caused a shot-clock violation on an early Bulls' possession highlighted by an emphatic block from Groce. Toure displayed his athletic prowess as well muscling his way around the defense for a tip-in and nabbing a steal on the ensuing Buffalo possession. Outside shooting was not a problem for Eastern either nailing two three-pointers down the stretch elevating EMU to an 11-point lead resulting in a Buffalo timeout. However, Buffalo didn't shy away from adversity, earning eleven second-chance points to keep the game within single-digits.
The Green and White frustrated the Bulls as they wrapped up the first frame with five blocks and six steals. On the offensive end, the Eagles shot 11-of-23 (47.8%) from the field and 4-of-10 (40%) from beyond-the-arc.
The Bulls knotted the game at 37 apiece minutes into the second half as the Eagles went cold during a 3:18 scoring drought. The 25-11 Buffalo run pushed the Bulls to a three-point advantage with 11:44 remaining in the game. The Eagles clawed their way back tying the contest at 55-all at the 5:15 mark.
Momentum shifted when Ballard Jr. grabbed an offense board, was fouled on the lay-in, and converted the and-one opportunity causing the Convocation Center to erupt. Moments later, the arena rose to feet once more as Groce stole the ball, sprinted down the court, and euro-stepped his way to the basketball as he was fouled. Groce would go on to nail the and-one giving EMU a three-point cushion at the 3:41 mark.
Coming off the bench, Ballard Jr. reinvigorated the EMU defense snatching two clutch rebounds from the grasps of the Bulls, setting a career-high in rebounds (5) in the process. The Southfield-product was not satisfied with just a career in rebounds though. With 1:42 left, Ballard Jr. wrangled yet another offensive-rebound that he put back to tie a career-high in points (5). The Eagles would continue their stingy play on the defensive end, while making a majority of their free throws to close the game with a 66-62 victory.
The Green and White will hit the road this Saturday, Feb. 8, as they square-off against Akron at 2 p.m. from James A. Rhodes Arena. Eastern looks to bounce back from their loss to the Zips last month, when the Eagles fell 69-45, Jan. 4.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team notched second consecutive victory as it thwarted the University of Buffalo 66-62, Tuesday, Feb. 4, inside the Convocation Center. The win marks the first EMU victory over the Bulls since January 2016. The Eagles' (12-10, 2-7 MAC) showing notches its second Mid-American Conference victory and brings the Bulls (14-9, 5-5 MAC) to even heading into the final stretch before the MAC Tournament.
The win tallied the 200th victory for the Eastern Michigan men's basketball program inside the Convocation Center since it's opening during the 1998-99 season.
Junior Yeikson Montero (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-Redemption Christian Academy (Pensacola State)) kept his hands busy registering four rebounds and five steals, tying his career-high in the latter. This season, Montero has had more games acquiring five steals than finishing games with none. Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure (Dakar, Senegal-Phase One Academy (Grand Canyon)) fought valiantly ending the night with eight points, five rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. Toure's performance marks the eleventh time he's seized a block and steal in the same game in the 2019-2020 season.
In addition, redshirt sophomore Derek Ballard Jr. (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield-Lathrup) seized every opportunity thrown at him as he scored five points (2-2 from the field), five rebounds, and one steal in just seven minutes of action. Redshirt junior Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) did a little bit of everything for EMU. The Ypsilanti-native paced the Eagles with 14 points, while dishing out three assists, swiping four steals, and tying his career-high in blocks (3).
Junior Thomas Binelli (Bologna, Italy-Bergen Catholic (Monroe College)) opened up the night scoring with a highly-contested triple, his first of three in the first half of play. Multiple Eagles set the tone on defense as they caused a shot-clock violation on an early Bulls' possession highlighted by an emphatic block from Groce. Toure displayed his athletic prowess as well muscling his way around the defense for a tip-in and nabbing a steal on the ensuing Buffalo possession. Outside shooting was not a problem for Eastern either nailing two three-pointers down the stretch elevating EMU to an 11-point lead resulting in a Buffalo timeout. However, Buffalo didn't shy away from adversity, earning eleven second-chance points to keep the game within single-digits.
The Green and White frustrated the Bulls as they wrapped up the first frame with five blocks and six steals. On the offensive end, the Eagles shot 11-of-23 (47.8%) from the field and 4-of-10 (40%) from beyond-the-arc.
The Bulls knotted the game at 37 apiece minutes into the second half as the Eagles went cold during a 3:18 scoring drought. The 25-11 Buffalo run pushed the Bulls to a three-point advantage with 11:44 remaining in the game. The Eagles clawed their way back tying the contest at 55-all at the 5:15 mark.
Momentum shifted when Ballard Jr. grabbed an offense board, was fouled on the lay-in, and converted the and-one opportunity causing the Convocation Center to erupt. Moments later, the arena rose to feet once more as Groce stole the ball, sprinted down the court, and euro-stepped his way to the basketball as he was fouled. Groce would go on to nail the and-one giving EMU a three-point cushion at the 3:41 mark.
Coming off the bench, Ballard Jr. reinvigorated the EMU defense snatching two clutch rebounds from the grasps of the Bulls, setting a career-high in rebounds (5) in the process. The Southfield-product was not satisfied with just a career in rebounds though. With 1:42 left, Ballard Jr. wrangled yet another offensive-rebound that he put back to tie a career-high in points (5). The Eagles would continue their stingy play on the defensive end, while making a majority of their free throws to close the game with a 66-62 victory.
The Green and White will hit the road this Saturday, Feb. 8, as they square-off against Akron at 2 p.m. from James A. Rhodes Arena. Eastern looks to bounce back from their loss to the Zips last month, when the Eagles fell 69-45, Jan. 4.
Team Stats
UB
EMU
FG%
.355
.429
3FG%
.179
.235
FT%
.867
.609
RB
43
35
TO
17
12
STL
7
12
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
C
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