Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 24
Ypsilanti, Mich.
3:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
9-11,3-5MAC
75
vs
76
Kent State
15-5,6-2MAC
1
2
OT 1
OT 2
F
Kent St.
31
27
11
7
76
Eastern Mich.
23
35
11
6
75
Eastern Edged in Double-Overtime Battle Against Kent State
1/24/2026 7:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Eagles battled back from 13-point second-half deficit
Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team came back from a 13-point second-half deficit against Kent State University before ultimately falling, 76-75, in double overtime Saturday, Jan. 24, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in an intense Mid-American Conference battle.
Eastern built a quick four-point lead in double overtime but was unable to hang on as Kent State's 7-0 run propelled the Golden Flashes to victory.
Mohammad Habhab (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn/Central Michigan) led Eastern with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks, while Addison Patterson (Mississauga, Ontario/Bella Vista College Prep/Northwestern State) scored 17 points, six rebounds, and a career-high eight steals.
Mak Manciel (Detroit, Mich./Stevenson/Detroit Mercy) and Braelon Green (Southfield, Mich./Southfield/Bowling Green) each added 11 points.
Merritt Alderink (Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland West/Indiana State) drilled three-pointers in back-to-back possessions to give Eastern a 54-53 lead with 4:11 left.
How It Happened
Eastern started slowly as Kent State got off to a 7-2 run. The Eagles closed that gap midway through the half and took a 11-9 lead.
Kent State finished the half on an 18-9 run in the final eight minutes of the first half to bring the score to 31-23 with the Eagles trailing.
The Eagles erased a 13-point deficit thanks to a long 19-4 scoring run to give Eastern a 44-42 lead with 10 minutes remaining.
Both teams then traded baskets inside the 10-minute mark and saw Kent State lead by 5 points but the lead was brought back to Eastern with just over four minutes left to play courtesy of a pair of threes made by Alderink, making it 54-53.
Teams continued to trade blows in the final four minutes, and the game was tied with 10 seconds remaining. Both teams missed shots in the final seconds to take the game into overtime with a score of 58-58.
The game was once again tied with 10 seconds remaining, but both teams missed out opportunities to take the lead in the final seconds sending the game to a second overtime period at 69-69.
Eastern went up by four early in the period but Kent State fought back and took a three-point lead with 50 second left, the Eagles were not able to claw back and dropped a 76-75 decision.
Game Notes
» Eastern moves to 9-11 overall and 3-5 in the MAC while Kent State moves to 15-5 overall and 6-2 in conference play.
» Eastern was 27-of-77 (35.1% from the field and 6-of-24 (25.0%) from the three-point line, while Kent State was 23-of-58 (39.7%) from the floor and 8-of-23 (34.8%) from three-point range.
» EMU outscored KSU, 19-2, in fast-break settings.
» Eastern posted 16 offensive rebounds, increasing its average to 10.8 offensive boards per game, its top mark since recording 12.6 in the 2018-19 season.
» Eastern's 14 steals is the highest mark in a game since its Jan 7, 2023, game against Central Michigan where 15 steals were recorded.
» EMU's 15-of-17 (88.2%) showing from the free-throw line is its best mark of the season with a minimum of 15 attempts. This is its best mark with more than 15 attempts since March 7, 2025, in a game against Kent State where they were 17-of-18 (94.4%) from the line.
» Mohammad Habhab played a career-high 47:28 while Addison Patterson tallied a career-high 46:05 of court time.
» With Mohammad Habhab's 22 points and 11 rebounds, he recorded his eighth double-double of the season.
» Mohammad Habhab's 22 points, he has 16 games with at least 10 points this season and five games with at least 20 points.
» Mohammad Habhab's four blocks represent his sixth game with multiple blocks this season. Habhab topped his career high of three rejections against UMass, Dec. 30. Habhab's four blocks are the most by an Eagle since Godslove Nwabude (Anambra State, Nigeria/Mt. Zion Prep (Md.)) sent back five shots against Cleary, Dec. 5.
» Addison Patterson scored 17 points, his eighth-straight game with at least 10 points. Patterson has 15 games with at least 10 points this season with 11 of those coming in the last 12 games.
» Addison Patterson recorded his career high in steals with eight, the highest total in a game by an Eagle since Tim Bond had eight in a game, March 4, 2016, against Toledo. The eight steals is one short of the school record of nine, set by Michael Ross against Concordia, Nov. 25, 2003. The total is also tied for the most steals this season in the MAC, and the third most steals in the NCAA for the 2025-26 season. In addition, it ties the mark for the most steals against a Division I opponent in team history.
» Mehki Ellison (Flint, Mich./Carman Ainsworth/Stetson) scored four points with a season-high five assists, topping his previous mark of five dimes against Oakland, Nov. 21.
» Merritt Alderink made two three-pointers, his second career game converting multiple threes after he put home two triples at Butler, Dec. 2. Alderink also matched his season high with six points, which also came against the Bulldogs.
» John Shanu II recorded a season-high two blocks, his first time with multiple blocks since a two-block outing against Central Michigan, Jan. 28, 2025
Historical Notes
» Kent State leads the all-time series, 52-36.
» Eastern moved to 42-50 all-time in overtime games, which includes a 3-6 mark under Stan Heath.
» EMU last played an overtime game, Feb. 11, 2025, an 86-84 loss at Ball State and last played two overtimes against Florida International, Dec. 11, 2021, a 92-88 win in four overtimes.
» The Eagles have dropped three-straight overtime games and are 1-6 in their seven with the lone win coming over the Golden Flashes, 71-69, Jan. 6, 2024.
Up Next
» Eastern travels to Central Michigan University for a Tuesday game, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. The game is on ESPN+ and will be held in Mount Pleasant, Mich., inside McGuirk Arena.
