Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
12-16,5-10MAC
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Western Michigan
10-18,7-8MAC
EMU Tops WMU, 70-67, as Osojnik Scores 22
2/27/2024 9:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Eagles get crucial victory as Acuff surpasses 1,000 points at EMU
Photo Gallery | Cinematic Highlights | Press Conference
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team earned a key victory in the Mid-American Conference Tournament chase as the Eagles won, 70-67, over in-state rival Western Michigan University Tuesday, Feb. 27, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center as freshman Arne Osojnik (Ljubljana, Slovenia/Dream City Christian (Ariz.)) equaled a career high with 22 points.
Osojnik's was 6-for-9 from three-point range while junior Tyson Acuff (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical/Duquesne) netted 17 points en route to surpassing 1,000 points scored at Eastern Michigan.
How It Happened
The teams traded blows in the opening half in the first 10 minutes before EMU rattled off a 14-2 run to lead 33-22 with five minutes to play in the half.
WMU responded with a 10-2 run as the Eagles settled for a 35-32 lead at halftime.
The Broncos regained the lead at 44-43 with 14:46 left to play but the Eagles went on a 9-2 spurt to create a six-point lead, which EMU would not relinquish until WMU tied the contest at 58-58 with eight minutes left.
After an Osojnik three-pointer gave EMU a lead the Eagles would hold the rest of the way, helped out by a key put-back by junior Yusuf Jihad (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington/Oakland) with 1:04 to play.
Sophomore Orlando Lovejoy (Detroit, Mich./Summit Academy North) hit a floater with 16 seconds to extend the EMU lead to three points as the Eagles forced a pair of misses by the Broncos in the closing seconds.
Game Notes
» Eastern moved to 12-16 overall and 5-10 in MAC play while Western Michigan moved to 10-18 overall and 7-8 in the MAC.
» Eastern Michigan was 27-of-63 (42.9%) from the floor and 9-of-21 (42.9%) from three-point range while Western Michigan was 24-of-58 (41.4%) from the field and 13-of-34 (38.2%) from deep.
» The Eagles improved to 12-2 when shooting better than their opponent.
» Acuff scored 17 points, marking his 30th-straight game scoring at least 11 points. Acuff's 28-consecutive games scoring at least 10 points are the most by an EMU player since 2000. Acuff is tied for 30th in EMU history with 1,014 points as an Eagle.
» Acuff recorded three steals, matching his season high set at the University of Michigan, Dec. 16.
» Junior Jalin Billingsley (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East/Georgetown) played a career-high 38 minutes, scoring 13 points while bringing in eight rebounds. Billingsley equaled his career high with a pair of three-pointers made, most recently achieved at Northern Illinois University, Feb. 3.
» Sophomore Cyril Martynov (Barrie, Ontario/Lawrenceville HS/Georgia Tech) tallied seven rebounds, his highest during MAC play and most since tallying seven boards at Hampton University, Dec. 21.
» Osojnik was 6-for-9 from three-point range, marking his sixth career game with at least four converted three-pointers. His six three-pointers matched a career high set at the University of Central Arkansas, Nov. 25, a game in which he also scored 22 points, the highest mark of his career.
» Osojnik played a career-high 37 minutes while equaling his career high with seven boards, which he achieved twice previously, most recently against Northwood University, Dec. 30.
» Eastern outrebounded WMU, 39-36, moving to 10-3 when outrebounding its opponent.
» EMU improved to 7-3 in games decided by four points or less.
» The Eagles improved to 9-2 when leading or being tied at the half.
» EMU improved to 11-1 when holding its opponent to 71 points or less.
» Eastern, which hit nine threes against Western Michigan, has now hit at least one triple in 610-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. The Eagles have converted multiple three-pointers in 32-straight contests, not having done so most recently in a 1-for-15 performance against the University of Akron, Feb.14, 2023.
Historical Notes
» Tuesday's meeting was the 121st all-time between Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. EMU trails in the series, 65-56. EMU has won 11 of the last 13 in Ypsilanti.
Next Up
Eastern Michigan is scheduled to host Miami University, March 2, for a 1 p.m. tip inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The team will be celebrating Senior Day.
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