Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
3-5,0-0MAC
Northwood
3-5,1-1GLIAC
Eastern Michigan Bests Northwood, 79-57
12/5/2021 6:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Eagles' bench scores a season-high 35 points in the contest
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team defeated Northwood University 79-57, tonight, Dec. 5, inside the Convocation Center.
The Eagles (3-5, 0-0 MAC) saw the return of freshman guard Noah Farrakhan (Newark, N.J.-The Patrick School (East Carolina)) who paced the Green and White with 20 points with an efficient 8-of-12 shooting clip from the field and 3-for-3 from beyond-the-arc. This is the fourth time this season that Farrakhan has led the team in scoring. Classmate Colin Golson Jr. (Detroit, Mich.-Ferndale (Siena)) added 13 points off the bench while senior Monty Scott (Union City, N.J.-St. Benedict's Prep (Portland State)) produced 12 points and a team-leading three assists.
Defensively, redshirt junior Derek Ballard Jr. (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield-Lathrup) hauled in five rebounds in 11 minutes of play, a season-high for Ballard Jr., tying the team's best with Golson Jr. who grabbed five boards, one steal, and one block. Seniors Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)) and Nate Scott (Naperville, Ill.-Neuqua Valley (Northern Illinois)) were defiant in the paint, both recording a pair of blocks. Additionally, the team achieved 10 steals on the afternoon, including two from Spottsville, Scott, and junior Bryce McBride (Jackson, Tenn.-Southside (Dyersburg State C.C.)).
How It Happened
Both teams traded shots in the opening minutes before Eastern Michigan jumped out to an 18-10 lead, highlighted by back-to-back dunks from Ballard Jr. and Spottsville. The Eagles led by as much as nine, boasting a 24-15 advantage at the 7:02 mark. However, the Timberwolves cut the deficit to five heading into halftime, 34-29. EMU and Northwood shot decent from the field, with the Green and White knocking down 13-of-24 (54.2%) while the Timberwolves shot 12-for-25 (48.0%).
Eastern's advantage ballooned to 14, less than five minutes into the second stanza, but Northwood fought back and brought the game within four, 44-40, at the 13:42 minute mark. From there the Eagles did not lead by more than eight until M. Scott sank a three-pointer at 6:57 to make it a 62-52 game. EMU took off from that point on, earning a 79-57 win at home.
Game Notes
» It was the first time this season multiple Eagles recorded multiple blocks (Spottsville, 2; N. Scott 2).
» The Eagles notched 10 steals versus the Timberwolves, marking the second-highest output of the season (13, vs. Illinois State, Nov. 12). It is just the second time this season EMU has tallied double-digit steals.
» The Eagles held the Timberwolves to only 38.6 percent (22-of-57) shooting from the field.
» Eastern Michigan never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
» The Eastern Michigan bench made an impact by scoring 35 points to its scoring output, the most in any game this season. Its previous of 30 points both were achieved against Illinois State, Nov. 12, and Western Illinois, Nov. 24.
» EMU had a 36-35 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Eagles' defense forced 18 turnovers, second to only the 22 forced against Illinois State, Nov. 12.
» The Green and White were active in altering shots on the defensive end, recording six blocks as a team. That total ties the season-high at Michigan State, Nov. 20.
» Eastern Michigan had three players score double-digit point totals for the fifth time this season.
» Farrakhan shot a perfect three-for-three from beyond-the-arc, the first time he has shot a perfect mark from downtown (min. two attempts).
» EMU shot 53.7% (29-of-54) from the field, a season-high, breaking the previous mark of 50.0% (29-of-58) done at Northern Kentucky on Nov. 18th.
» Spottsville had two blocks on the afternoon, and it marks the first time of his career he had consecutive multiple block games.
» M. Scott tallied his seventh consecutive game in the double-digit point mark, totaling 12.
» Ballard Jr. had a season-high in minutes (11), points (four), and rebounds (5).
» Eastern Michigan scored 79 points, tying the most points scored in regulation by the team this year, also done on Nov. 12, 2021 against Illinois State.
» The Eagles allowed 57 points on defense, beating their previous season-low mark of 68 against Western Illinois, Nov. 24.
» Freshman Kevin David-Rice (Flint, Mich.-Grand Blanc (Delta College)) had a season-high in points (6), breaking a previous season-high at DePaul on Nov. 28, 2021.
» EMU beat Northwood by 22 points today, the first time the Eagles have won a game by 20-or-more points since Feb. 27, 2021 vs. Northern Illinois.
Historical Notes
» The Eagles improved to 3-0 at home to start the season. It is the first time they have started 3-0 at home with two Division I opponent wins in those games since the 2017-18 season.
» Eastern moves 5-0 all-time against Northwood.
Up Next
The Eagles will stay at home to host the Niagara University Purple Eagles Wednesday, Dec. 8. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center and will be streamed on ESPN3.