Follow Us
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMU_MBB) and Instagram (@EMUMBB).
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team came back from a 13-point second-half deficit against Kent State University before ultimately falling, 76-75, in double overtime Saturday, Jan. 24, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in an intense Mid-American Conference battle.
Eastern built a quick four-point lead in double overtime but was unable to hang on as Kent State's 7-0 run propelled the Golden Flashes to victory.
Mohammad Habhab (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn/Central Michigan) led Eastern with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks, while Addison Patterson (Mississauga, Ontario/Bella Vista College Prep/Northwestern State) scored 17 points, six rebounds, and a career-high eight steals.
Mak Manciel (Detroit, Mich./Stevenson/Detroit Mercy) and Braelon Green (Southfield, Mich./Southfield/Bowling Green) each added 11 points.
Merritt Alderink (Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland West/Indiana State) drilled three-pointers in back-to-back possessions to give Eastern a 54-53 lead with 4:11 left.
How It Happened
Eastern started slowly as Kent State got off to a 7-2 run. The Eagles closed that gap midway through the half and took a 11-9 lead.
Kent State finished the half on an 18-9 run in the final eight minutes of the first half to bring the score to 31-23 with the Eagles trailing.
The Eagles erased a 13-point deficit thanks to a long 19-4 scoring run to give Eastern a 44-42 lead with 10 minutes remaining.
Both teams then traded baskets inside the 10-minute mark and saw Kent State lead by 5 points but the lead was brought back to Eastern with just over four minutes left to play courtesy of a pair of threes made by Alderink, making it 54-53.
Teams continued to trade blows in the final four minutes, and the game was tied with 10 seconds remaining. Both teams missed shots in the final seconds to take the game into overtime with a score of 58-58.
The game was once again tied with 10 seconds remaining, but both teams missed out opportunities to take the lead in the final seconds sending the game to a second overtime period at 69-69.
Eastern went up by four early in the period but Kent State fought back and took a three-point lead with 50 second left, the Eagles were not able to claw back and dropped a 76-75 decision.
Game Notes
» Eastern moves to 9-11 overall and 3-5 in the MAC while Kent State moves to 15-5 overall and 6-2 in conference play.
» Eastern was 27-of-77 (35.1% from the field and 6-of-24 (25.0%) from the three-point line, while Kent State was 23-of-58 (39.7%) from the floor and 8-of-23 (34.8%) from three-point range.
» EMU outscored KSU, 19-2, in fast-break settings.
» Eastern posted 16 offensive rebounds, increasing its average to 10.8 offensive boards per game, its top mark since recording 12.6 in the 2018-19 season.
» Eastern's 14 steals is the highest mark in a game since its Jan 7, 2023, game against Central Michigan where 15 steals were recorded.
» EMU's 15-of-17 (88.2%) showing from the free-throw line is its best mark of the season with a minimum of 15 attempts. This is its best mark with more than 15 attempts since March 7, 2025, in a game against Kent State where they were 17-of-18 (94.4%) from the line.
» Mohammad Habhab played a career-high 47:28 while Addison Patterson tallied a career-high 46:05 of court time.
» With Mohammad Habhab's 22 points and 11 rebounds, he recorded his eighth double-double of the season.
» Mohammad Habhab's 22 points, he has 16 games with at least 10 points this season and five games with at least 20 points.
» Mohammad Habhab's four blocks represent his sixth game with multiple blocks this season. Habhab topped his career high of three rejections against UMass, Dec. 30. Habhab's four blocks are the most by an Eagle since Godslove Nwabude (Anambra State, Nigeria/Mt. Zion Prep (Md.)) sent back five shots against Cleary, Dec. 5.
» Addison Patterson scored 17 points, his eighth-straight game with at least 10 points. Patterson has 15 games with at least 10 points this season with 11 of those coming in the last 12 games.
» Addison Patterson recorded his career high in steals with eight, the highest total in a game by an Eagle since Tim Bond had eight in a game, March 4, 2016, against Toledo. The eight steals is one short of the school record of nine, set by Michael Ross against Concordia, Nov. 25, 2003. The total is also tied for the most steals this season in the MAC, and the third most steals in the NCAA for the 2025-26 season. In addition, it ties the mark for the most steals against a Division I opponent in team history.
» Mehki Ellison (Flint, Mich./Carman Ainsworth/Stetson) scored four points with a season-high five assists, topping his previous mark of five dimes against Oakland, Nov. 21.
» Merritt Alderink made two three-pointers, his second career game converting multiple threes after he put home two triples at Butler, Dec. 2. Alderink also matched his season high with six points, which also came against the Bulldogs.
» John Shanu II recorded a season-high two blocks, his first time with multiple blocks since a two-block outing against Central Michigan, Jan. 28, 2025
Historical Notes
» Kent State leads the all-time series, 52-36.
» Eastern moved to 42-50 all-time in overtime games, which includes a 3-6 mark under Stan Heath.
» EMU last played an overtime game, Feb. 11, 2025, an 86-84 loss at Ball State and last played two overtimes against Florida International, Dec. 11, 2021, a 92-88 win in four overtimes.
» The Eagles have dropped three-straight overtime games and are 1-6 in their seven with the lone win coming over the Golden Flashes, 71-69, Jan. 6, 2024.
Up Next
» Eastern travels to Central Michigan University for a Tuesday game, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. The game is on ESPN+ and will be held in Mount Pleasant, Mich., inside McGuirk Arena.
Follow Us
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMU_MBB) and Instagram (@EMUMBB).
Team Stats
KentSt
EMU
FG%
.397
.351
3FG%
.348
.250
FT%
.786
.882
RB
47
42
TO
18
9
STL
3
14
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
C
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