Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
7-5,0-0MAC
Northwood
-39,03 GMAC
Eastern Michigan Tops Northwood, 67-64
12/30/2023 3:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Lovejoy records double-double before Eagles open MAC play Tuesday at BGSU
Highlights | Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team closed out the 2023 calendar year with a 67-64 victory over Northwood University, Saturday, Dec. 30, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
Sophomore Orlando Lovejoy (Detroit, Mich./Summit Academy North) posted 17 points. 10 rebounds, and four assists to lead the short-handed Eagles.
How It Happened
Eastern led, 31-30, through 20 minutes of play.
The Eagles held their largest lead of 65-57 with 2:24 to play before the Timberwolves came within one point on a three-pointer with just 45 seconds remaining.
A pair of free throws by freshman Arne Osojnik (Ljubljana, Slovenia/Dream City Christian) put the Eagles up three with 10 seconds left before a defensive stand secured the Eastern victory.
Game Notes
» Eastern moved to 7-5 on the season while Northwood remained at 3-8 as the game was considered an exhibition for the Timberwolves.
» Eastern Michigan was 26-of-62 (41.9%) from the floor and 3-of-17 (17.6%) from three-point range while Northwood was 26-of-65 (40.0%) from the floor and 3-of-17 (17.6%) from three-point range.
» With his 17 points and 10 rebounds, Lovejoy had the Eagles' first double-double of the season. EMU's last double-double was Emoni Bates, Feb. 25, 2023 against Ball State University. Bates had 24 points and 11 rebounds in the game.
» Lovejoy has three-straight games with 15-plus points after he scored 16 points at the University of Michigan, Dec. 16, which followed up his 15-point effort against Hampton University, Dec. 21. Lovejoy's 17 points was just one point short of his career-high 18 points against Wayne State University, Nov. 7, 2022. Saturday's game marked Lovejoy's fifth career game with 15-plus points.
» Lovejoy recorded a career-high 10 rebounds, surpassing his previous mark of seven against the University of Toledo, Feb. 11, 2023. Six of Lovejoy's boards came in the first half.
» Lovejoy also equaled his career high with four assists as he dished out four dimes against Hampton, Dec. 21.
» Lovejoy played a career-high 38 minutes, topping his previous mark of 33 minutes played at Toledo, Feb. 11, 2023, while also converting a career-high seven field goals.
» Junior Yusuf Jihad (Farmington, Mich./North Farmington/Oakland) scored 15 points, matching his season high, set against Oakland University, Dec. 8.
» Jihad was 1-for-3 from behind the arc in his 15 -point performance. He ranks third in the MAC with an impressive .500 shooting percentage from deep as he is 15-for-30 on three-point attempts. Jihad was 16-for-44 (.374) on three-point attempts in 2022-23.
» Junior Jalin Billingsley (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East/Georgetown) hauled in a career-high eight rebounds to go with nine points.
» Billingsley also blocked two shots, becoming the fourth Eagle to block multiple shots in a game this season.
» Osojnik had a career-high seven rebounds, topping his previous mark of five at the University of Central Arkansas, Nov. 25.
» Redshirt junior Connor Serven (Prairie City, Ill./St. Rita/Illinois) tallied five rebounds, one short of his career-high six at the University of Detroit Mercy, Nov. 21.
» Redshirt junior Micah Schnyders (New Lenox, Ill./Yorkville Christian/Eastern Illinois/Wheaton) played a season-high 18 minutes. Schnyders netted his first points as an Eagle on a second-half layup.
» Statistical trends continued for the Eagles, improving to 6-0 when winning or tied at halftime, 6-0 when outrebounding its opponent, and 7-0 when recording a higher field goal percentage than its opponent. The Eagles led, 31-30, at halftime; outrebounded Northwood, 48--32; and outshot the Timberwolves, .419-.400.
» Eastern, which hit three threes against Northwood, has now hit at least one triple in 593-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 sixth-ever game between Eastern Michigan and Northwood. EMU leads the series, 6-0, as all games played have been in Ypsilanti.
Next Up
Eastern Michigan is scheduled to open MAC play at Bowling Green State University, Jan. 2, after closing out the 2023 calendar year against Northwood.
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