Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 20
Kent, Ohio
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
4-9,1-8MAC
51
at
64
Kent State
14-5,11-4MAC
1
2
F
Eastern Mich.
23
28
51
Kent St.
23
41
64
Men’s Basketball Falls to Kent State, 64-51
2/20/2021 3:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Three Eagles recorded double-figure scoring performances
KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team dropped a Mid-American Conference affair at Kent State University, 64-51, this afternoon, Feb. 20, inside KSU's Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. The Eagles (4-9, 1-8 MAC) posted 11 steals and forced 14 KSU (14-5, 11-4 MAC) turnovers.
Three Eagles recorded double-digit scoring performances as senior Yeikson Montero (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-Redemption Christian Academy (Pensacola State)) leading the way with 15 points, including three triples. Montero also added a team-best five steals, three rebounds, and two assists in 33 minutes of play. Classmate Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) was the second Eagle to reach double figures as he scored 13 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Redshirt junior Miles Gibson (Richmond, Va.-Milwood (Northwest Kansas Tech)) tallied 12 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals, while senior Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)) dished out four dimes and added five points.
Eastern posted a 35.2 field-goal percentage (19-of-54), and struggled from beyond the arc shooting 26 percent (5-of-19). Kent State finished the afternoon with a 45.3 percent efficiency (24-of-53) and drained eight triples. The Golden Flashes won the rebounding battle (40-24), but the Eagles notched 11 steals compared to KSU's six.
Eastern Michigan struck first with a three-pointer from Groce at the 19:45 mark of the first half. The scoring went back-and-forth over the next few possessions with EMU taking the four-point lead, 11-7, with 15 minutes left in the half. The Golden Flashes went on a 10-7 scoring drive over eight minutes to gain a one-point lead, 18-17, with less than six minutes to go in the first half. EMU answered with two jumpers from Groce and Gibson to regain the lead at 21-20. With three minutes left, Gibson banked in a contested layup to propel the Eagles up by three, 23-20. However, KSU went on a 3-0 stint to tie up the game at 23-all going into the locker room.
The second half started as a back-and-forth affair until Kent State posted a 11-2 run over three minutes to take the 38-31 advantage with 13 minutes left in the game. A Groce alley oop broke an Eastern three-minute scoring drought, but KSU continued to lead, 40-33. Kent State continued its offensive momentum going on a 7-4 run to take the 10-point lead, 47-37, with seven minutes left. Over the next three minutes, Eastern recorded an 8-7 scoring run to cut the Golden Flashes' lead to nine, 54-45, with 3:36 left in the game. But, Kent State's offense outpaced Eastern, as the Golden Flashes ended the contest on a 10-6 run to seal the 64-51 victory.
EMU will return to Ypsilanti and play host to Bowling Green State University Tuesday, Feb. 23. The contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. This is the first meeting between the Eagles and Falcons during the 2020-21 season.
For more information on Eastern Michigan men's basketball, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team's official Twitter at Twitter.com/EMU_MBB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/EMUMBB, or on Instagram at Instgram.com/emumbb.
Three Eagles recorded double-digit scoring performances as senior Yeikson Montero (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-Redemption Christian Academy (Pensacola State)) leading the way with 15 points, including three triples. Montero also added a team-best five steals, three rebounds, and two assists in 33 minutes of play. Classmate Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) was the second Eagle to reach double figures as he scored 13 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Redshirt junior Miles Gibson (Richmond, Va.-Milwood (Northwest Kansas Tech)) tallied 12 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals, while senior Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)) dished out four dimes and added five points.
Eastern posted a 35.2 field-goal percentage (19-of-54), and struggled from beyond the arc shooting 26 percent (5-of-19). Kent State finished the afternoon with a 45.3 percent efficiency (24-of-53) and drained eight triples. The Golden Flashes won the rebounding battle (40-24), but the Eagles notched 11 steals compared to KSU's six.
Eastern Michigan struck first with a three-pointer from Groce at the 19:45 mark of the first half. The scoring went back-and-forth over the next few possessions with EMU taking the four-point lead, 11-7, with 15 minutes left in the half. The Golden Flashes went on a 10-7 scoring drive over eight minutes to gain a one-point lead, 18-17, with less than six minutes to go in the first half. EMU answered with two jumpers from Groce and Gibson to regain the lead at 21-20. With three minutes left, Gibson banked in a contested layup to propel the Eagles up by three, 23-20. However, KSU went on a 3-0 stint to tie up the game at 23-all going into the locker room.
The second half started as a back-and-forth affair until Kent State posted a 11-2 run over three minutes to take the 38-31 advantage with 13 minutes left in the game. A Groce alley oop broke an Eastern three-minute scoring drought, but KSU continued to lead, 40-33. Kent State continued its offensive momentum going on a 7-4 run to take the 10-point lead, 47-37, with seven minutes left. Over the next three minutes, Eastern recorded an 8-7 scoring run to cut the Golden Flashes' lead to nine, 54-45, with 3:36 left in the game. But, Kent State's offense outpaced Eastern, as the Golden Flashes ended the contest on a 10-6 run to seal the 64-51 victory.
EMU will return to Ypsilanti and play host to Bowling Green State University Tuesday, Feb. 23. The contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. This is the first meeting between the Eagles and Falcons during the 2020-21 season.
For more information on Eastern Michigan men's basketball, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team's official Twitter at Twitter.com/EMU_MBB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/EMUMBB, or on Instagram at Instgram.com/emumbb.
Team Stats
EMU
KentSt
FG%
.352
.453
3FG%
.263
.320
FT%
.800
.727
RB
24
40
TO
8
14
STL
11
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
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