Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, March 8
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
13-18,6-12MAC
62
at
65
Central Michigan
18-13,12-6MAC
1
2
OT 1
F
Eastern Mich.
23
32
7
62
Central Mich.
29
26
10
65
Eagles Erase 16-Point Deficit, Edged by CMU in Overtime
3/8/2024 10:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EMU drops 65-62 decision to close 2023-24 season
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team erased a 16-point first-half deficit, but were edged, 65-62, by Central Michigan University Friday, March 8, inside McGuirk Arena to close the 2023-24 season.
The Eagles outscored the Chippewas by 27 points in a span of 24:43 in the middle portion of the game but were unable to hold their largest lead of 11 points, ultimately falling in overtime.
How It Happened
CMU burst out to a 24-8 advantage, which included an 11-0 run for the Chippewas.
EMU rallied with an 11-0 run that saw CMU go scoreless for 8:10, missing 15 consecutive shots from the floor, as the Eagles trailed, 29-23, through 20 minutes.
The Eagles scored 13 of the second half's first 15 points to take a 36-31 lead.
Eastern built a lead as large as 49-38 with 6:52 to play before CMU rallied to tie the game at 55-55 with 1:05 remaining and forced overtime.
EMU scored the first bucket of overtime but was unable to score again until just 16 seconds remained as CMU's 9-0 run put the hosts in control.
Game Notes
» Eastern moved to 13-18 overall and 6-12 in MAC play while CMU moved to 18-13 overall and 12-6 in the MAC.
» Eastern Michigan was 23-of-66 (34.8%) from the floor and 5-of-22 (22.7%) from three-point range while Central Michigan was 23-of-75 (30.7%) from the field and 8-of-31 (25.8%) from deep.
» CMU's 30.7 shooting mark was its second-lowest of the season (23.7% at Loyola University Chicago, Dec. 30.
» Redshirt junior Connor Serven (Prairie City, Ill./St. Rita/Illinois) blocked a career-high three shots, besting his previous mark of two at Ball State University, Feb. 24. Serven also had two steals, making Friday his second career game with multiple blocks and multiple steals, which occurred in the Ball State game. He also matched his career high with three assists.
» Serven played a career-high 42 minutes, topping his previous mark of 38 against Bowling Green State University, Feb. 17.
» Freshman Arne Osojnik (Ljubljana, Slovenia/Dream City Christian) played a career-high 41 minutes, scoring 15 points. Osojnik's previous career high was 40 at the University of Akron, March 5.
» Redshirt junior Micah Schnyders (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville Christian/Eastern Illinois/Wheaton) swatted away his first block as an Eagle and first block at the Division I level.
» Junior Jalin Billingsley (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East/Georgetown) blocked two shots, marking his fifth game with multiple blocks this season.
» Redshirt junior Yusuf Jihad (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington/Oakland) scored 13 points, marking his highest scoring output in MAC play in his career.
» Sophomore Orlando Lovejoy (Detroit, Mich./Summit Academy North) dished out a career-high eight assists, adding seven points, and five rebounds. Lovejoy recorded two steals, the ninth time in the last 17 games he had multiple steals.
» Redshirt sophomore Javantae Randle (Detroit, Mich./Frederick Douglass) played a career-high 22 minutes. Randle matched his career high with seven rebounds, which was set at the University of South Carolina, Dec. 30, 2022. Randle had six points, his third-highest point total in his career.
» EMU falls to 12-3 when holding its opponent to 71 points or less.
» Eastern blocked eight shots, the most for the Eagles since blocking eight against Adrian College, Dec. 9, 2020. EMU's previous season high of six was against Bowling Green, Feb. 17. The last time EMU blocked eight shots in a MAC game was against Northern Illinois, Feb. 9, 2019, when the Eagles sent away nine.
» The Eagles had just six turnovers, one shy of their season-low of five at the University of Michigan, Dec. 16.
» EMU drops to 1-2 in overtime this season after falling at BGSU, Jan. 2, and beating Kent State University, Jan. 6.
» Eastern, which hit five threes against Central Michigan, has now hit at least one triple in 613-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 35-straight contests, not having done so most recently in a 1-for-15 performance against Akron, Feb.14, 2023.
Historical Notes
» Friday's meeting was the 207th all-time between Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan. EMU trails in the series, 106-101. The 207 games played between the teams are far and away the most of any match-up in EMU history, ahead of second-place Western Michigan, which the Eagles have played 121 times.
Next Up
Eastern Michigan's season is complete.
Follow Us
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).
2024 Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
March 14-16 | Cleveland, Ohio | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Thursday, March 14th, 2024 - Quarterfinals
Game 1: No. 1 Toledo vs. No. 8 Kent State, 11 a.m. (ESPN+)
Game 2: No. 4 Central Michigan vs. No. 5 Bowling Green, Time TBA* (ESPN+)
Game 3: No. 2 Akron vs. No. 7 Miami, Time TBA* (ESPN+)
Game 4: No. 3 Ohio vs. No. 6 Western Michigan, Time TBA* (ESPN+)
Friday, March 15th, 2024 - Semifinals
Game 5: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, 5 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
Game 6: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner, 7:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
Saturday, March 16th, 2024 – MAC Championship Game
Game 7: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
*30 minutes following the completion of the first game of the session
The Eagles outscored the Chippewas by 27 points in a span of 24:43 in the middle portion of the game but were unable to hold their largest lead of 11 points, ultimately falling in overtime.
