Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
6-17,3-7MAC
Ball State
16-7,7-3MAC
Eagles Fall in Overtime at Ball State, 91-90
2/3/2023 8:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Bates scored 35 points to lead the way while Acuff added 18
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEalges.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team saw Emoni Bates (Ypsilianti, Mich.-Ypsi Prep-Memphis) score 35 points, reaching the 30-point marker for the fourth time this season, but it was not enough as the Eagles fell in overtime at Ball State University, 91-90, Friday, Feb. 3.
The Eagles (6-17, 3-7 MAC) had three players score in double figures, led by Bates' 35 points while Tyson Acuff (Detroit, Mich.-Cass Tech-Duquesne) added 18 points and Noah Farrakhan (Hillside, N.J.-The Patrick School-East Carolina) helped out with 16 points and six rebounds inside Worthen Arena.
The Eastern Michigan defense was a problem in Friday's game, forcing 13 Ball State turnovers while committing eight. Those takeaways turned into 12 points on the offensive end of the floor. Bates' one steal led the way individually for the Eagles.
How It Happened
After falling behind 23-13, Eastern Michigan went on a 7-0 run with 11:55 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Acuff, to narrow its deficit to 23-20. The Eagles then closed the rest of the gap and grabbed a 40-37 lead heading into halftime. Eastern Michigan capitalized on 10 Ball State turnovers in the period, turning them into 12 points on the other end of the floor.
Ball State proceeded to take a 60-58 lead before Eastern Michigan went on a 6-0 run, finished off by Kevin-David Rice's three, to seize a 64-60 lead with 9:14 to go in the contest. The Cardinals then fought back to even things up at 78-78 and send the game to overtime.
Ball State then edged ahead in overtime, leaving Eastern Michigan behind 91-90 at the final buzzer.
Game Notes
» Emoni Bates finished the game with 35 points, going 4-of-7 from deep and 3-of-3 from the line, to pace the Eagles. Bates hit the 30-point marker for the fourth time this year, the most by a single player at EMU since at least 1998-99. Bates passed Ricky Cottrill, who tallied three games of 30+ in the 2001-02 season.
» Emoni Bates has been a force in the last four games as the sophomore has tallied 112 points, one point shy of the best four-game stretch since John Bowler recorded 113 points in a quartet of games to close out the 2005-06 season. During his four-game stretch, Bates scored 43 at Toledo (Jan. 24), 17 at Miami (Jan. 28), and 19 at home against Ohio (Jan. 31) before tonight's 35-point game.
» With his 35 points, Emoni Bates hit the 20-point plateau for the 10th time this season in the 22 games he has played while surpassing 10 points for the 19th time and 15 points for the 18th time. Bates's 10 games of 20+ are tied for the seventh-highest total in a single season at Eastern, equaling the 10 recorded by Noah Farrakhan last year.
» Emoni Bates is the first Eastern Michigan player with three 35-point games in a season since Earl Boykins had four in 1997-98.
» Emoni Bates now scored 461 points this year, which now ranks as the ninth-highest total in a sophomore campaign in program history. With his 35 points, he moved past Kennedy McIntosh, who scored 454 in 1968-69, and Harvey Marlatt, who tallied 457 points one year earlier in 1967-68. Brandon Bowdry (2008-09) is next on the list, currently sitting eighth with 472 points.
» Noah Farrakahn finished the night with 16 points to bring his career total to 729, which moved him up to No. 61 all-time in program history. He is now seven points from overtaking Bill Weaver, who scored 736 points in 1974-78.
» With two assists tonight, Noah Farrakhan kept his consecutive games streak intact, a streak he started late last year. Through 23 games played this year, Farrakhan has tallied at least one helper in all 23 contests and has dropped at least one dime in 35 consecutive games dating back to last season. In fact, in his two seasons with the Eagles, Farrakhan has recorded at least one assist in 45-of-48 (93.8) games played for Eastern and, when including his one season with East Carolina (2020-21), he has done so in 52-of-60 (86.7) career games.
» Emoni Bates hit from distance with 15:27 remaining in the opening half to keep the Eagles' streak going as Eastern has now hit at least one triple in 574 games. Eastern who finished 10-of-20 in three-point attempts in the game, last failed to score from downtown Jan. 24, 2004, when Miami held the Eagles to 0-of-7 from behind the arc.
» Eastern carried a three-point lead into halftime, leading Ball State, 40-37, at the break. The 40 points marked the third game in a row in which the Eagles scored at least 40 points in the opening stanza after scoring 40 at Miami, Jan. 28, and 47 at home against Ohio, Jan. 31. With the loss, the Eagles are 3-2 on the year when scoring at least 40 in the first half of play and saw their three-game winning streak in such games snapped.
Historical Notes
» With the loss, the Eagles fell to 44-70 in their all-time series with the Cardinals and have now lost seven in a row overall against Ball State.
» Eastern fell to 20-34 when playing in Muncie, Ind., with Ball State having won four in a row when hosting the game.
» The game at Ball State, Feb. 3, was the 114th meeting between the Eagles and Cardinals and ranks as the third-most meetings with one team in Eastern history. The series also ranks as the longest with any team outside the state of Michigan for the Eagles.
» Eastern played its second overtime game of the season and slipped to 0-2 on the season after also falling at Oakland, Nov. 19, 2022, 92-90. The Eagles are 2-2 in overtime games under Stan Heath and 41-46 all-time.
Up Next
The Eagles will head to Buffalo, N.Y., Tuesday, Feb. 7, to take on the Bulls from the University at Buffalo. The game is set for a 7 p.m. tip and will be streamed live on ESPN+. Tom Helmer, the Voice of the Eagles, will have the call on the WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app.
