Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
8-13,3-7MAC
Ohio
18-3,9-1MAC
Eastern Michigan Falls at Ohio, 81-68
2/3/2022 3:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Eagles remain on the road to take on Kent State University, Feb. 5
ATHENS, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team was bested by Ohio University, 81-68, today, Feb. 3, inside the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio.
Eastern (8-13, 3-7 MAC) was led offensively by senior Nate Scott's (Naperville, Ill.-Neuqua Valley (Northern Illinois)) 16 points, as three Eagles scored in double-digits. Junior Bryce McBride (Jackson, Tenn.-Southside (Dyersburg State)) scored 14, while freshman Mo Njie (Centerville, Ohio-Centerville (DME Sports Academy)) added 10. Classmate Noah Farrakhan (Newark, N.J.-The Patrick School (East Carolina)) led the team with four assists.
Eastern Michigan grabbed 32 rebounds in Thursday's game compared to Ohio's 29, as Njie and N. Scott both grabbed six boards. In addition, three Eagles registered a block in Njie and seniors Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadown Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)) and Monty Scott (Union, N.J.-St. Benedict's Prep (Portland State)).
The Eagles also put in work on the offensive glass, turning 10 offensive rebounds into nine second chance points. Eastern Michigan forced 14 Ohio turnovers, turning those takeaways into 18 points on the offensive end of the floor. McBride and Farrakhan both came away with a pair of steals.
How It Happened
Eastern Michigan struggled out of the gate, falling behind 44-34 heading into halftime.
Ohio kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 66-40 advantage before Eastern Michigan went on an 11-0 run, finished off by McBride's jumper, to shrink the deficit to 66-51 with 9:00 to go in the contest. The Eagles kept their comeback going, but the Bobcats managed to hold on for the 81-68 win.
Game Notes
» With 16 points in today's contest, N. Scott has reached double-digits in three consecutive games for the first time in his career. Additionally, in that three-game span, the senior has shot above 50-40-90, hitting 58% (21-of-36) from the field, 47.8% (11-of-23), and 3-of-3 (100%) from the free throw line.
» Njie scored 10 points against the Bobcats, marking it the second game in-a-row producing a double-digit performance. Moreover, he was perfect from the field against OU, sinking 4-of-4 from the field and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe.
» Eastern Michigan recorded 35 points off the bench compared to Ohio's four.
» EMU lost despite a 32-29 rebounding advantage.
» The Green and White's defense forced 14 turnovers.
» Eastern Michigan cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 10 offensive boards in the game.
» Ohio knocked down seven three-pointers in the first half, tied for the most Eastern Michigan has allowed in the first stanza this season. Additionally, seven treys is tied for the second-most an opponent has hit against EMU in a single half. Miami connected on eight shots from beyond-the-arc in the second half, Jan. 29.
» Three different Eagles recorded a block against the Bobcats, the 13th time this season EMU has accomplished the feat.
» Eastern sank 10-of-11 (90.9%) shots from the line, the best shooting clip for the Eagles so far this season with a minimum of 10 attempts. EMU was a perfect 8-for-8 (100%) from the stripe against Valparaiso, Dec. 20.
» The Green and White held the advantage on the boards, 32-29. The Eagles' effort on the glass was the seventh time they have won the rebounding battle in the 2021-2022 campaign.
» Farrakhan totaled four assists in the first half, the most since Miami, Jan. 29, when he dished out five helpers in the first stanza and ended the contest with seven, a career-high. Additionally, he has 11 assists over his last three games, the best assist total for the freshman in a three-game span this season.
» Four players were perfect from the stripe against the Bobcats, the second such outing for the Eagles this season. The first was on the road at DePaul, Nov. 28.
Historical Notes
» Today's contest was the 69th meeting between Eastern Michigan and Ohio. OU leads the series 53-26, and will visit the George Gervin GameAbove Center, Feb. 12.
Up Next
Eastern Michigan heads to Kent, Ohio to take on the Kent State Golden Flashes Saturday, Feb. 5. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
