Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 8
Akron, Ohio
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
12-11,2-8MAC
58
at
59
Akron
17-6,7-3MAC
1
2
F
Eastern Mich.
28
30
58
Akron
25
34
59
Heartbreak in Akron as Eagles Fall in Final Seconds
2/8/2020 5:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Ty Groce led the Eagles with 15 points; while Boubacar Toure notched his ninth double-double of the season
AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball program fell in the final seconds at the University of Akron, 59-58, in a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional affair Saturday, Feb. 8, inside UA's James A. Rhodes Arena. The Eagles (12-11; 2-8 MAC) held Akron (17-6; 7-3 MAC) to 25 points in the first half, which ties for its lowest of the season. The Eastern defense kept the Zips from scoring from beyond the arc (0-of-14) – a first for Akron this season.
A quick jumper from junior Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C)) tied the contest at 49-all with 5:56 left in the second half; which sparked a 10-3 run over the next four minutes. The Eagles took its largest lead of the half (55-49) with 49 ticks remaining as junior Noah Morgan (Mount Vernon, N.Y.-Mount Vernon (Northwest Florida State)) drained four-consecutive free throws. Akron responded with a 4-1 stint to cut EMU's lead to two (58-56) with 16 seconds left. The Zips took advantage of a missed free throw and UA's Xeyrius Williams drained a triple to give Akron a 59-58 lead with 4.2 seconds. Eastern Michigan attempted a final buzzer beater shot, but fell short.
Redshirt junior Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) led the Eagles with his 16th double-figure scoring performance, as he ended the afternoon with 15 points to go along with five rebounds, three steals, and two assists. The second Eagle to reach double-digits was redshirt senior Boubacar Toure (Dakal, Senegal-Phase One Academy (Grand Canyon)) who notched his ninth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Spottsville also tallied double-digits with a career-high 13 points to go along with a career-best six rebounds and two helpers.
Akron was led by Tyler Cheese who paced all scorers with 21 points, and Williams added 10. Loren Cristian Jackson grabbed a team-best eight rebounds and dished out a team-high five assists.
The Eagles shot 50 percent from the field (19-of-38), but struggled from both the 3-point and free-throw lines, as EMU finished the day with 18.2 (2-of-11) and 47.4 (18-of-38) percent efficiencies, respectively. The Zips went 18-of-52 (34.6 percent) from the field and 20.7 percent (6-of-29) from beyond the arc, as well as, converting 17 free throws on 21 attempts.
EMU outrebounded UA, 32-36, and held the scoring advantage in the paint (34-24) and second chance points (6-5). The Eagles tallied seven steals and three blocks, while the Zips dished out 13 assists and notched two steals. Eastern forced 11 Akron turnovers, but totaled 14 of its own.
Akron scored the first basket of the game at the 19:01 mark, but Eastern answered with a 17-2 run over the next nine minutes to take a 15-point lead (17-2). The scoring frenzy featured buckets from five Eagles, as Groce led the way with six points during the stretch. The Zips cut EMU's lead to four (22-18) with 2:28 left in the first half after a 14-4 run, but EMU headed into the locker room with a three-point lead at 28-25.
Eastern Michigan will travel north to challenge in-state foe Central Michigan Tuesday, Feb. 11, in a MAC West Division matchup inside McGuirk Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+. For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU men's hoops, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the program on Twitter at @EMUHoops.
A quick jumper from junior Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C)) tied the contest at 49-all with 5:56 left in the second half; which sparked a 10-3 run over the next four minutes. The Eagles took its largest lead of the half (55-49) with 49 ticks remaining as junior Noah Morgan (Mount Vernon, N.Y.-Mount Vernon (Northwest Florida State)) drained four-consecutive free throws. Akron responded with a 4-1 stint to cut EMU's lead to two (58-56) with 16 seconds left. The Zips took advantage of a missed free throw and UA's Xeyrius Williams drained a triple to give Akron a 59-58 lead with 4.2 seconds. Eastern Michigan attempted a final buzzer beater shot, but fell short.
Redshirt junior Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) led the Eagles with his 16th double-figure scoring performance, as he ended the afternoon with 15 points to go along with five rebounds, three steals, and two assists. The second Eagle to reach double-digits was redshirt senior Boubacar Toure (Dakal, Senegal-Phase One Academy (Grand Canyon)) who notched his ninth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Spottsville also tallied double-digits with a career-high 13 points to go along with a career-best six rebounds and two helpers.
Akron was led by Tyler Cheese who paced all scorers with 21 points, and Williams added 10. Loren Cristian Jackson grabbed a team-best eight rebounds and dished out a team-high five assists.
The Eagles shot 50 percent from the field (19-of-38), but struggled from both the 3-point and free-throw lines, as EMU finished the day with 18.2 (2-of-11) and 47.4 (18-of-38) percent efficiencies, respectively. The Zips went 18-of-52 (34.6 percent) from the field and 20.7 percent (6-of-29) from beyond the arc, as well as, converting 17 free throws on 21 attempts.
EMU outrebounded UA, 32-36, and held the scoring advantage in the paint (34-24) and second chance points (6-5). The Eagles tallied seven steals and three blocks, while the Zips dished out 13 assists and notched two steals. Eastern forced 11 Akron turnovers, but totaled 14 of its own.
Akron scored the first basket of the game at the 19:01 mark, but Eastern answered with a 17-2 run over the next nine minutes to take a 15-point lead (17-2). The scoring frenzy featured buckets from five Eagles, as Groce led the way with six points during the stretch. The Zips cut EMU's lead to four (22-18) with 2:28 left in the first half after a 14-4 run, but EMU headed into the locker room with a three-point lead at 28-25.
Eastern Michigan will travel north to challenge in-state foe Central Michigan Tuesday, Feb. 11, in a MAC West Division matchup inside McGuirk Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+. For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU men's hoops, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the program on Twitter at @EMUHoops.
Team Stats
EMU
UA
FG%
.500
.346
3FG%
.182
.207
FT%
.474
.810
RB
36
32
TO
14
11
STL
7
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
8
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ 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