Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
1-1,0-0MAC
Illinois State
1-1,0-0MVC
Men's Basketball Tops Illinois State in 2OT; Stan Heath Earns First Win at EMU
11/12/2021 9:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Monty Scott scores 28 points as EMU erases 16-point deficit in the 103-98 win
Postgame Press Conference
Photo Gallery | Postgame Highlight Video
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The first home game for the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team under 1987 alumnus and first year Head Coach, Stan Heath, ended quite poetically as his team fought back from 16 points down to defeat Illinois State University, 103-98, in double overtime, inside the Convocation Center, tonight, Nov. 12.
The Eagles (1-1, 0-0 MAC) had four players score in double figures, led by senior Monty Scott (Union City, N.J.-St. Benedict's Prep (Portland State)), who had 28 points and four steals. Junior Bryce McBride (Jackson, Tenn.-Southside (Dyersburg State C.C.)) added 23 points and eight rebounds off the bench, and freshman Noah Farrakhan (Newark, N.J.-The Patrick School (East Carolina)) chipped in 17 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals as well.
On the defensive end, senior center Axel Okongo (Saacy-sur-Marne, France-Thetford Prep Academy (Missouri)) pulled down six total rebounds, three offense, and three defensive. All in all, the effort on the offensive boards helped the Green and White record 14 second chance points.
How It Happened
Eastern Michigan struggled out of the gate, shooting just 10-of-31 (32.26%) from the field, including 2-of-9 (22.22%) from the three-point line. The cold half resulted in a 12-point deficit, 44-32 heading into the locker room.
EMU fought back, eventually taking a 62-60 lead with 10:28 to go in the contest., thanks to a deep ball from M. Scott. The two teams went back-and-forth for the remaining 10 minutes, creating a 79-79 stalemate to send the game to overtime. In the first overtime, the Eagles and Redbirds traded blows, with both teams making a shot in the final minute to make it a 90-90 game as time expired.
Illinois State then snagged a 92-90 advantage early in the second overtime before Eastern Michigan responded by going on a 7-0 run to seize a 97-92 lead with 3:04 to go in the period. The Eagles held onto the lead for the rest of the game for the 103-98 win.
Game Notes
»Eastern Michigan rallied from a 12-point 44-32 halftime deficit to force overtime and ultimately pick up the victory.
»The Eagles forced 22 turnovers while giving up just 15.
»Eastern's bench made a huge impact, racking up 30 points in the contest.
»EMU bested ISU in steals, with 13 takeaways compared to the Redbird's nine.
»Eastern Michigan got a team-high eight rebounds from McBride.
»The Green and White also topped Illinois State in points off turnovers (28-to-13) and fast break points (13-to-2),
»With EMU's 103-98 win over Illinois State, Stan Heath became the third straight, and 13th out of the last 15 Eastern Michigan men's head basketball coaches overall, to win their home-opener with the Green and White. Only twice since 1947 has a debuting head coach for EMU lost at home (William Crouch -1947, Jim Boone – 2000)
»EMU erased a 16-point first-half deficit to beat Illinois State, 103-98. The comeback marks the first time since Feb. 29, 2020 that EMU has come back from a deficit of 10-or-more points to win a game. In that game, EMU erased a 14-point Central Michigan lead to defeat the Chippewas.
» Despite the win over ISU being Heath's first at Eastern Michigan, it is not his first inside EMU's home venue, the Convocation Center. Heath was the head coach at Kent State University for the 2001-02 season. He is now 2-0 in the Convo after leading his Golden Flashes team to a 82-62 victory, Jan. 29, 2002, and now leading Eastern to the 103-98 victory over the Redbirds, Nov. 12.
»Tonight was Head Coach Stan Heath's first regular-season home game at the helm of the Eagles. A 1987 EMU graduate, he appeared in 65 games as a player wearing green and white.
»It is the 210th win of coach Heath's career as a college basketball head coach.
»Heath became the first EMU men's head coach to have his first home game be decided in overtime.
»The last time Eastern Michigan participated in a double overtime game was Jan. 8, 2019, against Ball State, when the Eagles escaped with an 84-83 win.
» With the offensive production from M. Scott (28 points), McBride (23 points), Farrakhan (17points), and freshman Colin Golson Jr. (Detroit, Mich.-Ferndale (Siena)) (16 points), tonight's game marked the first time the Eagles had three-or-more players drop 15-plus points in a single game in a game this season. Former Eagles Noah Morgan (22 points), Yeikson Montero (20 points), and Ty Groce (15 points) each contributed to help the Eagles thwart Northern Illinois, Feb. 27, 2021.
»Eastern Michigan scored 100-plus points in a home opener for the first time since Nov. 14, 2008, when it put up 119 in a 119-48 win over Marygrove.
»The Eagles scored 100-or-more points in a game for the first since they topped Goshen, 101-49, Nov. 12, 2019.
»EMU scored over 100 points in a head coaches' first home game for the first time in program history.
»Eastern scored 103 points-or-more for the first time since Dec. 8, 2018, when it had a 105-53 victory over NCAA Division II-foe Central State University.
» EMU has now won 120 of its last 162 games at home (74%).
Up Next
Eastern Michigan hits the road game for two straight games. First up is Northern Kentucky Thursday, Nov. 18, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. in Highland Heights, Ky. Then the Eagles return to the Mitten State for a contest against Michigan State, Nov. 20. The Saturday afternoon game is scheduled for 5 p.m. inside the Breslin Center.
