Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, November 23
Cancun, Mexico
12:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
1-5,0-0MAC
87
vs
101
Winthrop
3-4,0-0Big South
1
2
F
Eastern Mich.
37
50
87
Winthrop
47
54
101
Eastern Falls to Winthrop, 101-87, in Cancun Challenge Finale
11/23/2022 3:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Acuff scores career-high 25 points as all five starters reach double figures
Postgame Audio
CANCÚN, Mexico (EMUEagles.com) -- All five starters scored in double figures, including a career-high 25 points from Tyson Acuff (Detroit, Mich.-Cass Tech-Duquesne), but it was not enough as the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team suffered a 101-87 defeat to Winthrop University in the final game of the 2022 Cancun Challenge, Nov. 23. The Eagles (1-5) saw Legend Geeter (River Rouge, Mich.-River Rouge-Providence) record his first double-double as he tallied career-highs points (12) and rebounds (10) inside the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico.
Acuff had a career day on the floor as the sophomore's 25 points not only marked the first time he scored more than 20 in his career, it also tied him with Ricky Cottrill for the most points scored by an Eagle in a game played internationally as Cottrill scored 25 against both the University of Miami (Fla.) and the University of Alabama-Birmingham at the 2001 Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, The Virgin Islands. Acuff was not done there as his 11-of-19 shooting from the floor saw him surpass Lorenzo Neely's EMU record for made baskets in an international game after he drained 10 against the University of Alabama at the 1989 San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico.
Geeter recorded the first double-double of his career and the first for an Eagle since Mo Njie finished with 16 points and 10 boards at Miami University, March 4, 2022. Geeter, who finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds, becomes just the eighth Eastern player to record a double-double in an international game and the first to do so since John Bowler scored 17 and rebounded 10 misses at the 2004 Paradise Jam against Austin Peay University, Nov. 20. Geeter led the team with three steals on the day as well as adding two assists, both of which tie career-highs for the big man.
Emoni Bates (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Ypsi Prep-Memphis) continued to hit long-range shots as the sophomore was 4-of-9 from behind the arc to give him four makes in back-to-back games and raise his season total to 19 made. Scoring at least 15 points in all five games he has played this season, Bates finished with 15 points and six rebounds while adding one steal and the team's lone blocked shot.
Noah Farrakhan (Hillside, N.J.-The Patrick School-East Carolina) finished the game with 17 points and joined Bates by knocking down four treys. Colin Golson Jr. (Detroit, Mich.-Ferndale-Siena) was the fifth player to reach double-figure scoring in the game as he finished with 10 points. He added six rebounds, two assists, and one steal as well.
How It Happened
Eastern Michigan struggled out of the gate, falling behind 47-37 heading into halftime. Winthrop kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 75-55 advantage before Eastern Michigan went on a 5-0 run, finished off by Bates' three, to shrink the deficit to 75-60 with 8:15 to go in the contest. The Eagles kept their comeback going, but Winthrop managed to hold on for the 101-87 win. Eastern Michigan made the most of 15 offensive rebounds to tack on 17 second-chance points out of 50 total in the period.
Game Notes
» Eastern won the rebound battle for the second game in a row, 35-29, but fell to 0-3 in games in which out-rebounds its foe this season.
» All five starters scored in double figures, including Acuff (25), Farrakhan (17), Bates (15), Geeter (12), and Golson (10). Orlando Lovejoy (Detroit, Mich.-Summit Academy North) was the lone bench player to score, adding eight.
» All eight players that entered the game recorded one steal with Geeter leading the way with three.
» Acuff's 25 points are a career high, surpassing the 18 he scored at Oakland University, Nov. 19. His point total ties for the most in an international game at Eastern with Cottrill, who scored 25 twice at the 2001 Paradise Jam.
» Acuff hit on 11-of-19 shots in the game, surpassing Neely for the most makes in an international game by an Eastern player after Neely sank 10 at the 1989 San Juan Shootout.
» Geeter recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He is the first Eagle to do so this year and the first since Njie did so last year at Miami.
» As a team, the Eagles scored 31 baskets, including nine threes. Both tallies tie for the most in an international game for Eastern as the previous records came with 31 buckets against the University of Illinois-Chicago, Dec. 20, 1992, at the San Juan Shootout and nine triples against the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Nov. 22, 2019, at the Jamaica Classic.
Up Next
The Eagles return home for their next game as they are set to play host to the Tritons of the University of California-San Diego Sunday, Nov. 27, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The game, which is set to tip at 2 p.m., will be broadcast live on ESPN+, WEMU Radio (89.1 FM), and the Varsity Network app.
