Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
3-10,0-0MAC
South Carolina
7-6,0-0SEC
Bates Tallies Career-High 36 as EMU Falls at USC, 74-64
12/30/2022 9:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Sophomore hit eight three-pointers, the fourth-most in a single game in EMU history
Postgame Audio: Stan_Heath
Photo Gallery
COLUMBIA, S.C. (EMUEagles.com) – Emoni Bates (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Ypsi Prep-Memphis) had the hot hand as he tallied a career-high 36 points that included eight made three-pointers, but it was not enough as the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team fell, 74-64, at the University of South Carolina, Dec. 30. The Eagles (3-10, 0-0 MAC) battled to the end, but the Gamecocks' (7-6, 0-0 SEC) 34 points in the paint proved to be the difference as Eastern closed out their non-conference schedule.
Bates's career night featured the local product shooting 13-of-25 from the floor, including 8-of-15 from three, to surpass his previous career high of 30 points scored in his Eastern debut against then-No. 22 University of Michigan, Nov. 11, in Detroit. Bates' three-point display ranks in a tie for the fourth-best total of made triples in a game in program history and ties for the 11th-most made in a game in the NCAA this season. He also added his name to the ledger as the first Eagle player to record multiple 30-point games in a single season since Raven Lee did so in the 2015-16 campaign.
How It Happened
Eastern Michigan struggled out of the gate, falling behind 40-30 heading into halftime.
South Carolina kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 72-58 advantage before Eastern Michigan went on a 6-0 run, finished off by Acuff's three, to shrink the deficit to 72-64 with 1:08 to go in the contest. South Carolina responded and outscored the Eagles the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 74-64. Eastern Michigan shot well from three-point range in the half, hitting seven shots from deep to score 21 of its 34 points.
Game Notes
» Bates had a career night as his 36 points, eight made threes, 13 made shots, 25 shot attempts, and 15 three-point attempts all are career highs. His 36 points surpass the 30 he scored against then-No. 22 University of Michigan, Nov. 11, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
» Bates is the first Eagle to record multiple 30-point games in the same season since Raven Lee in the 2015-16 season when he scored. His 36 points are the most in a game for an Eagle since Lee scored 50 at Central Michigan University, Feb. 28, 2017.
» On the school ledgers, Bates' eight made triples rank in a tie for the fourth-most in a single game in program history with four other players, the most recent being Willie Mangum IV, who accomplished the feat at Ball State University, Feb. 21, 2017. Bates also ranks tied for 11th in a single game this year for made three-pointers across the entire NCAA.
» Bates's 36 points marks the fifth time this year he hit for 20-or-more in a game and the second time he hit for at least 30. He also connected on four-or-more triples for the fifth time this year and the second in a row.
» With his made triple at 7:59 remaining in the first half, Bates helped the Eagles extend their current streak to 564 games in a row with at least one three-point basket made. Eastern finished the game 10-of-28 from three on the night.
Historical Notes
» The Eagles fall to 0-1 in the all-time series with the Gamecocks following tonight's game.
» With the loss, the Eagles have now lost six in a row against SEC foes and fall to 1-8 all-time against the conference. The only time the Eagles have defeated a member of the SEC came March 15, 1991, with their 76-56 victory over No. 21 Mississippi State University in the first round of the NCAA East Region tournament in Syracuse, N.Y.
» Tonight's game marked just the fourth time Eastern has played an SEC foe inside its home arena and has fallen in all four games. The last time Eastern played at an SEC school was Nov. 27, 2013, an 81-63 loss at No. 3 University of Kentucky.
Up Next
Eastern will return to action Tuesday, Jan. 3, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center where the Eagles will play host to the Falcons of Bowling Green State University in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams. The game, which is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff, will be aired live on ESPN+ as well as WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app.
