Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
4-2,0-0MAC
Central Arkansas
1-6,0-0ASUN
Acuff, Osojnik Lead Eagles to 74-71 Win at Central Arkansas
11/25/2023 6:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Eagles win third-straight game, play UND Sunday
CONWAY, Ark. (EMUEagles.com) – Junior Tyson Acuff (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical/Duquesne) scored 23 points while freshman Arne Osojnik (Ljubljana, Slovenia/Dream City Christian) scored a career-high 20 points to lead the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team to its third-straight victory, a 74-71 win at the University of Central Arkansas Saturday, Nov. 25, inside the Farris Center as part of the Central Arkansas Classic.
How It Happened
After falling behind, 31-28, Eastern Michigan went on a 6-0 run with 3:40 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Osojnik, to take a 34-31 lead. Central Arkansas then responded to tie things up at 36-36 heading into halftime. Eastern Michigan got a boost from behind the arc in the period, hitting six shots to account for 18 of its 36 points.
Central Arkansas then snagged a 37-36 advantage before Eastern Michigan responded by going on a 9-0 run, finished off by Osojnik's layup, to seize a 45-37 lead with 16:40 to go in the contest. The Bears narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Eagles still held on for the 74-71 win.
Game Notes
» Eastern moved to 4-2 on the season while Central Arkansas moved to 1-6.
» EMU's 4-2 start is its best since starting 6-0 in 2019-20.
» Eastern Michigan was 24-of-53 (45.3%) from the floor and 11-of-23 (47.7%) from three-point range while Central Arkansas was 24-of-57 (42.1%) from the floor and 8-of-20 (40.0%) from three-point range.
» Osojnik hit six three-pointers and is the first Eagle to do so since Acuff nailed six triples against Ohio, Jan. 31, 2023.
» Acuff scored 23 points, marking the eighth time he has scored 20-plus points in a game. Acuff has scored 20-plus points in four-straight games for the first time in his career.
» Acuff has scored at least 13 points in each of the first six games of the 2023-24.
» Acuff has a pair of milestones on the horizon as the transfer from Duquesne sits at 99 career three-point makes and 794 career points after converting two three-pointers and scoring 23 points against UCA. Acuff netted 38 three-pointers and 239 points in his two seasons at Duquesne.
» EMU had three players with double-figure points for the third-straight game and third time this season [Acuff, 23; Osojnik, 20; junior Yusuf Jihad (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington/Oakland), 12]. Acuff and Osojnik are the first Eagle duo to each score 20-plus points since Acuff and Emoni Bates did so against Ball State, Feb. 25, 2023.
» Redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe (Ft. Washington, Md./VA Beach Sports Acad./East Central CC) hauled in a game-high nine rebounds and dished out five assists to lead EMU in the respective categories. Ellerbe also scored seven points.
» Sophomore Orlando Lovejoy (Detroit, Mich./Summit Academy North) saw his first action of the season, playing 21 minutes and scoring five points off the bench.
» Eastern, which hit 11 threes against Central Arkansas, has now hit at least one triple in 588-straight games. EMU last failed to score from downtown Jan. 24, 2004, when Miami University held the Eagles to 0-of-7 from behind the arc.
Historical Notes
» Saturday's meeting was the first-ever meeting between Eastern Michigan and Central Arkansas.
» EMU's victory marks the first time since 2007 that the Eagles have won back-to-back non-conference road games as EMU topped the University of Detroit Mercy, Nov. 21, on the road. EMU won at St. Bonaventure, Nov. 24, 2007, and at Manhattan, Nov. 21, 2007.
Next Up
Eastern Michigan is scheduled to play the University of North Dakota, Nov. 26, at 12 p.m. CT, to conclude the Eagles' games in the Central Arkansas Classic.
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