YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan opened up the 2017-18 season with a 92-60 win over Spring Arbor University Friday inside the Convocation Center.
The Eagles (1-0) registered a decisive 32-point victory against the Cougars (6-1) in the first regular-season meeting between the two programs.
Making his debut for . . .
The Eagles (1-0) registered a decisive 32-point victory against the Cougars (6-1) in the first regular-season meeting between the two programs.
Making his debut for . . .
. . . the Green and White, redshirt junior Elijah Minnie scored 15 of his 22 points in the first half, while adding four rebounds and a team-high three blocks. His 22 points marked the most scored by an Eagle in a debut game since Willie Mangum scored 18 in the 2015-16.
Junior James Thompson IV tallied 10 points and a team-leading 14 rebounds to earn his 39th career double-double. That’s one shy of matching Brandon Bowdry's program record during the modern statistical era dating back to 1998.
Junior James Thompson IV tallied 10 points and a team-leading 14 rebounds to earn his 39th career double-double. That’s one shy of matching Brandon Bowdry's program record during the modern statistical era dating back to 1998.
Redshirt freshman Ty Groce marked the beginning of his EMU career with 15 points and a team-best six steals. Freshman Kevin McAdoo also logged 10 points, while redshirt junior Paul Jackson and freshman Malik Ellison each dished out five assists.
Ellison's three-point play in the game's final minute meant all 11 Eagles to earn playing time scored.
In his seventh season as EMU head men's basketball coach, Rob Murphy is a perfect 20-0 against non-NCAA Division I opponents in both regular season and exhibition games.
The Eagles were the superior team on offense, converting on 33-of-66 field goals and 10-of-29 attempts from beyond the arc. EMU also had more opportunities at the free throw line, finishing 16-for-23, while Spring Arbor went 11-for-14.
EMU was also solid on the defensive end, forcing 24 turnovers and earning 16 steals. The Eagles held the Cougars to 35.8 percent shooting (19-for-53) and out-blocked Spring Arbor, 8-2.
Trailing by four in the early stages, EMU quickly recovered courtesy of a Thompson bucket and four Minnie free throws to level the score at 6-6 just over five minutes into the contest. The Eagles then took total control of the momentum, going on an 18-5 run to build a 20-11 lead with 11:35 to play in the opening half.
Minnie put on a clinic for the Green and White during that stretch, scoring 13 of his 15 first-half points by sinking 3-of-4 field goal attempts and going 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
After a Spring Arbor triple, the Eagles continued to add to their lead, using a 15-3 run to take a commanding 35-17 advantage with just over five minutes remaining in the first frame.
Thanks to 13-of-29 shooting and five different Eagles making a three-pointer, the Eagles took a 40-25 lead into the locker room. EMU also took advantage of Spring Arbor's foul trouble, going 9-of-13 from the line, while Spring Arbor did not attempt a single free throw in the opening half.
Senior Tim Bond set up Thompson on an alley-oop to start the second half scoring. EMU went on to score 12 of the first 16 points in the period to grab a comfortable 52-29 lead.
Just past the midway point of the frame, Thompson made both free throws to confirm his first double-double of the campaign to give the Eagles a 65-45 edge.
EMU continued to entertain, as Bond and Groce added back-to-back dunks to give the Eagles a 24-point cushion. In total, the Eagles scored nine unanswered points to improve their lead to 72-45. Groce's three-point basket with under three minutes to play gave the Eagles 10 for the game as the Eagles used another 7-0 run to go ahead, 84-57.
The Eagles saved their most electrifying dunk for last as Ellison set up Groce for a highlight-reel alley-oop with 41 seconds on the clock. Ten of Groce's 15 points came in the second half.
Eastern Michigan returns to action when it hosts Michigan-Dearborn Sunday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
Ellison's three-point play in the game's final minute meant all 11 Eagles to earn playing time scored.
In his seventh season as EMU head men's basketball coach, Rob Murphy is a perfect 20-0 against non-NCAA Division I opponents in both regular season and exhibition games.
The Eagles were the superior team on offense, converting on 33-of-66 field goals and 10-of-29 attempts from beyond the arc. EMU also had more opportunities at the free throw line, finishing 16-for-23, while Spring Arbor went 11-for-14.
EMU was also solid on the defensive end, forcing 24 turnovers and earning 16 steals. The Eagles held the Cougars to 35.8 percent shooting (19-for-53) and out-blocked Spring Arbor, 8-2.
Trailing by four in the early stages, EMU quickly recovered courtesy of a Thompson bucket and four Minnie free throws to level the score at 6-6 just over five minutes into the contest. The Eagles then took total control of the momentum, going on an 18-5 run to build a 20-11 lead with 11:35 to play in the opening half.
Minnie put on a clinic for the Green and White during that stretch, scoring 13 of his 15 first-half points by sinking 3-of-4 field goal attempts and going 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
After a Spring Arbor triple, the Eagles continued to add to their lead, using a 15-3 run to take a commanding 35-17 advantage with just over five minutes remaining in the first frame.
Thanks to 13-of-29 shooting and five different Eagles making a three-pointer, the Eagles took a 40-25 lead into the locker room. EMU also took advantage of Spring Arbor's foul trouble, going 9-of-13 from the line, while Spring Arbor did not attempt a single free throw in the opening half.
Senior Tim Bond set up Thompson on an alley-oop to start the second half scoring. EMU went on to score 12 of the first 16 points in the period to grab a comfortable 52-29 lead.
Just past the midway point of the frame, Thompson made both free throws to confirm his first double-double of the campaign to give the Eagles a 65-45 edge.
EMU continued to entertain, as Bond and Groce added back-to-back dunks to give the Eagles a 24-point cushion. In total, the Eagles scored nine unanswered points to improve their lead to 72-45. Groce's three-point basket with under three minutes to play gave the Eagles 10 for the game as the Eagles used another 7-0 run to go ahead, 84-57.
The Eagles saved their most electrifying dunk for last as Ellison set up Groce for a highlight-reel alley-oop with 41 seconds on the clock. Ten of Groce's 15 points came in the second half.
Eastern Michigan returns to action when it hosts Michigan-Dearborn Sunday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
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