YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan Eagles used a strong offensive performance to secure a home victory over the University of Nebraska Omaha Saturday at the Convocation Center. The Eagles (4-3) finished the game 34-of-61 on the offensive end, including six-of-13 from behind the arc to cruise to a 94-77 victory over the Mavericks (2-4).
As a team, the Eagles . . .
As a team, the Eagles . . .
. . . had arguably their best offensive performance of the season, which included a season-high of 20 assists. Omaha had the edge in the rebounding, however, finishing with 29 compared to EMU's 27. The EMU defense was frequently disruptive, forcing 24 turnovers and nabbing 16 steals.
Sophomore James Thompson IV secured his nation-leading fifth double-double in as many games, totaling 21 points and 11 rebounds, seven of them being on the offensive end. Redshirt senior Ray Lee had yet another 20-point game, totaling 20 points, including four three-pointers, in addition to six assists.
Two more Eagles finished in double figures, as senior Willie Mangum IV registered 18 points, while senior Ty Toney owned 11. Mangum also finished with a career-high in steals, swiping the ball five times in the game.
The Eastern Michigan defense began the game strong, coming out of the gate and forcing a couple early turnovers. Lee began the scoring, knocking down a mid-range jumper for the 2-0 lead. Scoring remained hard to come by, as the Eagles held a slim 3-1 lead at the 18:05 mark. Omaha took the lead a few minutes later, 7-5, eventually stretching it to 9-5 at the first media timeout.
The Mavericks then sank a pair at the line to go ahead by six, but Lee responded with a layup to cut the lead down to four, 11-7. Toney got on the board on the next possession, sinking a three to come within one, 11-10. After a couple more buckets, Eastern retook the lead following a nice steal and layup from Mangum.
Toney converted a tough layup coming out of the break, pushing Eastern ahead by three, 18-15. The Green and White stayed hot on the offensive end, opening their biggest lead of the game, 24-18, at the 8:31 mark. Both teams tacked on two more points, and at the third media timeout, Eastern led by six, 26-20.
Mangum continued the offensive attack, sinking his first three of the game. Sophomore Baylee Steele nabbed his first points of the game on the next possession, making the score 33-24. With four minutes remaining in the half, the Green and White led by seven, 35-28. The Mavericks scored four more, however, putting the score at 35-32 with three minutes to go.
Toney sank a pair at the line to put the lead back at five, but Omaha responded with a bucket to bring the lead back to three. The half came to an end with the Mavericks missing a shot at the buzzer, and the halftime score stood at 39-36 with the Eagles in front.
The EMU offense came out firing to begin the half, opening a quick seven-point lead, 47-40, on scoring from multiple Eagle players. Steele kept the momentum rolling for the Green and White, throwing down a big dunk on a nice feed from Toney. Lee then knocked down his first three of the game, moving the lead to double digits at 54-42.
Lee continued powering the Eagles, as another bucket from the senior forced the Mavericks to call a timeout with EMU ahead 58-45 at the 13:33 point. He kept it rolling in the following possessions, nailing two more three-pointers to put his total to 17 points on the day. From there, a steal and layup by Mangum pushed the lead to 68-51.
Junior Tim Bond then swiped the ball on the defensive end, and after an assist from Mangum, threw it down on the other end. Thompson also continued his solid game, knocking down a mid-range jumper to make the score 74-57 with 8:46 to go. Mangum nabbed his fifth steal on the day, ending with another layup on the other end to push the lead to 19, 76-57.
The Eagles broke the 80-point mark on a pair of free throws from redshirt senior Quaran Jones making the score 80-63. Lee then broke the 20-point mark on his fourth three of the game, putting him at 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Omaha then went on a little run of their own, cutting the lead to 14, 84-70.
Thompson sank two more from the charity stripe, after which Mangum made a pair as well to bring the score to 88-72 with 2:25 left in the game. Thompson finally nabbed his final few rebounds with less than a minute to play to secure the double-double, also sinking a pair of free throws put his stat line at 21 points and 11 rebounds. The final play of the game was a big one, as Bond threw down a big alley-oop for the final points of the game. At the buzzer, EMU walked away with a 94-77 victory.
The Eagles continue the 2016 season on the road next week, Wednesday, Nov. 30, at Detroit Mercy. The game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. in Calihan Hall.
Two more Eagles finished in double figures, as senior Willie Mangum IV registered 18 points, while senior Ty Toney owned 11. Mangum also finished with a career-high in steals, swiping the ball five times in the game.
The Eastern Michigan defense began the game strong, coming out of the gate and forcing a couple early turnovers. Lee began the scoring, knocking down a mid-range jumper for the 2-0 lead. Scoring remained hard to come by, as the Eagles held a slim 3-1 lead at the 18:05 mark. Omaha took the lead a few minutes later, 7-5, eventually stretching it to 9-5 at the first media timeout.
The Mavericks then sank a pair at the line to go ahead by six, but Lee responded with a layup to cut the lead down to four, 11-7. Toney got on the board on the next possession, sinking a three to come within one, 11-10. After a couple more buckets, Eastern retook the lead following a nice steal and layup from Mangum.
Toney converted a tough layup coming out of the break, pushing Eastern ahead by three, 18-15. The Green and White stayed hot on the offensive end, opening their biggest lead of the game, 24-18, at the 8:31 mark. Both teams tacked on two more points, and at the third media timeout, Eastern led by six, 26-20.
Mangum continued the offensive attack, sinking his first three of the game. Sophomore Baylee Steele nabbed his first points of the game on the next possession, making the score 33-24. With four minutes remaining in the half, the Green and White led by seven, 35-28. The Mavericks scored four more, however, putting the score at 35-32 with three minutes to go.
Toney sank a pair at the line to put the lead back at five, but Omaha responded with a bucket to bring the lead back to three. The half came to an end with the Mavericks missing a shot at the buzzer, and the halftime score stood at 39-36 with the Eagles in front.
The EMU offense came out firing to begin the half, opening a quick seven-point lead, 47-40, on scoring from multiple Eagle players. Steele kept the momentum rolling for the Green and White, throwing down a big dunk on a nice feed from Toney. Lee then knocked down his first three of the game, moving the lead to double digits at 54-42.
Lee continued powering the Eagles, as another bucket from the senior forced the Mavericks to call a timeout with EMU ahead 58-45 at the 13:33 point. He kept it rolling in the following possessions, nailing two more three-pointers to put his total to 17 points on the day. From there, a steal and layup by Mangum pushed the lead to 68-51.
Junior Tim Bond then swiped the ball on the defensive end, and after an assist from Mangum, threw it down on the other end. Thompson also continued his solid game, knocking down a mid-range jumper to make the score 74-57 with 8:46 to go. Mangum nabbed his fifth steal on the day, ending with another layup on the other end to push the lead to 19, 76-57.
The Eagles broke the 80-point mark on a pair of free throws from redshirt senior Quaran Jones making the score 80-63. Lee then broke the 20-point mark on his fourth three of the game, putting him at 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Omaha then went on a little run of their own, cutting the lead to 14, 84-70.
Thompson sank two more from the charity stripe, after which Mangum made a pair as well to bring the score to 88-72 with 2:25 left in the game. Thompson finally nabbed his final few rebounds with less than a minute to play to secure the double-double, also sinking a pair of free throws put his stat line at 21 points and 11 rebounds. The final play of the game was a big one, as Bond threw down a big alley-oop for the final points of the game. At the buzzer, EMU walked away with a 94-77 victory.
The Eagles continue the 2016 season on the road next week, Wednesday, Nov. 30, at Detroit Mercy. The game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. in Calihan Hall.
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