TOLEDO, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Down two with just eight seconds to play, Eastern Michigan junior Paul Jackson converted an “and-one” opportunity to give the Eagles a road win over Toledo, 71-69, in the regular season finale at Savage Arena.
The hard-fought victory pushes EMU (20-11, 11-7 MAC) into a third seed, while Toledo (21-10, 13-5 MAC) enters as a No. 2 seed in next week’s Mid-American Conference Tournament.
The Eagles have . . .
The hard-fought victory pushes EMU (20-11, 11-7 MAC) into a third seed, while Toledo (21-10, 13-5 MAC) enters as a No. 2 seed in next week’s Mid-American Conference Tournament.
The Eagles have . . .
Toledo's Nate Navigato scored a career-high 28 points, but Easter Michigan won it's sixth straight game (UT Athletics)
. . . now won six straight and eight of their last nine, making them the hottest team in the conference down the stretch. Two of the last four wins came against Toledo as Eastern Michigan knocked off the Rockets by six points back in Ypsilanti on Feb. 20.
Following the basket by Jackson, UT had one final shot, but Nate Navigato’s three-point heave fell short and the Eagle's Ty Groce grabbed the rebound. He was fouled and hit one of two free throws to put the game on ice.
Redshirt junior Elijah Minnie had 25 points and eight rebounds to lead the Eagles, while Jackson finished the night with 16. Junior James Thompson IV was the only other member of the Green and White to finish in double figures, as he added 13 points to an eight-rebound performance.
Toledo was led by Navigato’s 28-point effort. He was 9 of 13 from the floor, including 8 of 12 on threes. The only other Rocket player in double figures was Luke Knapke, who registered 11 points seven rebounds. Willie Jackson and Tre’Shaun Fletcher each scored nine points and combined for 15 caroms.
Eastern and Toledo locked in a battle from the opening tip, but it appeared the Rockets were set to pull away late on senior night. They led by seven with just under nine minutes to go in the game and again by five with just over three minutes left. The Eagles, however, fought back to tie the score (66-66) on a pair of Jackson free throws with 59 seconds to go.
After a Tim Bond free throw moved the Eagles ahead 67-66, the Rockets converted an old-fashioned three-point play at the other end to take the lead with just 16 seconds to go. Eastern pushed the ball ahead and called a timeout. Jackson followed with his decisive drive and free throw.
Both teams finished the game with impressive offensive performances. EMU shot 51 percent (25-of-49) from the floor compared to UT's 45 percent (24-of-53), but the great equalizer was Toledo's three-point shooting. UT connected on 36 percent (10-of-28) from beyond the three-point line, compared to Eastern's 33 percent (4-of-12).
Toledo controlled the rebounding battle, 33-to-25, but Eastern Michigan was able to even the ground with its defensive pressure, forcing 14 turnovers on 11 steals. The Eagles once again dominated the paint, outscoring the hosts 40-24 down low.
Following the basket by Jackson, UT had one final shot, but Nate Navigato’s three-point heave fell short and the Eagle's Ty Groce grabbed the rebound. He was fouled and hit one of two free throws to put the game on ice.
Redshirt junior Elijah Minnie had 25 points and eight rebounds to lead the Eagles, while Jackson finished the night with 16. Junior James Thompson IV was the only other member of the Green and White to finish in double figures, as he added 13 points to an eight-rebound performance.
Toledo was led by Navigato’s 28-point effort. He was 9 of 13 from the floor, including 8 of 12 on threes. The only other Rocket player in double figures was Luke Knapke, who registered 11 points seven rebounds. Willie Jackson and Tre’Shaun Fletcher each scored nine points and combined for 15 caroms.
Eastern and Toledo locked in a battle from the opening tip, but it appeared the Rockets were set to pull away late on senior night. They led by seven with just under nine minutes to go in the game and again by five with just over three minutes left. The Eagles, however, fought back to tie the score (66-66) on a pair of Jackson free throws with 59 seconds to go.
After a Tim Bond free throw moved the Eagles ahead 67-66, the Rockets converted an old-fashioned three-point play at the other end to take the lead with just 16 seconds to go. Eastern pushed the ball ahead and called a timeout. Jackson followed with his decisive drive and free throw.
Both teams finished the game with impressive offensive performances. EMU shot 51 percent (25-of-49) from the floor compared to UT's 45 percent (24-of-53), but the great equalizer was Toledo's three-point shooting. UT connected on 36 percent (10-of-28) from beyond the three-point line, compared to Eastern's 33 percent (4-of-12).
Toledo controlled the rebounding battle, 33-to-25, but Eastern Michigan was able to even the ground with its defensive pressure, forcing 14 turnovers on 11 steals. The Eagles once again dominated the paint, outscoring the hosts 40-24 down low.
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