Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
9-16,4-10MAC
Central Michigan
6-17,5-7MAC
Men's Hoops Secures Michigan MAC Trophy with 75-70 Win at CMU
2/15/2022 9:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The victory marks the 100th for the Green and White over its in-state rival
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team topped Central Michigan University, 75-70, Tuesday, Feb. 15, to win the Michigan MAC trophy for the first-time since the 2019-20 campaign. Additionally, it is Eastern's fourth time (2017, 2018, 2020, and 2022) earning the award since its inception in 2005.
Eastern (9-16, 4-10 MAC) had three players score in double figures, led by Noah Farrakhan (Newark, N.J.-The Patrick School (East Carolina)), who had 24 points and four assists. Nate Scott (Naperville, Ill.-Neuqua Valley (Northern Illinois)) and freshman Mo Njie (Centerville, Ohio-Centerville (DME Sports Academy)) both helped out with 10 points. The team shared the ball effectively, totaling 14 assists for the fourth time this season. The Eastern Michigan offense was very productive from three-point land, making nine threes on 24 attempts. Senior Thomas Binelli (Bologna, Italy-Bergen Catholic (Monroe College)) was the most prolific shooter for the Eagles, draining three treys in the contest.
Defensively, senior Axel Okongo (Saacy-sur-Marne, France-Thetford Prep Academy (Quebec) (Missouri)) paced the Eagles with two blocks, as the team finished with three. The team also only allowed one three-point make in the first half, holding Central to 1-of-7.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 37-30 advantage, Eastern Michigan went on a 6-0 run with 1:09 left in the first half, culminating in a three from senior Monty Scott (Union, N.J.-St. Benedict's Prep (Portland State)), to increase its lead to 43-30, a score that would hold until halftime. Eastern relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down seven shots to account for 21 of its 43 points.
Eastern Michigan kept its lead intact before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by senior Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)) layup, to grow the advantage to 59-49 with 8:35 to go in the contest. The Chippewas narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Eagles still held on for the 75-70 win. Eastern took care of business in the paint, recording 16 of its 32 points in the lane.
Game Notes
» With the win, Eastern Michigan snaps a five-game losing streak, dating back to Feb. 1.
» EMU shot 48.3 percent (28-of-58) from the field against Central, marking its 10th contest of the season hitting 45 percent-or-higher.
» Eastern scored 43 points in the first half, the most it has scored in the first stanza since hosting Miami, Jan. 29, when it scored 55 before halftime in the contest.
» EMU hit 7-of-14 shots from downtown in the first quarter, the best shooting performance from deep for the team in a first half since its contest against the RedHawks, Jan. 29. In that game, Eastern hit 12-of-20 before halftime.
» Okongo led the Eagles with two blocks, marking the fifth multi-block outing of his career and second of the season, the first coming against Akron, Jan. 22. Additionally, the senior scored his first points (2) since Valparaiso, Dec. 30.
» Farrakhan finished with 24 to lead the Eagles. The performance is the freshman's seventh game this season with 20-or-more points, and his 15th in double-figures.
» Eastern Michigan finished with 14 assists to tie for its second-highest single game total this season. Additionally, EMU had four players with multiple assists (Farrakhan - 4, Luka Savicevic (Skopje, North Macedonia-Sports Academy Skopje) - 3, M.Scott - 3, and N. Scott - 2) for just the fifth time this season.
» Eastern had three players score in double-digits in Farrakhan (24), N. Scott (10), and Njie (10).
» EMU had three Eagles lead in rebounding with Spottsville, Njie, and Savicevic each having five.
» Binelli was locked in from deep early, knocking down three of his four triple attempts in the first half. The first-half effort was good enough to set a new season-high in makes from long range, as his previous best mark was two, a total which he has hit in four contests this season.
» Binelli finished the contest 3-of-5 from deep, marking the second time this season the senior has made three from downtown.
» Eastern Michigan shot 76.9 percent (10-of-13), marking six out of the last eight games where the Green and White shot 75 percent-or-better from the line, with a minimum of double-digits attempts. Additionally, three Eagles players shoot perfectly from the charity stripe as Farrakhan was 5-of-5, Spottsville was 3-of-3, and N. Scott was 2-of-2.
» EMU finished the game with nine made three-point buckets, which ties for its second-best effort in a game this season. The Eagles have hit the same mark on three previous occasions and knocked down a season-best 14 long balls against Miami, Jan. 29.
» Eastern Michigan scored 43 first-half points against the Chippewas, marking the fourth time this season that the Green and White hit the 40-point plateau in an opening period this season (55 vs. Miami, Jan. 29; 47 at Western Michigan, Jan. 4; 46 vs. CMU, Jan. 11). Eastern has emerged victorious in each of the four games.
Historical Notes
» With a win in the 203rd meeting between EMU and CMU, Eastern pulls the all-time record closer to even at 100-104.
» With its win over Central Michigan, EMU has officially claimed the Michigan MAC Trophy for the 2021-22 campaign. The trophy is awarded to the Michigan-based Mid-American Conference institution (EMU, CMU, WMU) that emerges with the best head-to-head record against the others. EMU is now 3-0 this season in that race (2-0 vs. CMU, 1-0 vs. WMU). Originated in 2005, EMU has claimed ownership three times previously (2017, 2018, and 2020).
» Eastern's win over Central Michigan comes with a piece of history. The victory over the Chippewas marks the 100th for the Green and White over its in-state rival. CMU is the first opponent that EMU has notched 100 wins over in its 125 seasons of basketball.
Eastern Michigan returns home to the George Gervin GameAbove Center to welcome the University at Buffalo Thursday, Feb. 17. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the contest will be broadcast on ESPN3.