CANCÚN, Mexico (EMUEagles.com) -- All five starters scored in double figures, including a career-high 25 points from Tyson Acuff (Detroit, Mich.-Cass Tech-Duquesne), but it was not enough as the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team suffered a 101-87 defeat to Winthrop University in the final game of the 2022 Cancun Challenge, Nov. 23. The Eagles (1-5) saw Legend Geeter (River Rouge, Mich.-River Rouge-Providence) record his first double-double as he tallied career-highs points (12) and rebounds (10) inside the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico.
Acuff had a career day on the floor as the sophomore's 25 points not only marked the first time he scored more than 20 in his career, it also tied him with Ricky Cottrill for the most points scored by an Eagle in a game played internationally as Cottrill scored 25 against both the University of Miami (Fla.) and the University of Alabama-Birmingham at the 2001 Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, The Virgin Islands. Acuff was not done there as his 11-of-19 shooting from the floor saw him surpass Lorenzo Neely's EMU record for made baskets in an international game after he drained 10 against the University of Alabama at the 1989 San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico.
Geeter recorded the first double-double of his career and the first for an Eagle since Mo Njie finished with 16 points and 10 boards at Miami University, March 4, 2022. Geeter, who finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds, becomes just the eighth Eastern player to record a double-double in an international game and the first to do so since John Bowler scored 17 and rebounded 10 misses at the 2004 Paradise Jam against Austin Peay University, Nov. 20. Geeter led the team with three steals on the day as well as adding two assists, both of which tie career-highs for the big man.
Emoni Bates (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Ypsi Prep-Memphis) continued to hit long-range shots as the sophomore was 4-of-9 from behind the arc to give him four makes in back-to-back games and raise his season total to 19 made. Scoring at least 15 points in all five games he has played this season, Bates finished with 15 points and six rebounds while adding one steal and the team's lone blocked shot.
Noah Farrakhan (Hillside, N.J.-The Patrick School-East Carolina) finished the game with 17 points and joined Bates by knocking down four treys. Colin Golson Jr. (Detroit, Mich.-Ferndale-Siena) was the fifth player to reach double-figure scoring in the game as he finished with 10 points. He added six rebounds, two assists, and one steal as well.
How It Happened
Eastern Michigan struggled out of the gate, falling behind 47-37 heading into halftime. Winthrop kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 75-55 advantage before Eastern Michigan went on a 5-0 run, finished off by Bates' three, to shrink the deficit to 75-60 with 8:15 to go in the contest. The Eagles kept their comeback going, but Winthrop managed to hold on for the 101-87 win. Eastern Michigan made the most of 15 offensive rebounds to tack on 17 second-chance points out of 50 total in the period.
Game Notes
» Eastern won the rebound battle for the second game in a row, 35-29, but fell to 0-3 in games in which out-rebounds its foe this season.
» All five starters scored in double figures, including Acuff (25), Farrakhan (17), Bates (15), Geeter (12), and Golson (10). Orlando Lovejoy (Detroit, Mich.-Summit Academy North) was the lone bench player to score, adding eight.
» All eight players that entered the game recorded one steal with Geeter leading the way with three.
» Acuff's 25 points are a career high, surpassing the 18 he scored at Oakland University, Nov. 19. His point total ties for the most in an international game at Eastern with Cottrill, who scored 25 twice at the 2001 Paradise Jam.
» Acuff hit on 11-of-19 shots in the game, surpassing Neely for the most makes in an international game by an Eastern player after Neely sank 10 at the 1989 San Juan Shootout.
» Geeter recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He is the first Eagle to do so this year and the first since Njie did so last year at Miami.
» As a team, the Eagles scored 31 baskets, including nine threes. Both tallies tie for the most in an international game for Eastern as the previous records came with 31 buckets against the University of Illinois-Chicago, Dec. 20, 1992, at the San Juan Shootout and nine triples against the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Nov. 22, 2019, at the Jamaica Classic.
Up Next
The Eagles return home for their next game as they are set to play host to the Tritons of the University of California-San Diego Sunday, Nov. 27, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The game, which is set to tip at 2 p.m., will be broadcast live on ESPN+, WEMU Radio (89.1 FM), and the Varsity Network app.
Team Stats
EMU
Win
FG%
.425
.654
3FG%
.346
.545
FT%
.842
.700
RB
35
29
TO
14
16
STL
10
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
11
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
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