Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
0-0,0-0MAC
Grand Valley
0-0,0-0GLIAC
Bates, Farrakhan Lead EMU past Grand Valley State, 85-69
10/27/2022 9:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Geeter records a double-double to assist in winning effort
Photo Gallery
Postgame Press Conference
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team knocked off the Grand Valley State Lakers 85-69, Thursday, Oct. 27 inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. Sophomore Emoni Bates (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Ypsi Prep-Memphis) collected 27 points and sophomore Noah Farrakhan (Hillside, N.J.-The Patrick School-East Carolina) added 22 on the night while Legend Geeter (River Rouge, Mich.-River Rouge-Providence) posted a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Bates and Farrakhan's stellar scoring performances led the Eagles in the contest. Bates tacked on six rebounds and two steals while Farrakhan added three assists and two blocks.
Eastern Michigan out-rebounded Grand Valley State, 42-33, in tonight's contest, led by Geeter's 13 boards. Additionally, the Eagles did a great job disrupting GVSU's shots, coming away with five blocks. Geeter's two rejections led the way individually for the Eagles.
How It Happened
After falling behind, 20-13, Eastern Michigan went on a 12-0 run with 10:03 left in the first half to take a 25-20 lead. The Eagles then lost some of that lead, but still entered halftime with a 35-33 advantage.
Eastern relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down five shots to account for 15 of its 35 points. EMU kept its lead intact before going on a 10-0 run, finished off by Geeter's layup, to grow the lead to 64-52 with 5:57 to go in the contest. The Eagles kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 85-69 win. Eastern Michigan also took care of business in the paint, recording 26 of its 50 points in the lane.
Game Notes
» Geeter posted a double-double in his first collegiate action, as he scored 11 points and pulled down a team-high 13 rebounds. He also grabbed a team-high 11 defensive rebounds.
» In his first game at Eastern, sophomore Tyson Acuff (Detroit, Mich.-Cass Technical-Duquesne) came one point shy of his career-high with 15.
» The Eagles had two players score 20 or more points in Bates (27) and Farrakhan (22). Farrakhan had 10 20+ point games in the 2021-22 season.
» In addition to Bates and Farrakhan, the Eagles had four players score in double digits, including Acuff's 15 and Geeter's 11.
» The Eagles were hot from the floor, shooting 32-of-60 on the day, including a blistering 62.1 percent clip in the second half.
Historical Notes
» Eastern Michigan had seven players make their Green and White debut today, including Geeter, Acuff, Bates, Jalin Billingsley (Cleveland, Ohio-Lutheran East-Georgetown), Orlando Lovejoy (Detroit, Mich.-Summit Academy North), Javantae Randle (Detroit Mich.-Frederick Douglass), and Derik Pranger (Parker, Colo.-Parker Prep).
» Newcomers accounted for over half of Eastern's point total, putting 61 of the Eagles' 85 points on the scoreboard.
» EMU has won home exhibition games in two straight seasons after defeating Goshen, 94-66, Nov. 5, 2021.
Up Next
The Eagles will host Wayne State University, Nov. 7, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center for Eastern's season-opening contest. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN+.
