Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 1
Kalamazoo, Mich.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
10-11,4-5MAC
54
at
61
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Western Michigan
7-14,4-5MAC
1st half1
2nd half2
FinalF
Eastern Mich.
18
36
54
Western Mich.
23
38
61
Nelson Scores 20 Points as Eastern Drops Defensive Battle at WMU
2/1/2025 3:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Nelson added 11 rebounds for second career double-double
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Da'Sean Nelson registered 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team as the Eagles fell by a 61-54 scoreline at Western Michigan University Saturday, Feb. 1, inside University Arena.
Nelson (Toledo, Ohio/Robert S. Rogers/Kilgore College/DePaul) posted his second career double-double in a game that saw nine second-half lead changes, despite Eastern scoring just 18 points in the first half.
How it Happened
Eastern scored just eight points in the game's first 14:30 but held serve on the defensive end by limiting Western to 18 points during that span.
Despite the lackluster 6-of-24 (25.0%) EMU first-half shooting, the Eagles trailed by a mere five points at 23-18 through 20 minutes.
EMU burst out of the second-half gates, outscoring WMU, 13-3, in the half's first 6:30 before the Broncos responded with two baskets in just seven seconds to retake the lead.
An 8-0 Bronco spurt pushed the Western lead out to 47-41 with seven minutes left.
Nelson scored the Eagles' next nine points, bringing Eastern to within three at 53-50 with 2:30 left prior to a pair of free throws by Jalin Billingsley (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East/Georgetown) drew the Eagles to within one point at the 1:51 mark. A 6-0 WMU run put the game away.
Game Notes
» Eastern moved to 10-11 overall and 4-5 in the MAC while Western moved to 7-14 overall and 4-5 in conference action.
» Eastern Michigan was 19-of-52 (36.5%) from the floor and 2-of-21 (9.5%) from three-point range while Western Michigan was 22-of-57 (38.6%) from the field and 4-of-19 (21.1%) from deep.
» With his 20 points, Nelson netted 20-plus points for the sixth time this season and ninth time in his career.
» Nelson's 11 rebounds fell two short of his career-high 13, set against Wright State, Dec. 21.
» Nelson added a pair of blocks, which with his three blocks against Miami, Jan. 28, marks the first time in his career he has had multiple blocks in back-to-back games. The Toledo native also has six-straight games with at least one block, the longest streak of his career.
» With two made three-pointers, Christian Henry (Chicago, Ill./The Skill Factory/Panola College) has converted at least one three-pointer in each of the last 16 games.
» Billingsley registered nine points and 10 rebounds, falling one point shy of his third career double-double. His 10 boards matched his career high, which he previously achieved twice.
» Eastern posted three blocks, marking 16-straight games with at least one block, the team's longest streak since blocking at least one shot in every game during the 2021-22 season.
» EMU held a 38-36 advantage on the glass, moving to 7-2 when out-rebounding its foe with the other loss being at Cleveland State, Nov. 16.
»The Eagles were outscored in bench points, 16-2, snapping a streak of four-straight games with at least 25 bench points.
Historical Notes
» EMU moved to 56-66 against WMU.
» Eastern, which hit two threes against Western Michigan, has now hit at least one triple in 634-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 56-straight contests, not having done so most recently in a 1-for-15 performance against Akron, Feb.14, 2023. Dating back to the final game of the 2023-24 season, EMU had its streak of 21 consecutive games with at least five made three-pointers snapped, the Eagles' longest streak since at least the 2008-09 season.
Next Up
Eastern Michigan hosts Kent State University Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 6:30 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Tickets can be purchased here or by calling 734.487.3669.
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).
Nelson (Toledo, Ohio/Robert S. Rogers/Kilgore College/DePaul) posted his second career double-double in a game that saw nine second-half lead changes, despite Eastern scoring just 18 points in the first half.
How it Happened
Eastern scored just eight points in the game's first 14:30 but held serve on the defensive end by limiting Western to 18 points during that span.
Despite the lackluster 6-of-24 (25.0%) EMU first-half shooting, the Eagles trailed by a mere five points at 23-18 through 20 minutes.
EMU burst out of the second-half gates, outscoring WMU, 13-3, in the half's first 6:30 before the Broncos responded with two baskets in just seven seconds to retake the lead.
An 8-0 Bronco spurt pushed the Western lead out to 47-41 with seven minutes left.
Nelson scored the Eagles' next nine points, bringing Eastern to within three at 53-50 with 2:30 left prior to a pair of free throws by Jalin Billingsley (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East/Georgetown) drew the Eagles to within one point at the 1:51 mark. A 6-0 WMU run put the game away.
Game Notes
» Eastern moved to 10-11 overall and 4-5 in the MAC while Western moved to 7-14 overall and 4-5 in conference action.
» Eastern Michigan was 19-of-52 (36.5%) from the floor and 2-of-21 (9.5%) from three-point range while Western Michigan was 22-of-57 (38.6%) from the field and 4-of-19 (21.1%) from deep.
» With his 20 points, Nelson netted 20-plus points for the sixth time this season and ninth time in his career.
» Nelson's 11 rebounds fell two short of his career-high 13, set against Wright State, Dec. 21.
» Nelson added a pair of blocks, which with his three blocks against Miami, Jan. 28, marks the first time in his career he has had multiple blocks in back-to-back games. The Toledo native also has six-straight games with at least one block, the longest streak of his career.
» With two made three-pointers, Christian Henry (Chicago, Ill./The Skill Factory/Panola College) has converted at least one three-pointer in each of the last 16 games.
» Billingsley registered nine points and 10 rebounds, falling one point shy of his third career double-double. His 10 boards matched his career high, which he previously achieved twice.
» Eastern posted three blocks, marking 16-straight games with at least one block, the team's longest streak since blocking at least one shot in every game during the 2021-22 season.
» EMU held a 38-36 advantage on the glass, moving to 7-2 when out-rebounding its foe with the other loss being at Cleveland State, Nov. 16.
»The Eagles were outscored in bench points, 16-2, snapping a streak of four-straight games with at least 25 bench points.
Historical Notes
» EMU moved to 56-66 against WMU.
» Eastern, which hit two threes against Western Michigan, has now hit at least one triple in 634-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 56-straight contests, not having done so most recently in a 1-for-15 performance against Akron, Feb.14, 2023. Dating back to the final game of the 2023-24 season, EMU had its streak of 21 consecutive games with at least five made three-pointers snapped, the Eagles' longest streak since at least the 2008-09 season.
Next Up
Eastern Michigan hosts Kent State University Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 6:30 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Tickets can be purchased here or by calling 734.487.3669.
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
WMU
FG%
.365
.386
3FG%
.095
.211
FT%
.737
.765
RB
38
36
TO
15
13
STL
7
11
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
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