Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 27
Convocation Center
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
5-11,2-10MAC
91
vs
57
Northern Illinois
2-15,1-11MAC
1
2
F
Northern Ill.
29
28
57
Eastern Mich.
42
49
91
Photo by: Steven King/Steve King Studios
Men's Basketball Wins Big on Senior Day
2/27/2021 3:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Seniors combine to score 63 points in final game at the Convocation Center
Photo Gallery | Press Conference | Senior Video | Recap Video
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball program picked up an impressive victory over Mid-American Conference foe Northern Illinois University, 91-57, Saturday, Feb. 27, inside the Convocation Center.
Last time EMU had three players score 15-plus points was in a 95-35 win over Adrian College, Dec. 9, 2020. The win snaps an eight-game conference losing streak and pushes the Eagles to 5-11 overall (2-10 MAC). The loss drops the Huskies to 2-15 (1-11 MAC).
Prior to tip, the program honored four seniors in Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln), Yeikson Montero (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-Redemption Christian Academy (Pensacola State)), Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)) and Noah Morgan (Mount Vernon, N.Y.-Mount Vernon (Northwest Florida State)).
As fate would have it, the seniors shined bright in their final game at the Convocation Center. The four combined to score 63 of the Eagles' points on 60.5 percent shooting from the field and 72.7 percent from deep. Morgan led all scorers with a season-high 22 points, while adding four assists and three rebounds.
Montero finished the contest with 20 points and five rebounds, while Groce added his fifth career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Spottsville contributed six points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Outside of the seniors, junior Bryce McBride (Jackson, Tenn-Southside (Dyersburg State C.C.)) poured in 14 points, while adding four assists. Redshirt junior Derek Ballard Jr. (Southfield, Mich-Southfield-Lathrup) was able to get seven points and three rebounds.
Eastern Michigan struck first thanks to a Montero layup at the 17:40 mark of the first half. Over the next three minutes, the Eagles sparked a 9-5 run to take the 11-5 lead with 14:40 left in the opening stanza. Northern Illinois answered with a 13-8 scoring stint to tie the game at 19-all with less than nine minutes remaining in the first.
Three-straight EMU buckets capped a 12-7 run highlighted by a Groce tip-in which propelled the Eagles to a five-point lead, 31-26, with under four to play in the first half. The Green and White extended their lead to 13, 42-29, off an 11-4 drive which was showcased by a Morgan triple at the buzzer to end the first half.
Coming out of the locker room, EMU brought the intensity with a 12-2 run to gain a 22-point lead (54-32) with 17 minutes left in the second half. Morgan, McBride, and Montero each drained consecutive baskets from downtown to cap off a 9-0 run to extend the Eagles' advantage to 63-34 at the 13:42 mark of the second stanza. Eastern Michigan continued to bring the heat as the Eagles extended their lead to 32 (83-51) with less than four minutes in the game. Eastern Michigan sealed the 91-57 victory on senior day.
Statistically, the Eagles outpaced the Huskies in field goal percentage (50.8-36.8), 3-pointers (12-6), rebounds (41-29), assists (15-11), blocks (4-2), steals (9-5), points off turnovers (25-13), points in the paint (36-30) and second chance points (10-9).
EMU will head to Muncie, Ind. and play Ball State University Tuesday, March 2. The contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN3. The Eagles are 43-64 all-time versus the Cardinals and have lost the last three meetings. .
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.
Last time EMU had three players score 15-plus points was in a 95-35 win over Adrian College, Dec. 9, 2020. The win snaps an eight-game conference losing streak and pushes the Eagles to 5-11 overall (2-10 MAC). The loss drops the Huskies to 2-15 (1-11 MAC).
Prior to tip, the program honored four seniors in Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln), Yeikson Montero (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-Redemption Christian Academy (Pensacola State)), Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)) and Noah Morgan (Mount Vernon, N.Y.-Mount Vernon (Northwest Florida State)).
As fate would have it, the seniors shined bright in their final game at the Convocation Center. The four combined to score 63 of the Eagles' points on 60.5 percent shooting from the field and 72.7 percent from deep. Morgan led all scorers with a season-high 22 points, while adding four assists and three rebounds.
Montero finished the contest with 20 points and five rebounds, while Groce added his fifth career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Spottsville contributed six points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Outside of the seniors, junior Bryce McBride (Jackson, Tenn-Southside (Dyersburg State C.C.)) poured in 14 points, while adding four assists. Redshirt junior Derek Ballard Jr. (Southfield, Mich-Southfield-Lathrup) was able to get seven points and three rebounds.
Eastern Michigan struck first thanks to a Montero layup at the 17:40 mark of the first half. Over the next three minutes, the Eagles sparked a 9-5 run to take the 11-5 lead with 14:40 left in the opening stanza. Northern Illinois answered with a 13-8 scoring stint to tie the game at 19-all with less than nine minutes remaining in the first.
Three-straight EMU buckets capped a 12-7 run highlighted by a Groce tip-in which propelled the Eagles to a five-point lead, 31-26, with under four to play in the first half. The Green and White extended their lead to 13, 42-29, off an 11-4 drive which was showcased by a Morgan triple at the buzzer to end the first half.
Coming out of the locker room, EMU brought the intensity with a 12-2 run to gain a 22-point lead (54-32) with 17 minutes left in the second half. Morgan, McBride, and Montero each drained consecutive baskets from downtown to cap off a 9-0 run to extend the Eagles' advantage to 63-34 at the 13:42 mark of the second stanza. Eastern Michigan continued to bring the heat as the Eagles extended their lead to 32 (83-51) with less than four minutes in the game. Eastern Michigan sealed the 91-57 victory on senior day.
Statistically, the Eagles outpaced the Huskies in field goal percentage (50.8-36.8), 3-pointers (12-6), rebounds (41-29), assists (15-11), blocks (4-2), steals (9-5), points off turnovers (25-13), points in the paint (36-30) and second chance points (10-9).
EMU will head to Muncie, Ind. and play Ball State University Tuesday, March 2. The contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN3. The Eagles are 43-64 all-time versus the Cardinals and have lost the last three meetings. .
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
NIU
EMU
FG%
.368
.508
3FG%
.316
.571
FT%
.750
.850
RB
29
41
TO
16
10
STL
5
9
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
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