Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, February 24
Ypsilanti, Mich.
6:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
10-19,4-12MAC
64
vs
74
No. 21 Miami
28-0,15-0MAC
1
2
F
Miami (OH)
43
31
74
Eastern Mich.
22
42
64
Photo by: Hugh Burns Jr.
Lawson II Leads Eastern in Loss to Undefeated, 21st-Ranked Miami
2/24/2026 9:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Lawson II scored 29 points as EMU mounted second-half comeback effort
YPSILANTI, Michigan (EMUEagles.com) – Gregory Lawson II scored 29 points to lead the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team against undefeated and No. 21 Miami University Tuesday, Feb. 24, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Mid-American Conference action as EMU dropped a 74-64 decision, cutting a 26-point second-half deficit to six with 8:07 left.
Lawson II (Saginaw, Mich./Oak Cliff Academy) had 24 of his 29 points in the second half, while Mohammad Habhab (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn/Central Michigan) was the other Eagle in double figures with a 10-point, seven-rebound effort.
Eastern put together a stout defensive effort against one of the nation's top offenses, limiting the nation's leader in field goal percentage to just 40.6% shooting, its second-lowest mark of the season and its second game below 44.9%. EMU also held Miami, which ranked second nationally in scoring at 92.3 points per game heading into Tuesday's game, to just 74 points, its second-lowest total of the season.
How It Happened
The Eagles struggled to find a rhythm to open the game, missing their first 12 shots before one fell, which made the score 12-2 with 13:25 to go in the first.
EMU cut the lead to five near the 10-minute mark, but Miami was in control of the rest of the half and led, 43-22, going into the locker room.
Miami's lead grew to 26, 50-24, with 17:10 remaining in the half. Out of the first media timeout of the half, Lawson II scored 13 straight points for the Eagles to cut the lead down to 17.
EMU sliced at the lead again and brought the score to 56-50 with 8:07 remaining. The Eagles failed to scratch any closer and fell 74-64 to the undefeated RedHawks.
Game Notes
» Eastern moves to 10-19 overall and 4-12 in the MAC, while Miami moves to 28-0 overall and 15-0 in conference action.
» Eastern was 21-of-61 (34.4%) from the field and 7-of-22 (31.8%) from the three-point line, while Miami was 28-of-69 (40.6%) from the floor and 5-of-28 (17.9%) from three-point range.
» Gregory Lawson II netted 29 points, the most by an Eagle freshman since James Thompson IV put up 32 against Marygrove, Nov. 25, 2015. His 29 points are the most against a Division I school by an Eagle freshman since at least the 2002-03 season.
» Gregory Lawson II scored 24 points in the second half, tied for the fourth-highest total for a single half in George Gervin GameAbove Center history.
» Gregory Lawson II was 6-for-13 (46.2%) from three-point range, his ninth career game with more than one triple. Lawson II leads the MAC with a 46.2% three-point conversion rate. His six triples are the most by an Eagle freshman since Arne Osojnik knocked down six, Feb. 27, 2024, against WMU.
» Gregory Lawson II made five three-pointers in the second half, tied for the fifth-highest total for a single half in George Gervin GameAbove Center history.
» Mohammad Habhab netted 10 points, his 23rd game in double digits this season.
» Mohammad Habhab had two blocks and has at least one rejection in 14-straight games.
» Godslove Nwabude had five blocks, the total ties his career high set earlier this season, Dec. 5, 2025, against Cleary. The total marks his 13th game with multiple rejections this season and seventh with at least three.
» Godslove Nwabude had 10 rebounds, his second career game with double-digit rebounds, he most recently had double digits in a game against NJIT, Nov. 28, 2025, where he grabbed 14.
» Addison Patterson (Mississauga, Ontario/Bella Vista College Prep/Northwestern State) had seven assists, one shy of his career high he set earlier this season at Western, Jan. 10. He has tallied 13 games with three or more assists this season.
Eastern held Miami's historic offense to a season-low five three-pointers, as the RedHawks made just five-of-28 attempts. The Eagles also held Miami to its second-lowest total of the season, one point behind the 73 scored against Buffalo.
Historical Notes
» Miami leads the all-time series, 58-30.
» Miami currently holds the longest win streak in MAC history, along with the best start for a program in MAC history.
» The last time Eastern had a ranked win at home was against No. 14 Wisconsin, Dec. 10, 1994, 92-76.
