Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
5-5,0-0MAC
Florida International
-82,00 CUSA
Eastern Soars in 4OT Thriller; Iceman Returns Home
12/11/2021 4:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
M. Scott and Njie earn double-doubles on George Gervin Day
George Gervin Day Recap Video | Full Arena Dedication Ceremony
Photo Galleries
Postgame Press Conference
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Eastern Michigan University men's basketball gave the fans all they came for on George Gervin day, topping Florida International University, 92-88, in the longest game in program history, Dec. 11. Gervin was honored at halftime by President James M. Smith and Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee, announcing the Convocation Center will now be known as the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
Eastern (5-5; 0-0 MAC) had four players score in double figures. Freshman Noah Farrakhan (Newark, N.J.-The Patrick School (East Carolina)) led the field with a career-high 27 points. Two Eagles earned double-doubles in senior Monty Scott (Union, N.J.-St. Benedict's Prep (Portland State)) and freshman Mo Njie (Centerville, Ohio-Centerville (DME Sports Academy)). M. Scott totaled 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Njie recorded 10 points and 11 boards for his first career double-double performance. Junior Bryce McBride (Jackson, Tenn.-Southside (Dyerberug C.C.)) added 15 points off the bench, while senior Nate Scott (Naperville, Ill.-Neuqua Valley (Northern Illinois)) dished out a career-high five assists.
On the other end of the court, EMU's defense forced Florida International (8-2; 0-0 CUSA) into 25 turnovers and snagged 14 steals, both season-highs for the squad. The Eagles shot 38 percent (30-79) from the field, and held FIU to 35.8 percent (34-95). Additionally, the Green and White earned the win despite being outdone by the Panthers in the following categories, points off turnovers (28-22), points in the paint (48-38), fast break points (16-12), and bench points (50-23).
How It Happened
After falling behind early 12-10, Eastern Michigan went on a 7-0 run with 10:07 left in the first half, culminating in a three from M. Scott, to take a 17-12 lead. Florida International kept the game close, tying it at 24-all with 2:13 left in the stanza. The Eagles then surrendered that lead and entered halftime down 29-27 after FIU hit a three-pointer at the buzzer. The first period saw six lead changes and was tied five times, including the hair-splitting shooting percentage of the two squads. Eastern shot 34.5 percent (10-29), while FIU hit 35.4 percent (11-32).
In the second half, Florida International kept widening its lead by as much as 13 (54-41) with 7:20 left in regulation. Farrakhan hit two free throws and a big shot from beyond the arc to give Eastern the push it needed. A 7-0 run, capped off by a layup by freshman Colin Golson Jr. (Detroit, Mich.-Ferndale (Siena)), tied the game at 55 and forced the game to overtime.
In the first overtime, both teams scored seven points a piece, with Farrakhan accounting for six of those points for Eastern. As the game headed into a second and third overtime, the game remained tied at 82. In the fourth and final extra period, EMU finally pulled away, outscoring the Panthers 10-6 in the final five minutes of the contest.
Game Notes
»Eastern Michigan defense held FIU to just 34% from the field in the first half
»EMU trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half, completing their second victory when trailing from more than 10 points (103-98, vs. Illinois State, Nov. 12).
»The Eagles allowed their fewest points on defense in regulation this season (55).
»Eastern Michigan shot 10-21 FG's in overtime for 47.6 percent.
»The Green and White finished with season-highs in field goal attempts (79), three-point field goal attempts (27), rebounds (58), assists (14), and steals (14).
»Farrakhan tallied 27 points (career-high), the second-highest mark by an Eagle in a single game this season (M. Scott 28, vs. Illinois State).
»The Newark , N.J. native also finished with season-highs in field goals made (8), free throws made (9), rebounds (8), assists (4), and steals (4).
»Eastern had four players play over 40 minutes.
»M. Scott tallied season-highs in both rebounds (11) and free throws made (4).
»McBride recorded season-bests in three-pointers made (3) and steals (3).
»Njie finished with career-high marks in points (10), minutes (33), free throws made (5), rebounds (11), along with recording his third career three-point field goal.
»N. Scott finished with a career-high five assists and tied a career-high with two blocks, while adding a season-best two steals.
»Golson Jr. finished with a career-high three steals.
»In addition, the pair tallied two blocks in the afternoon, the second time this season EMU has had multiple players with two or more blocks in a game this season, also done on Dec. 5, vs Northwood, when senior Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)) and Njie had 2 blocks.
Historical Notes:
»The four overtime contest against the Panthers was the longest game in program history.
»The last time Eastern Michigan played a 3OT game was Jan. 8, 2000 against Ball State when Eastern defeated the Cardinals 98-93.
» The four overtime contest against the Panthers was the longest game in program history since at least
» The four overtime game was only the 13th in the last five seasons in all of Division I basketball.
»The game was only the second Division I basketball game to go to four overtimes this season. The other occurrence was between NC State and Nebraska (Dec. 1).
»Njie and M. Scott both had double-doubles for the Eagles tonight, the last time EMU had two players contribute for double doubles was Jan. 16, 2021, when Yeikson Montero had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Miles Gibson had 12 points and 11 rebounds
»Eastern is now 1-0 against Florida International all-time.
Up Next
The Eagles travel to West Indiana to take on the Crusaders of Valparaiso University on Dec. 20, 2021. Tip is set for 7 p.m. inside the Athletics-Recreation Center (ARC). The game can be viewed via ESPN3.
