YPSILANTI, Mich. – Eastern Michigan withstood a furious second half rally to defeat the Toledo Rockets, 91-85, Saturday at the Convocation Center. EMU paved the way for its win by posting the best shooting percentage and 3-point percentage in program history
Overall, the team connected on 34-for-50 (68 percent) from the floor, and 11-of-16 (68.8 percent) from three. The hosts were also solid from the charity stripe, finishing 12-of-16 (75 percent) from the line. Eastern also held an advantage for points in the paint, at 44-36.
The Eagles were led by senior . . .
Overall, the team connected on 34-for-50 (68 percent) from the floor, and 11-of-16 (68.8 percent) from three. The hosts were also solid from the charity stripe, finishing 12-of-16 (75 percent) from the line. Eastern also held an advantage for points in the paint, at 44-36.
The Eagles were led by senior . . .
. . . Brandon Nazione, who finished with a final stat line of 21 points, four rebounds and a pair of blocks. Additionally, junior Willie Mangum IV netted 19 points on five-of-seven from 3-point land. Just behind him, redshirt junior Raven Lee notched 18 points, including going a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. He had four clutch free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
Junior Ty Toney had a solid game as well, posting 17 points, while sophomore Tim Bond was a stat stuffer in the victory, putting together a solid line of eight points, eight rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals.
Jonathan Williams scored 24 to pace Toledo. Nathan Booth had 16, while Zach Garber and Stuckey Mosley added 10 apiece.
The Eagles got off to a quick start, with Mangum draining a long three before following that up with a steal and a transition layup to give EMU the early 5-0 lead. The junior kept the hot hand through the first media timeout, scoring a blazing 13 points to give Eastern the 13-9 lead with 15:18 remaining in the first half.
Toney got on the board with a layup to put the Eagles at 15. The offense continued clicking, as the team held a 22-16 lead at the second media timeout.
From there, the team continued its hot shooting from downtown, as a three from Nazione forced the Rockets to call a timeout with the score at 28-16. To that point, the Eagles were seven-for-seven from 3-point land.
After a pair of baskets, the Eagles extended their lead to 33-21 with 7:38 to go. A nice assist from Mangum to Toney gave EMU a three-point play, increasing the lead to 38-21. However, the 3-ball continued to be the team's biggest asset as EMU was 8-for-8 from downtown with 4:56 to play in the half.
Toledo mounted a little run to bring the score a bit closer, but the Eagles kept scoring to put their lead at 15 heading into the final two-minutes before the break. The Rockets then took advantage of several mistakes by the Eagles, cutting the lead to single digits.
As the clock ticked down, EMU converted a desperation layup to head into the locker room with a 14-point lead, 56-42. In the half, the Eagles notched the most field goals in a half in the history of the Convocation Center. Additionally, it also marked the third most points in a half for the team, and also the second most points against a Division-1 opponent in a half.
The Rockets got on the board first in the second half, before another bucket by Toledo brought the lead back down to 10.
Unlike the first half, the EMU offense struggled to get into a rhythm through the first three and a half minutes. Toledo took advantage, bringing the lead down to just six points, 56-50, with 16:27 left in the game.
A Nazione three halted the Rockets run, putting the score at 61-54 at the 13:40 mark. Lee had a nice steal and transition layup to give Eastern a nine-point lead, after which a Nazione layup put EMU back up by double digits. Heading into a media timeout, Eastern led 65-56 with nearly 11 minutes to go.
A huge dunk from Nazione put the score at 69-62 near the nine minute mark,and a pair of free throws from Lee increased the lead to nine.
Freshman James Thompson IV finally got on the board with a huge dunk of his own, but the Rockets answered on the other end to make it 73-69 with 6:30 left.
Both teams traded defensive blows, with the score standing at 76-74 with under four minutes to go. A Toney layup increased the lead to 78-74, after which a steal from sophomore Bond gave Eastern an opportunity on the other end. The Eagles could not convert, however, and Toledo brought it within one.
Bond came up big right after that with a three to give EMU a four-point lead. Clutch free throws from Lee put Eastern back up by four after a basket from the Rockets. With just 16 seconds left to play, the Eagles held a slim, 85-83 lead. EMU added four free throws and a Nazione dunk, while Stuckey hit a jumper for UT’s only score in the remaining time.
NEXT:
Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan (Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET)
Ball State at Toledo (Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET)
(EMUEagles.com/MRO Edit)
Junior Ty Toney had a solid game as well, posting 17 points, while sophomore Tim Bond was a stat stuffer in the victory, putting together a solid line of eight points, eight rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals.
Jonathan Williams scored 24 to pace Toledo. Nathan Booth had 16, while Zach Garber and Stuckey Mosley added 10 apiece.
The Eagles got off to a quick start, with Mangum draining a long three before following that up with a steal and a transition layup to give EMU the early 5-0 lead. The junior kept the hot hand through the first media timeout, scoring a blazing 13 points to give Eastern the 13-9 lead with 15:18 remaining in the first half.
Toney got on the board with a layup to put the Eagles at 15. The offense continued clicking, as the team held a 22-16 lead at the second media timeout.
From there, the team continued its hot shooting from downtown, as a three from Nazione forced the Rockets to call a timeout with the score at 28-16. To that point, the Eagles were seven-for-seven from 3-point land.
After a pair of baskets, the Eagles extended their lead to 33-21 with 7:38 to go. A nice assist from Mangum to Toney gave EMU a three-point play, increasing the lead to 38-21. However, the 3-ball continued to be the team's biggest asset as EMU was 8-for-8 from downtown with 4:56 to play in the half.
Toledo mounted a little run to bring the score a bit closer, but the Eagles kept scoring to put their lead at 15 heading into the final two-minutes before the break. The Rockets then took advantage of several mistakes by the Eagles, cutting the lead to single digits.
As the clock ticked down, EMU converted a desperation layup to head into the locker room with a 14-point lead, 56-42. In the half, the Eagles notched the most field goals in a half in the history of the Convocation Center. Additionally, it also marked the third most points in a half for the team, and also the second most points against a Division-1 opponent in a half.
The Rockets got on the board first in the second half, before another bucket by Toledo brought the lead back down to 10.
Unlike the first half, the EMU offense struggled to get into a rhythm through the first three and a half minutes. Toledo took advantage, bringing the lead down to just six points, 56-50, with 16:27 left in the game.
A Nazione three halted the Rockets run, putting the score at 61-54 at the 13:40 mark. Lee had a nice steal and transition layup to give Eastern a nine-point lead, after which a Nazione layup put EMU back up by double digits. Heading into a media timeout, Eastern led 65-56 with nearly 11 minutes to go.
A huge dunk from Nazione put the score at 69-62 near the nine minute mark,and a pair of free throws from Lee increased the lead to nine.
Freshman James Thompson IV finally got on the board with a huge dunk of his own, but the Rockets answered on the other end to make it 73-69 with 6:30 left.
Both teams traded defensive blows, with the score standing at 76-74 with under four minutes to go. A Toney layup increased the lead to 78-74, after which a steal from sophomore Bond gave Eastern an opportunity on the other end. The Eagles could not convert, however, and Toledo brought it within one.
Bond came up big right after that with a three to give EMU a four-point lead. Clutch free throws from Lee put Eastern back up by four after a basket from the Rockets. With just 16 seconds left to play, the Eagles held a slim, 85-83 lead. EMU added four free throws and a Nazione dunk, while Stuckey hit a jumper for UT’s only score in the remaining time.
NEXT:
Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan (Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET)
Ball State at Toledo (Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET)
(EMUEagles.com/MRO Edit)
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