Eastern Michigan Athletics

Eastern Rallies From 13-Point Halftime Deficit, Edged at Toledo, 90-87
1/7/2025 9:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Eastern led with 2:37 left to play after trailing by as many as 16
TOLEDO, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Despite rallying back to lead following a 13-point halftime deficit, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team dropped a 90-87 decision in a thrilling game at the University of Toledo Tuesday, Jan. 7, inside Savage Arena.
The Eagles led, 74-73, with 2:37 left to play before ultimately falling to the Rockets.
Christian Henry (Chicago, Ill./The Skill Factory/Panola College) scored 25 points, Jalen Terry (Flint, Mich. Beecher/Oregon/DePaul) had 23 points, and Da'Sean Nelson (Toledo, Ohio/Robert S. Rogers/Kilgore College/DePaul) netted 20 points as three Eagles scored 20-plus points for the first time since Dec. 6, 2017.
How it Happened
The Eagles trailed 9-2 early on before battling back to tie it up at 17-17.
Toledo used a 14-0 run to take a commanding 46-33 lead into halftime as EMU trailed by as many as 16 in the opening half.
Eastern was not phased, though, bursting out of the gates in the second half with a 11-4 run to cut the deficit to three points at 50-47.
EMU trailed by three on eight different occasions over the next 13 minutes prior to taking a 74-73 lead on a pair of Henry free throws with 2:48 to play.
The Rockets scored the game's next four points, expanding their lead to eight points at 87-79 with 19 seconds to play.
Henry, who also hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the first half, drained a half-court shot at the final horn to make the final score 90-87.
Game Notes
» Eastern moved to 7-7 overall and 1-1 in the MAC while Toledo moved to 8-6 overall and 2-0 in conference action.
» Eastern Michigan was 31-of-56 (55.4%) from the floor and 10-of-23 (43.5%) from three-point range while Toledo was 30-of-58 (51.7%) from the field and 8-of-14 (44.4%) from deep.
» Nelson has 10-straight games with at least 10 points for the first time in his career while also posting his fifth game with 20-plus this season and eighth game with 20 or more in his career.
» With his 23 points, Terry has eight games in double figures this season and 33 such games in his career. The senior posted his fifth game scoring at least 20 points this season and seventh game with 20 or more this season.
» Dillon Tingler (Hurricane, W. Va./Huntington Expression Prep) hauled in a career-high seven rebounds and had more than any other player in the game. He also played a career-high 27 minutes.
» Christian Henry (Chicago, Ill./The Skill Factory/Panola College), who has converted at least one three-pointer in each of the last nine games, set a career high with five made three-pointers. Henry's previous mark was four triples against Detroit Mercy, Nov. 30.
» Henry's 25 points marked his 10th career game scoring at least 10 points and third with at least 20.
» Jalin Billingsley (Cleveland, Ohio Lutheran East Georgetown) tallied 11 points, his eighth 10-point game of the season and 25th career game scoring double-digit points. Billingsley was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from the free throw line but was limited to 21 minutes with foul trouble.
» Eastern moved to 6-1 in games decided by four points or fewer. EMU, which was 8-3 in such games in 2023-24, leads the nation with six wins by four points or less this season.
Historical Notes
» EMU moved to 52-64 against Toledo.
» EMU tallied 10 assists, its 13th-straight game with at least 10 assists, the Eagles' longest streak since a 13-game streak in 2017-18.
» Eastern, which hit 10 threes against Toledo, has now hit at least one triple in 627-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 49-straight contests, not having done so most recently in a 1-for-15 performance against Akron, Feb.14, 2023. EMU has 15 consecutive games is the Eagles' longest since a 15-game streak extending from the 2020-21 to the 2021-22 season.
Next Up
Eastern Michigan hosts Akron Saturday, Jan. 11, at approximately 3:30 p.m. and following the EMU women's basketball game against the Zips.
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).
The Eagles led, 74-73, with 2:37 left to play before ultimately falling to the Rockets.
Christian Henry (Chicago, Ill./The Skill Factory/Panola College) scored 25 points, Jalen Terry (Flint, Mich. Beecher/Oregon/DePaul) had 23 points, and Da'Sean Nelson (Toledo, Ohio/Robert S. Rogers/Kilgore College/DePaul) netted 20 points as three Eagles scored 20-plus points for the first time since Dec. 6, 2017.
How it Happened
The Eagles trailed 9-2 early on before battling back to tie it up at 17-17.
Toledo used a 14-0 run to take a commanding 46-33 lead into halftime as EMU trailed by as many as 16 in the opening half.
Eastern was not phased, though, bursting out of the gates in the second half with a 11-4 run to cut the deficit to three points at 50-47.
EMU trailed by three on eight different occasions over the next 13 minutes prior to taking a 74-73 lead on a pair of Henry free throws with 2:48 to play.
The Rockets scored the game's next four points, expanding their lead to eight points at 87-79 with 19 seconds to play.
Henry, who also hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the first half, drained a half-court shot at the final horn to make the final score 90-87.
Game Notes
» Eastern moved to 7-7 overall and 1-1 in the MAC while Toledo moved to 8-6 overall and 2-0 in conference action.
» Eastern Michigan was 31-of-56 (55.4%) from the floor and 10-of-23 (43.5%) from three-point range while Toledo was 30-of-58 (51.7%) from the field and 8-of-14 (44.4%) from deep.
» Nelson has 10-straight games with at least 10 points for the first time in his career while also posting his fifth game with 20-plus this season and eighth game with 20 or more in his career.
» With his 23 points, Terry has eight games in double figures this season and 33 such games in his career. The senior posted his fifth game scoring at least 20 points this season and seventh game with 20 or more this season.
» Dillon Tingler (Hurricane, W. Va./Huntington Expression Prep) hauled in a career-high seven rebounds and had more than any other player in the game. He also played a career-high 27 minutes.
» Christian Henry (Chicago, Ill./The Skill Factory/Panola College), who has converted at least one three-pointer in each of the last nine games, set a career high with five made three-pointers. Henry's previous mark was four triples against Detroit Mercy, Nov. 30.
» Henry's 25 points marked his 10th career game scoring at least 10 points and third with at least 20.
» Jalin Billingsley (Cleveland, Ohio Lutheran East Georgetown) tallied 11 points, his eighth 10-point game of the season and 25th career game scoring double-digit points. Billingsley was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from the free throw line but was limited to 21 minutes with foul trouble.
» Eastern moved to 6-1 in games decided by four points or fewer. EMU, which was 8-3 in such games in 2023-24, leads the nation with six wins by four points or less this season.
Historical Notes
» EMU moved to 52-64 against Toledo.
» EMU tallied 10 assists, its 13th-straight game with at least 10 assists, the Eagles' longest streak since a 13-game streak in 2017-18.
» Eastern, which hit 10 threes against Toledo, has now hit at least one triple in 627-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 49-straight contests, not having done so most recently in a 1-for-15 performance against Akron, Feb.14, 2023. EMU has 15 consecutive games is the Eagles' longest since a 15-game streak extending from the 2020-21 to the 2021-22 season.
Next Up
Eastern Michigan hosts Akron Saturday, Jan. 11, at approximately 3:30 p.m. and following the EMU women's basketball game against the Zips.
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).
Team Stats
EMU
UT
FG%
.554
.517
3FG%
.435
.444
FT%
.789
.759
RB
28
32
TO
16
11
STL
8
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
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