Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
2-3,0-0MAC
Western Illinois
4-2,0-0Summit League
Eastern Michigan Bests Western Illinois in Dramatic Fashion, 72-68
11/24/2021 5:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Eagles got 22 points from the bench
Postgame Audio | Postgame Recap Video
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team bested Western Illinois University in dramatic fashion with a 72-68 victory to earn its second win of the season today, Nov. 24, inside the Convocation Center.
The Eagles (2-3, 0-0 MAC) were helped by 22 points of the bench, including 12 from junior guard Bryce McBride (Jackson, Tenn.-Southside (Dyersburg State C.C.)). In addition to McBride, two other members of the Green and White scored in double digits, led by senior Monty Scott (Union City, N.J.-St. Benedict's Prep (Portland State)) with 16 points, while freshman Noah Farrakhan (Newark, N.J.-The Patrick School (East Carolina)) dropped 14.
On the defensive end, senior Nate Scott (Naperville, Ill.-Nequa Valley (Northern Illinois)) paced the team with seven boards to go along with one block and one steal. Senior captain Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)) was a workhorse for the Eagles, wrangling in five rebounds and two steals, including the huge swipe with 16 seconds left to help seal the deal. Additionally, the guard scored nine points, dropped two dimes, and drew six fouls.
How It Happened
The first half was tight, with neither team owning more than a three-point advantage. Both defenses came to play as the Eagles shot just 35.48% (11-of-31) in the stanza and limited the Leathernecks to 23.53% (8-for-34). However, WIU held a 27-25 advantage going into the break, thanks to shooting 9-for-12 (75%) from the line compared to EMU's 1-6 (16.67%).
Eastern Michigan got its shot back, bringing the score to within one, 39-38, before going on a 6-0 run to seize a 44-39 lead with 12:45 to go in the contest. The Eagles then jumped out to an eight-point lead, 52-44, sparked by a monster dunk from freshman Colin Golson Jr. (Detroit, Mich.-Ferndale (Siena)). Western climbed back to even the game at 62-all with 4:19 left on the clock. The two teams went back-and-forth for the remainder of the game until McBride hit four huge free throws in the final 28 seconds to seal the deal at 72-68.
Game Notes
» M. Scott led EMU with 16 points, six rebounds, and tied a team-high with three assists.
» Scott tabbed double-digit points for the fourth-straight game.
» It was the third time this season M. Scott has recorded 15-plus points (28 vs. Illinois State; 21 at NKU).
» Farrakhan has tallied double-digit scoring efforts in every game this season (five games).
» The game marks McBride's fourth time this season scoring 10-plus points.
» McBride led EMU at the charity stripe, finishing 6-for-8 from the line.
» N. Scott led the Eagles on the glass for the second time this season, corralling seven rebounds.
» The Green and White recorded 11 assists on the day, a season-high for Eastern.
» The victory was fueled by a 61.5% (16-of-26) shooting output from the Eagles in the second half. That mark is the best EMU has shot in any period this season.
» It is the fourth time this season that Eastern has seen three-or-more players achieved double-digit scoring efforts (Scott, 16; Farrakhan, 14; McBride, 12).
» This is just the second time this season the Eagles have defeated the opposition after getting out-rebounded by their opponents (42, WIU; 39, EMU).
» Today's contest marks the first time this season the Green and White's defense has held their opponents under 40 percent shooting from the field (32.8 percent; 22-of-67).
» Eastern scored 32 of its 72 points (44.4%) in the paint.
» After shooting 1-of-6 (16.67%) from the charity stripe in the first half, the Eagles bounced back and made 11-of-13 (84.6%) in the final period.
Historical Notes
» The victory on Wednesday was the Eagles' 10th victory over the Leathernecks in the all-time series.
» The win also improves EMU's record to 19-21 against Summit League foes in the program's history.
Up Next
The Green and White will enjoy Thanksgiving before heading to the Windy City for the conclusion of the DePaul Blue Demon Classic. The Eagles will take on the Blue Demon's in Wintrust Arena Sunday, Nov. 28. The contest is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast on FS1.
