Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
9-14,2-9MAC
Toledo
15-8,9-2MAC
EMU Edged by Toledo in Thriller, 91-87
2/6/2024 9:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Acuff scores 24 to lead group of five Eagles in double digits
Box score (PDF) | Video Highlights
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team was narrowly edged, 91-87, in a thrilling game against the University of Toledo Tuesday, Feb. 6, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
Junior Tyson Acuff (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical/Duquesne) scored a game-high 24 points to lead a group of five Eagles with double-digit points in a game that EMU led by seven with under four minutes to play. Acuff added eight rebounds and five assists.
How It Happened
EMU burst out to an 8-1 edge as sophomore Orlando Lovejoy (Detroit, Mich./Summit Academy North) netted 10 points in the game's first 4:57.
The Rockets responded with an 18-4 run, helping the visitors secure a 42-37 lead going into halftime.
The Eagles drew even for the first time in the second half at 51-51 with 12:11 left to play behind a lay-up from sophomore Cyril Martynov (Barrie, Ontario/Lawrenceville/Georgia Tech).
Eastern continued its run, extending its advantage to six at 65-59 with 9:08 remaining before Toledo tied the game at 74-74 with 5:07 to go.
EMU launched another run to take an 81-74 lead with 3:35 to go, but the Rockets retook the lead with a dunk with 46 seconds left.
Redshirt sophomore Javantae Randle (Detroit, Mich./Frederick Douglass) put home a lay-up off an intentionally missed free throw with seven seconds left to cut the EMU deficit to just one point prior to Toledo converting its final four free throws to ice the game.
Game Notes
» Eastern moved to 9-14 overall and 2-9 in Mid-American Conference play while Toledo moved to 15-8 overall and 9-2 in the MAC.
» Eastern Michigan was 38-of-68 (55.9%) from the floor and 8-of-19 (42.1%) from three-point range while Toledo was 32-of-59 (54.2%) from the field and 5-of-12 (41.7%) from deep.
» EMU's 55.9% is its second-highest mark of the season, falling short of its 63.6% clip at the University of Detroit Mercy, Nov. 21.
» The Eagles' 38 made field goals matches its season high, set at Bowling Green State University, Jan. 2.
» Acuff scored 24 points, marking his 25th-straight game scoring at least 11 points. Acuff's 25-consecutive games scoring at least 10 points are the most by an EMU player since 2000. Acuff ranks 45th in EMU history with 889 points as an Eagle.
» Acuff recorded his 10th game with at least 23 points. Acuff is one of 11 players in the nation with 10 contests of 23-plus points. The contest also marks the 12th time in which Acuff recorded 20 or more points in a game this season.
» Acuff hauled in a career-high eight rebounds, topping his previous mark of seven, which he most recently achieved against the University at Buffalo, Jan. 27
» Acuff dished out five assists, marking his fourth game with at least five assists this season.
» Lovejoy scored the first 10 points for EMU and went on to finish the game with 16 points. It is the 10th time he has been over 10 points this season, including his fourth-straight game.
» Lovejoy also tied his career high with six assists, matching his mark set against the University at Buffalo, Jan. 27. Lovejoy has dished out at least five assists in three of the last four games.
» Lovejoy tallied three steals and has at least one steal in 12 of the last 13 games. He has multiple steals in seven of the last 11 games.
» Freshman Arne Osojnik (Ljubljana, Slovenia/Dream City Christian (Ariz.)) was 4-for-8 from three-point range, marking his fourth career game with at least four three-pointers made.
» Redshirt junior Yusuf Jihad (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington/Oakland) was 2-for-4 from three-point range. Jihad has multiple three-pointers made in eight games this season; he had just four such games in three prior seasons. Jihad also tallied his ninth game with double-digit points this season as he scored 10.
» Junior Jalin Billingsley (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East/Georgetown) netted a season-high 13 points, topping his previous high of 12 points, which he achieved at Northern Illinois, Feb. 3.
» Billingsley also had eight rebounds tying a career high. He previously had eight rebounds in a win against Northwood University, Dec. 30, and a loss to Ball State University, Jan. 16.
» Lovejoy (6) and Acuff (5) each had five assists, marking the third time this season the Eagles have had a duo each record at least five helpers in the same game.
» Eastern's 87 points in the game against Toledo are its second-highest total this season. EMU scored 90 at Bowling Green, Jan. 2. The 87 points are the most scored in regulation by EMU since scoring 97 against the University at Buffalo, Feb. 3, 2023.
» EMU had five players score at least 10 points. The last time they had five players in double-figures was Feb. 28, 2023, at Bowling Green.
» Eastern outscored Toledo in the paint, 52-48. EMU's 52 paint points are its most since scoring 52 in the paint at BGSU, Jan. 2.
» Eastern, which hit eight threes against Toledo, has now hit at least one triple in 605-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
» Tuesday's meeting was the 115th all-time between Eastern Michigan and Toledo. EMU trails in the series, 63-52.
Next Up
Eastern Michigan is scheduled to travel to the University of Louisiana at Monroe for the second leg Mid-American Conference-Sun Belt Conference Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 10. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. CT. EMU topped Georgia Southern University, 70-60, Nov. 11, in the first game of the MAC-SBC Challenge.
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For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, continue to visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMU_MBB) and Instagram (@EMUMBB).