How It Happened
CMU burst out to a 24-8 advantage, which included an 11-0 run for the Chippewas.
EMU rallied with an 11-0 run that saw CMU go scoreless for 8:10, missing 15 consecutive shots from the floor, as the Eagles trailed, 29-23, through 20 minutes.
The Eagles scored 13 of the second half's first 15 points to take a 36-31 lead.
Eastern built a lead as large as 49-38 with 6:52 to play before CMU rallied to tie the game at 55-55 with 1:05 remaining and forced overtime.
EMU scored the first bucket of overtime but was unable to score again until just 16 seconds remained as CMU's 9-0 run put the hosts in control.
Game Notes
» Eastern moved to 13-18 overall and 6-12 in MAC play while CMU moved to 18-13 overall and 12-6 in the MAC.
» Eastern Michigan was 23-of-66 (34.8%) from the floor and 5-of-22 (22.7%) from three-point range while Central Michigan was 23-of-75 (30.7%) from the field and 8-of-31 (25.8%) from deep.
» CMU's 30.7 shooting mark was its second-lowest of the season (23.7% at Loyola University Chicago, Dec. 30.
» Redshirt junior Connor Serven (Prairie City, Ill./St. Rita/Illinois) blocked a career-high three shots, besting his previous mark of two at Ball State University, Feb. 24. Serven also had two steals, making Friday his second career game with multiple blocks and multiple steals, which occurred in the Ball State game. He also matched his career high with three assists.
» Serven played a career-high 42 minutes, topping his previous mark of 38 against Bowling Green State University, Feb. 17.
» Freshman Arne Osojnik (Ljubljana, Slovenia/Dream City Christian) played a career-high 41 minutes, scoring 15 points. Osojnik's previous career high was 40 at the University of Akron, March 5.
» Redshirt junior Micah Schnyders (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville Christian/Eastern Illinois/Wheaton) swatted away his first block as an Eagle and first block at the Division I level.
» Junior Jalin Billingsley (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East/Georgetown) blocked two shots, marking his fifth game with multiple blocks this season.
» Redshirt junior Yusuf Jihad (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington/Oakland) scored 13 points, marking his highest scoring output in MAC play in his career.
» Sophomore Orlando Lovejoy (Detroit, Mich./Summit Academy North) dished out a career-high eight assists, adding seven points, and five rebounds. Lovejoy recorded two steals, the ninth time in the last 17 games he had multiple steals.
» Redshirt sophomore Javantae Randle (Detroit, Mich./Frederick Douglass) played a career-high 22 minutes. Randle matched his career high with seven rebounds, which was set at the University of South Carolina, Dec. 30, 2022. Randle had six points, his third-highest point total in his career.
» EMU falls to 12-3 when holding its opponent to 71 points or less.
» Eastern blocked eight shots, the most for the Eagles since blocking eight against Adrian College, Dec. 9, 2020. EMU's previous season high of six was against Bowling Green, Feb. 17. The last time EMU blocked eight shots in a MAC game was against Northern Illinois, Feb. 9, 2019, when the Eagles sent away nine.
» The Eagles had just six turnovers, one shy of their season-low of five at the University of Michigan, Dec. 16.
» EMU drops to 1-2 in overtime this season after falling at BGSU, Jan. 2, and beating Kent State University, Jan. 6.
» Eastern, which hit five threes against Central Michigan, has now hit at least one triple in 613-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 35-straight contests, not having done so most recently in a 1-for-15 performance against Akron, Feb.14, 2023.
Historical Notes
» Friday's meeting was the 207th all-time between Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan. EMU trails in the series, 106-101. The 207 games played between the teams are far and away the most of any match-up in EMU history, ahead of second-place Western Michigan, which the Eagles have played 121 times.
Next Up
Eastern Michigan's season is complete.
Follow Us
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).
2024 Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
March 14-16 | Cleveland, Ohio | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Thursday, March 14th, 2024 - Quarterfinals
Game 1: No. 1 Toledo vs. No. 8 Kent State, 11 a.m. (ESPN+)
Game 2: No. 4 Central Michigan vs. No. 5 Bowling Green, Time TBA* (ESPN+)
Game 3: No. 2 Akron vs. No. 7 Miami, Time TBA* (ESPN+)
Game 4: No. 3 Ohio vs. No. 6 Western Michigan, Time TBA* (ESPN+)
Friday, March 15th, 2024 - Semifinals
Game 5: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, 5 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
Game 6: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner, 7:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
Saturday, March 16th, 2024 – MAC Championship Game
Game 7: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
*30 minutes following the completion of the first game of the session
Team Stats
EMU
CMU
FG%
.348
.307
3FG%
.227
.258
FT%
.647
.579
RB
38
60
TO
6
10
STL
7
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
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