Eastern Michigan 95, Adrian 35
Michigan 91, Toledo 71
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By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- When hosting Miami opened up a 14-0 lead to start Wednesday's game against Western Illinois, few might have expected free throws would play a decisive role in the outcome. MU's advantage at the line, however, helped the hosts hold off stubborn Western Illinois 67-57.
The RedHawks made 16-of-21 free throws while opening the Miami Invitational on a winning note and moving to 2-1 on the season. Western Illinois, meanwhile, hit just 2-of-10 charity tosses -- one in each half.
The Leathernecks, who fell to 0-3, fought back again and again throughout the night. A 14-2 run late in the first half pulled WIU to within seven (28-21) at intermission.
A 3-point goal by Will Carius at 19:19 of the second stanza pulled the Leathernecks even at 28-all, but Dalonte Brown responded in kind at the other end. The senior led all scorers with 19 points and also registered 16 rebounds.
Joining Brown in double figures for Miami were Mekhi Lair and Isaiah Coleman-Lands. Together, the trio knocked down 14-of-17 charity tosses - many down the stretch.
Another Carius triple at 15:26 gave Western Illinois a 33-31 edge. However, Coleman-Lands answered with an and-one to move MU back in front. Although WIU never gained the lead again, there were two more ties.
Miami went ahead for good on a Brown bucket at 12:26. That started a 12-0 RedHawk run.
Still, MU spent the remaining time fighting off WIU, which closed to within one-point at 50-49 with 3:39 to play.
After getting a little breathing room, Miami used the foul line to finish its win. The RedHawks last 12 points came on 12 charity toss opportunities.
NOTES:
>> Miami was coming off a lopsided 71-47 loss at Wright State. The RedHawks shot 27.3 percent from the field in that contest and were looking to improve their touch before opening MAC play next week. They connected on 22-of-60 (36.7%) from the field against Western Illinois. MU hit 7-of-27 (25.9%) 3-point attempts.
>> Miami owned a 47-43 rebounding advantage and commited just five turnovers.
>> Three Leathernecks reached double figures: Carius (15), Tamell Pearson (12 points, 10 rebounds), Marcus Watson (10). Carius and Pearson were a combined 12-of-23 from the field.
>> The RedHawks will be back in action Friday (5:30 p.m. ET) when they host Mount St. Joseph in another Miami Invitational contest. Buffalo rumbles into Millett Hall Monday (5:30 p.m. ET) in the MAC opener.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan's size was too much for Toledo to overcome on Wednesday evening in a 91-71 non-conference setback to the Wolverines in the Crisler Center.
Senior Spencer Littleson and junior Setric Millner Jr. paced the Rocket attack with 14 points apiece. Senior Marreon Jackson also finished in double digits with 12 points. Millner Jr. shared the team rebounding lead with junior Jonathan Komagum as each grabbed six boards apiece.
Freshman Hunter Dickinson led the Wolverines with a game-high 18 points and finished 8-of-11 from the field. Senior Isaiah Livers finished with 16 points.
The Rockets finished the evening with a 40.6 shooting mark, but a 55.2 percent from the field in the second half couldn't offset a 28.6 percent clip in the opening 20 minutes. Toledo posted a 37.5 three-point FG% (9-of-24) and an 83.3 FT% (10-of-12).
Michigan shot 57.6 percent from the field, 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from three-point range and 77.8 percent (14-of-18) from the charity stripe.
FIRST HALF
>> Spencer Littleson's first trey of the game gave the Rockets a 9-8 lead with 15:36 remaining in the opening stanza.
>> Setric Millner Jr.'s turn-around jumper brought Toledo within 18-14 of the Wolverines at the 11:55 mark.
>> Michigan took its first double-digit lead, 25-14, on Franz Wagner's triple with 10:37 remaining in the half.
>> Mattia Acunzo's trey and Jamere Hill's breakaway layup helped Toledo climb within 25-19 with 9:05 left.
>> The Wolverines took control thanks to a 13-0 spurt for a 42-21 cushion 1:23 before halftime.
SECOND HALF
>> The Rockets put together a 10-2 spurt to start the second half, cutting the Wolverines' lead to 47-36. Millner Jr. opened the half with a layup that was followed by a Littleson trey, a Ryan Rollins layup and a Marreon Jackson triple.
>> Michigan responded with an 8-0 burst to put Toledo down 55-36 with 15:28 to play.
>> Jackson led Toledo in the second half with 12 points.
Toledo returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 12 when it hosts Summit League foe Kansas City. Tip-off time in Savage Arena is set for Noon.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan earned its first victory of the 2020-21 season with a 95-35, demolishing of Adrian College Wednesday inside the Convocation Center.
Two Eagles registered double-doubles with redshirt junior Miles Gibson (13 points, 13 rebounds) and senior Yeikson Montero (11 points, 12 rebounds) leading EMU. It was the first time two Eagles have registered double-doubles since then-redshirt junior Ty Groce (22 points, 13 rebounds) and former-Eagle Boubacar Toure did so against Central Michigan, Feb. 11, 2020.
Those individual efforts helped EMU (1-2; 0-1 MAC) outscore Adrian (0-4; 0-0 MIAA) 64-28 in the first half and control the pace of play throughout the full 40 minutes of play.
Junior Bryce McBride paced the Eagles with career-highs in points (25), made field goals (7), made free-throws (9), and steals (6).
Sophomore Chris James also had himself a night, as he recorded a career-best in points (19), made free-throws (7), and shot perfectly from the hardwood (5-for-5).
Senior Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)) scored in double-figures as well, putting up 10 points, three rebounds, and three helpers.
Eastern entered the game aggressively on both ends of the court, setting the tone for the entirety of the first half. Montero posted the Eagles' first score by hitting a contested three-pointer, courtesy of a perimeter pass from Groce. This was the beginning of a 5-0 run, as the Green and White held the Bulldogs scoreless for the first three minutes of the game. EMU followed Adrian's first basket with another run, increasing its lead to 14, with a score of 18-4.
The Eagles remained relentless for the entirety of the first half, shooting 64 percent from beyond the arc and producing the largest scoring margin in EMU men's basketball history, with a 45-point lead at the half, and beating the previous record of 33. The teams headed to the locker rooms with the score standing at 64-19.
The Eagles slowed down in the second half, building a 76-25 advantage with 11:53 remaining in the final period.
The Eagles finished the game hitting 31-of-62 (50 percent) from the field, 7-for-18 (38.8 percent) from three-point land, and registered 44 points in the paint.
EMU will head to the Hoosier State for a non-conference contest versus the Valparaiso University Crusaders. Tipoff against the Missouri Conference Valley foe is set for Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m., at the ARC.