» The 3,136 fans mark the 16th-most at an EMU MAC game in program history.
Up Next
» Eastern takes on Buffalo for a Tuesday game, March 3, at 6:30 p.m. The game is on ESPN+ and will be held in Buffalo, N.Y., inside Alumni 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).
Lawson II (Saginaw, Mich./Oak Cliff Academy) had 24 of his 29 points in the second half, while Mohammad Habhab (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn/Central Michigan) was the other Eagle in double figures with a 10-point, seven-rebound effort.
Eastern put together a stout defensive effort against one of the nation's top offenses, limiting the nation's leader in field goal percentage to just 40.6% shooting, its second-lowest mark of the season and its second game below 44.9%. EMU also held Miami, which ranked second nationally in scoring at 92.3 points per game heading into Tuesday's game, to just 74 points, its second-lowest total of the season.
How It Happened
The Eagles struggled to find a rhythm to open the game, missing their first 12 shots before one fell, which made the score 12-2 with 13:25 to go in the first.
EMU cut the lead to five near the 10-minute mark, but Miami was in control of the rest of the half and led, 43-22, going into the locker room.
Miami's lead grew to 26, 50-24, with 17:10 remaining in the half. Out of the first media timeout of the half, Lawson II scored 13 straight points for the Eagles to cut the lead down to 17.
EMU sliced at the lead again and brought the score to 56-50 with 8:07 remaining. The Eagles failed to scratch any closer and fell 74-64 to the undefeated RedHawks.
Game Notes
» Eastern moves to 10-19 overall and 4-12 in the MAC, while Miami moves to 28-0 overall and 15-0 in conference action.
» Eastern was 21-of-61 (34.4%) from the field and 7-of-22 (31.8%) from the three-point line, while Miami was 28-of-69 (40.6%) from the floor and 5-of-28 (17.9%) from three-point range.
» Gregory Lawson II netted 29 points, the most by an Eagle freshman since James Thompson IV put up 32 against Marygrove, Nov. 25, 2015. His 29 points are the most against a Division I school by an Eagle freshman since at least the 2002-03 season.
» Gregory Lawson II scored 24 points in the second half, tied for the fourth-highest total for a single half in George Gervin GameAbove Center history.
» Gregory Lawson II was 6-for-13 (46.2%) from three-point range, his ninth career game with more than one triple. Lawson II leads the MAC with a 46.2% three-point conversion rate. His six triples are the most by an Eagle freshman since Arne Osojnik knocked down six, Feb. 27, 2024, against WMU.
» Gregory Lawson II made five three-pointers in the second half, tied for the fifth-highest total for a single half in George Gervin GameAbove Center history.
» Mohammad Habhab netted 10 points, his 23rd game in double digits this season.
» Mohammad Habhab had two blocks and has at least one rejection in 14-straight games.
» Godslove Nwabude had five blocks, the total ties his career high set earlier this season, Dec. 5, 2025, against Cleary. The total marks his 13th game with multiple rejections this season and seventh with at least three.
» Godslove Nwabude had 10 rebounds, his second career game with double-digit rebounds, he most recently had double digits in a game against NJIT, Nov. 28, 2025, where he grabbed 14.
» Addison Patterson (Mississauga, Ontario/Bella Vista College Prep/Northwestern State) had seven assists, one shy of his career high he set earlier this season at Western, Jan. 10. He has tallied 13 games with three or more assists this season.
Eastern held Miami's historic offense to a season-low five three-pointers, as the RedHawks made just five-of-28 attempts. The Eagles also held Miami to its second-lowest total of the season, one point behind the 73 scored against Buffalo.
Historical Notes
» Miami leads the all-time series, 58-30.
» Miami currently holds the longest win streak in MAC history, along with the best start for a program in MAC history.
» The last time Eastern had a ranked win at home was against No. 14 Wisconsin, Dec. 10, 1994, 92-76.
» The 3,136 fans mark the 16th-most at an EMU MAC game in program history.
Up Next
» Eastern takes on Buffalo for a Tuesday game, March 3, at 6:30 p.m. The game is on ESPN+ and will be held in Buffalo, N.Y., inside Alumni 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
Miami
EMU
FG%
.406
.344
3FG%
.179
.318
FT%
.684
.652
RB
46
44
TO
4
11
STL
6
3
Game Leaders
Pts
29
FGM
9
3FGM
6
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
5
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballF
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