NOTRE DAME 85, WESTERN MICHIGAN 52
RADFORD at AKRON -- Postponed
VALPARAISO, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan dropped its final non-conference tilt of the regular season at Valparaiso University, 67-55, tonight, Dec. 20, inside the Athletics-Recreation Center (ARC).
The Eagles (5-6, 0-0 MAC) were led offensively by freshman Noah Farrakhan with 17 points on 8-of-17 (47.1%) shooting from the floor. Seniors Monty Scott and Darion Spottsville both chipped in 10 points in the effort. Additionally, M. Scott produced a team-high four assists on the night.
On the defensive end, senior Nate Scott hauled in eight rebounds and recorded one block. Freshman Mo Njie and senior Axel Okongo also posted a rejection against the Beacons. M. Scott kept his hands busy as he came away with three steals.
How It Happened
The first quarter saw EMU score by committee, with six players getting on the board, paced by N. Scott with seven points. Both squads traded 7-0 runs during the stanza, but the Eagles managed to take a 28-26 edge heading into the break. The Green and White did most of their damage in close range, with 22 points coming in the paint.
Eastern's advantage grew to as much as 11 in the second half, 47-36, highlighted by several athletic buckets from Farrakhan. However, Valparaiso started shooting hot, responding with a 31-8 run to earn the home win, 67-55.
Game Notes
»Eastern Michigan got a game-high eight rebounds from N. Scott.
»EMU shot 40 percent (23-of-58) from the field.
»The Eagles were held to a season-low 55 points.
»Eastern shot a perfect 8-of-8 from the line for a season-high free throw percentage (100 percent).
»Farrakhan scored in double-digits (17) for the eighth time this season.
»Spottsville scored a season-high 10 points.
»M. Scott scores in double-figures (10) in the ninth consecutive game.
»Farrakhan (17), M. Scott (10), and Spottsville (10) score in double figures, making it the ninth game this season where Eastern has had three-or-more in double-digits.
»The Green and White scored 32 of their 55 points in the paint.
NOTRE DAME 85, WESTERN MICHIGAN 52
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Western Michigan rounded out its non-conference schedule with an 85-52 setback at the hands of Notre Dame on Monday night at Purcell Pavilion.
Lamar Norman Jr. netted 15 points to lead the way for Western Michigan (4-7), his ninth straight game in double-figures. Markeese Hastings joined Norman in double-digits with 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Gus Etchison added a career-best six rebounds for the Broncos.
Notre Dame (5-5) was out of the gates quickly, scoring the first 10 points of the evening. Eight of the next 10 went to the Broncos, trimming the margin to 12-8 with 16:03 remaining in the opening half. The Fighting Irish countered with seven in a row to extend their advantage back into double-digits, 19-8, at the 13:59 mark.
The hosts briefly pushed it out to a 14-point edge, 27-13, but an 8-0 Western Michigan run whittled the margin to 27-21 with 7:28 to play in the half. Once again Notre Dame had an answer, ending the half on a 17-2 run to take a 44-23 advantage into the locker room.
The run continued into the second half, as the Fighting Irish netted the first six points after halftime to build their lead to 50-23 with 17:29 to play. Notre Dame’s cushion remained above 20 for the remainder of the contest.
Western Michigan shot 35.6 percent (21-of-59) from the floor for the evening, while Notre Dame connected on 51.8 percent (29-of-56) of its field goal attempts. The Broncos snagged 11 offensive rebounds and held a 35-34 overall advantage on the glass in the contest.
WMU begins Mid-American Conference play on Wednesday, Dec. 29, with a trip to Toledo. Tip between the Broncos and Rockets is set for 7 pm.