Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
5-6
Valparaiso
6-6
Eastern Michigan Falls Short in 67-55 Loss at Valparaiso
12/20/2021 8:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Farrakhan led the Eagles with 17 points
VALPARAISO, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team dropped its final non-conference tilt of the regular season at Valparaiso University, 67-55, tonight, Dec. 20, inside the Athletics-Recreation Center (ARC).
The Eagles (5-6, 0-0 MAC) were led offensively by freshman Noah Farrakhan (Newark, N.J.-The Patrick School (East Carolina)) with 17 points on 8-of-17 (47.1%) shooting from the floor. Seniors Monty Scott (Union, N.J.-St. Benedict's Prep (Portland State)) and Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)) both chipped in 10 points in the effort. Additionally, M. Scott produced a team-high four assists on the night.
On the defensive end, senior Nate Scott (Naperville, Ill.-Neuqua Valley (Northern Illinois)) hauled in eight rebounds and recorded one block. Freshman Mo Njie (Centerville, Ohio-Centerville (DME Sports Academy)) and senior Axel Okongo (Saacy-Sur-Marne, France-Thetford Prep Academy (Quebec) (Missouri)) also posted a rejection against the Beacons. M. Scott kept his hands busy as he came away with three steals.
How It Happened
The first half saw EMU score by committee, with six players getting on the board, paced by N. Scott with seven points. Both squads traded 7-0 runs during the stanza, but the Eagles managed to take a 28-26 edge heading into the break. The Green and White did most of their damage in close range, with 22 points coming in the paint.
Eastern's advantage grew to as much as 11 in the second half, 47-36, highlighted by several athletic buckets from Farrakhan. However, Valparaiso started shooting hot, responding with a 31-8 run to earn the home win, 67-55.
Game Notes
»Eastern Michigan got a game-high eight rebounds from N. Scott.
»EMU shot 40 percent (23-of-58) from the field.
»The Eagles were held to a season-low 55 points.
»Eastern shot a perfect 8-of-8 from the line for a season-high free throw percentage (100 percent).
»Farrakhan scored in double-digits (17) for the eighth time this season.
»Spottsville scored a season-high 10 points.
»M. Scott scores in double-figures (10) in the ninth consecutive game.
»Farrakhan (17), M. Scott (10), and Spottsville (10) score in double figures, making it the ninth game this season where Eastern has had three-or-more in double-digits.
»The Green and White scored 32 of their 55 points in the paint.
»M. Scott dished out three assists, the sixth outing this season recording at least a trio of dimes.
»With a rejection against the Beacons, N. Scott now has six games with a rejection so far this season.
Historical Notes
»Eastern Michigan is now 2-3 against Valparaiso all-time.
Up Next
Eastern Michigan remains on the road for its first conference matchup of the season, traveling to Ohio University Tuesday, Dec. 29. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Athens and the contest can be streamed on ESPN3 and WEMU (89.1 FM)
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