Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
7-7 (2-1MAC)
Central Michigan
2-12 (1-2MAC)
Men's Basketball Dominates Central Michigan, 99-68
1/11/2022 9:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Five Eagles score in double-digits; Rice records career-high 15 points
Press Conference | Photo Gallery | Postgame Recap Video
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University basketball program dominated Central Michigan, 99-68, tonight, Jan. 11, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
The Eagles (7-7, 2-1 MAC) had five players score in double figures, led by junior Bryce McBride (Jackson, Tenn.-Southside (Dyersburg State)), who had16 points and three assists. Freshman Kevin-David Rice (Flint, Mich.-Grand Blanc (Delta College)) added a career-high 15 points off the bench while Monty Scott (Union, N.J.-St. Benedict's Prep (Portland State)) chipped in 13. Additionally, Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)) tied his season-high with 12 points and dished out five dimes.
Defensively, Eastern out-rebounded the Chippewas, 35-31, as freshman Mo Njie (Centerville, Ohio-Center (DME Sports Academy)) hauled in seven boards, recorded one steal, and notched one block. The Eagles forced 15 turnovers and swiped 11 balls, led by M. Scott with three. Meanwhile, EMU was strong near the basket, allowing just 24 points in the paint while the Eagles scored 50 on the offensive end.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 27-18 advantage, Eastern Michigan went on a 6-0 run with 6:24 left in the first half to increase its lead to 33-18. The Eagles then maintained that lead and entered halftime with a 46-31 advantage. EMU did most of its first-half damage in the paint, scoring 24 of its 46 points close to the basket.
Following intermission, the Green and White kept expanding their advantage to 51-35 before going on a 7-0 run, highlighted by redshirt junior Derek Ballard Jr. (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield-Lathrup)'s three, to grow the lead to 58-35 with 15:17 to go in the contest. The Eagles continued their scoring ways and ran away with a 99-68 win. Eastern Michigan got a big boost from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 34 of its 53 total points.
Game Notes
» The Eastern Michigan bench made an impact by adding 52 points to its scoring output. That is the most for the team in a single game since scoring 54 bench points against Central State, Dec. 8, 2018.
» Five Eagles scored in double digits, the most in any game this season. EMU has had four players score in double-figures four times this season.
» McBride and Rice came off the bench to score 16 and 15 points, respectively.
» Eastern Michigan had a 35-31 edge on the boards in the win. Eastern Michigan has now out-rebounded its opponents in three contests this season, including two games in-a-row. The Eagles have tied on the boards one time.
» The EMU defense forced 15 turnovers, the 11th time this season the team has forced 10+ turnovers.
» Tonight's victory marks the third time this season the Eagles have scored 90-plus points this season.
» It is also the fifth time this season EMU's defense has held its opponent under 70 points.
» Eastern's 37 field goals made is a new season-high. The 14 assists for the Green and White is also a season-high, matching their total versus FIU, Dec. 11.
» Noah Farrakhan (Newark, N.J.-The Patrick School (East Carolina)) produced one block and one steal, the third time at Eastern in which he's recorded stats in both categories in the same game this season.
»Farrakhan grabbed five rebounds, his fifth outing this season with five-or-more boards.
» Spottsville swatted one shot against the Chippewas, his ninth game with at least one block.
» Offensively, Spottsville tied his season-high of 12 points. With 12 tonight and12 against Ball State, Jan.8, the guard has eclipsed double-digits in four-straight games, the longest such streak in his career.
» Ballard Jr. was great from deep, knocking down two-of-two from downtown. For Ballard Jr., this marked the first game of his career with multiple three-point makes.
» Rice had a breakout game off the bench, producing a career-high 15 points in the win. Additionally, the Flint, Mich. native drilled the first three-pointer of his career.
» M. Scott kept his hands busy as he came up with three steals, the third game this season the guard has swiped three-or-more balls.
» Eastern Michigan recorded its second-largest lead at halftime of the season, its only bigger halftime lead was at Western Michigan (47-30) on Jan. 4.
» EMU once led by 34 (99-65), their largest lead at any point of a game against a Division I program this season.
» Eastern Michigan had five players score in double-digit points in the winning effort. That is the first such effort where Eastern Michigan had that many players score more than 10 points this season. Furthermore, the Eagles had nine players to score at least two baskets and score six points.
» The Eagles had their ninth game this season with 10-or-more assists as a team.
» The contest was the first game where the Eagles scored at least 90 points in regulation in this season. In addition, it was also the first time the Eagles scored 99 points in regulation since they scored 101 points against Goshen on Nov. 12, 2019.
» Six different players hit at least one three-pointer for Eastern Michigan. It is the third time EMU has reached that feat in 2021-22.
» Eastern Michigan had 35 rebounds in the game tonight. It is the eighth such occurrence this season where the Eagles had 35 or more rebounds in a game.
» The Eagles shot 7-of-20 (35%) from three-point range. It marks the seventh such effort where Eastern Michigan shot 35% or better from downtown.
Historical Notes
» Tonight was the 203rd all-time meeting between the Eagles and the Chippewas. The Chippewas hold the all-time lead in the series, with a 104-99 Record.
» Eastern Michigan improves its conference record to 2-1. It is the first time the Green and White have started 2-1 in Mid-American Conference play since 2018-19.
» The 31-point victory marked the Eagles' largest victory over Central since Jan. 24, 1998, when the Eagles defeated the Chippewas 85-53 at Bowen Field House.
Up Next
»The Eagles travel to DeKalb to take on the Huskies of Northern Illinois. Tip-Off is Set for 4:30 PM ET. The game can be streamed on ESPN+ and can be listened to as well on WEMU 89.1. The Eagles will look to improve to 3-1 in conference play.
