YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Powered by Eastern Michigan University senior forward Brandon Nazione's career-high 23 points, the EMU men's basketball team came from nine points back to knock off the University of Detroit Mercy, 88-73, at the Convocation Center Monday. The Eagles (8-4, 0-0 MAC) struggled offensively in the first half but . . .
. . . a 57-point second half outburst gave the Green and White the win over the Titans (6-5, 0-0 Horizon).
Nazione posted his career high in points while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.He also notched a career-high five steals. Joining him in double-digit scoring nights were junior Willie Mangum IV with 16, redshirt junior Raven Lee with 15 points, sophomore Tim Bond (12) , and freshman James Thompson IV, whose double-double streak ended at seven with 10 points and four rebounds.
TURNOVER HELP
As a team, EMU shot 44.8 percent (30-of-67) from the floor, but made a good chunk of their points at the free throw line, converting 80 percent (24-of-30) of their attempts. The Green and White struggled from downtown, hitting just 18.2 percent (4-of-22). A key to victory was in the turnover department, Eastern coughed up the rock just 10 times, while it forced 23 turnovers.. The Eagles turned in 25 points off turnovers while manhandling the Titans in the paint, outscoring them 48-30 down low.
Detroit was fast out of the gates, starting on a 7-0 run and leading by that margin for almost eight minutes. Around the 12 minute mark, Eastern went on a 7-0 run of its own, spearheaded by a Bond three, to tie things up at 16 apiece.
Despite the tie, Detroit stayed strong and led most of the rest of the way until just under two minutes, when EMU tied it once again on a Mangum tip-in.
DOWN TWO AT THE BREAK
Mangum gave EMU its first lead of the game with just under 30 seconds by knocking down a triple, making it 31-30 in favor of the home squad. However, Detroit answered right back with a three right before the buzzer to take the 33-31 lead into the locker room.
The second half started off in back-and-forth fashion before another Mangum three gave EMU a brief four-point lead, 40-36, with 17:05 left in the game.
Detroit was able to tie the game back up, but EMU answered back with a 13-3 run to take a 10 point lead, 53-43, at the 12 minute mark. The run was fueled by a three-point play from Lee, followed immediately by a steal and lay-in from Bond. The lead grew to as many as 11 and the Eagles maintained a steady advantage heading into the under eight timeout.
EMU pushed its lead got back to 10 briefly, before Detroit began to stage another comeback at the four minute mark, getting to within five points. The comeback was stopped in its tracks, however, as five-straight Eagle points extended the lead back at 10. From there the Green and White put the game away for the 15-point victory, 88-73.
FINAL NON-CONFERENCE GAME NEXT
Eastern is now off until after the New Year when it returns to the Convocation Center for its non-conference finale against the University of North Florida, Saturday, Jan. 2. Tip-off is scheduled for noon, and will be immediately followed by the women's basketball game against Buffalo at 2:30 p.m.
Nazione posted his career high in points while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.He also notched a career-high five steals. Joining him in double-digit scoring nights were junior Willie Mangum IV with 16, redshirt junior Raven Lee with 15 points, sophomore Tim Bond (12) , and freshman James Thompson IV, whose double-double streak ended at seven with 10 points and four rebounds.
TURNOVER HELP
As a team, EMU shot 44.8 percent (30-of-67) from the floor, but made a good chunk of their points at the free throw line, converting 80 percent (24-of-30) of their attempts. The Green and White struggled from downtown, hitting just 18.2 percent (4-of-22). A key to victory was in the turnover department, Eastern coughed up the rock just 10 times, while it forced 23 turnovers.. The Eagles turned in 25 points off turnovers while manhandling the Titans in the paint, outscoring them 48-30 down low.
Detroit was fast out of the gates, starting on a 7-0 run and leading by that margin for almost eight minutes. Around the 12 minute mark, Eastern went on a 7-0 run of its own, spearheaded by a Bond three, to tie things up at 16 apiece.
Despite the tie, Detroit stayed strong and led most of the rest of the way until just under two minutes, when EMU tied it once again on a Mangum tip-in.
DOWN TWO AT THE BREAK
Mangum gave EMU its first lead of the game with just under 30 seconds by knocking down a triple, making it 31-30 in favor of the home squad. However, Detroit answered right back with a three right before the buzzer to take the 33-31 lead into the locker room.
The second half started off in back-and-forth fashion before another Mangum three gave EMU a brief four-point lead, 40-36, with 17:05 left in the game.
Detroit was able to tie the game back up, but EMU answered back with a 13-3 run to take a 10 point lead, 53-43, at the 12 minute mark. The run was fueled by a three-point play from Lee, followed immediately by a steal and lay-in from Bond. The lead grew to as many as 11 and the Eagles maintained a steady advantage heading into the under eight timeout.
EMU pushed its lead got back to 10 briefly, before Detroit began to stage another comeback at the four minute mark, getting to within five points. The comeback was stopped in its tracks, however, as five-straight Eagle points extended the lead back at 10. From there the Green and White put the game away for the 15-point victory, 88-73.
FINAL NON-CONFERENCE GAME NEXT
Eastern is now off until after the New Year when it returns to the Convocation Center for its non-conference finale against the University of North Florida, Saturday, Jan. 2. Tip-off is scheduled for noon, and will be immediately followed by the women's basketball game against Buffalo at 2:30 p.m.
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