Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 27
Muncie, Ind.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
15-14 (7-9MAC)
79
at
115
Ball State
19-10 (10-6MAC)
1
2
F
Eastern Michigan
41
38
79
Ball State
61
54
115
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagles Drop Road Game at Ball State
2/27/2016 4:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Green and White struggled to contain the red-hot BSU offense
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team ran into a red-hot Ball State University team Saturday, Feb. 27, falling on the road, 115-79. The Eagles (15-14, 7-9 MAC) had five in double-digits, but Ball State's three-point shooting did the Green and White in, as the Cardinals connected on 18 three-point buckets.
Senior Brandon Nazione (Howell, Mich.-Howell (Des Moines Area C.C.)) had a great game, finishing with 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-6 from downtown, which was a career-best. Redshirt junior Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) posted 14 points, along with three assists and two steals, while redshirt freshman Jordan Nobles (Canton, Mich.-Canton) had a career day, notching a career-best 11 points on 5-of-5 from the floor, while corraling six rebounds. Finally, both freshman James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) and sophomore Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College High School) had 10 points. As a team, the Green and White shot 26-of-63 from the floor, but struggled from behind the three-point arc. The Eagles won the points in the paint and fast break battle, 36-34, but were outmatched in second chance points, 26-11. The defense forced the Cardinals into 15 turnovers, 10 of which were Eastern Michigan steals.
Ball State ran to an early 8-0 lead, as the EMU offense struggled to find a rhythm and convert shots. The Eagles still could not get the ball into the net, with the Cardinals increasing their lead to 14-0 to start the game. The Green and White finally got on the board with a Bond layup near the 16-minute mark, after which Lee threw down a dunk. Bond continued carrying the early offensive load, driving the lane and sinking a tough layup, after which he nailed a free throw. The offense finally began sinking shots, but Ball State still held a big 25-11 lead. Nazione then made a three to give the Eagles 14, but the Cardinals offense continued to roll. The following possession, the senior drove the lane and converted a tough layup, after which he nailed the free throw for a three-point play.
Nazione kept it rolling heading into the final 10 minutes of the half. After converting another three-point play, the Howell, Mich. product already had 11 points. Eastern decreased Ball State's lead to 10, before a few quick buckets put the Cardinals back ahead by 14. Although the Eagles continued converting on the offensive end, BSU responded quickly with points of their own. At the 6:58 mark, the Eagles trailed by 11, 41-30. At this point, Nazione and Lee were shouldering the load offensively with 11 and 10 points, respectively. From there, however, the three-ball kept dropping for the Cardinals, extending the lead to 47-30. Thompson then got on the board with a pair of free throws, putting the score at 47-36. The three-ball kept falling for the Cardinals, however, who led 56-38 with a minute to go in the half. Thompson dropped two additional free throws, after which he made one more to make it an 18-point game. Heading into the locker rooms, the Cardinals held a 61-41 lead. Although the team was winning the points in the paint battle, Ball State's hot shooting led to the big lead.
The Eagles opened the second half with a quick bucket, but like the first half, Ball State answered on the other end. Nazione then drained another three, putting him at 14 on the day. A possession with multiple offensive rebounds allowed the Cardinals to sink another three, extending the lead to 71-48. At the first media timeout of the half, BSU held a 77-48 lead. The Eagle offense cooled off, allowing BSU to race ahead to an 82-48 lead with 14 minutes to play. Thompson continued getting to the line, knocking down two more to give him 10 points on the day. Nazione then drained his third three of the game, tying his career-best. With 10:58 remaining in the game, the score stood at 84-56 in favor of the Cardinals.
The Eagles kept fighting however, as Nobles sunk a nice mid-range jumper to give him six points, just one off his career-best. Shortly after, he dropped a layup to nab a new career-best with eight points. With 6:30 left to play, Ball State was ahead 96-68. Sophomore Ethan Alvano (Corona, Calif.-Corona) provided a nice spark off the bench, putting up four points within a two-minute span, and then sinking a three. Martin collected a nice rebound and took it down the floor, going through traffic for a nice layup. At the buzzer, the Cardinals came out on top, 115-79.
The team will return home to the Convocation Center, Tuesday, March 1, for a bout with the Huskies of Northern Illinois University at 7 p.m. The game will serve as the Eagles' Senior Day where both Nazione and fellow senior, Jordan Martin (Detroit, Mich.-Chandler Park Academy (Oakland C.C.)), will be honored for their time as members of the EMU men's basketball program.
Senior Brandon Nazione (Howell, Mich.-Howell (Des Moines Area C.C.)) had a great game, finishing with 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-6 from downtown, which was a career-best. Redshirt junior Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) posted 14 points, along with three assists and two steals, while redshirt freshman Jordan Nobles (Canton, Mich.-Canton) had a career day, notching a career-best 11 points on 5-of-5 from the floor, while corraling six rebounds. Finally, both freshman James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) and sophomore Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College High School) had 10 points. As a team, the Green and White shot 26-of-63 from the floor, but struggled from behind the three-point arc. The Eagles won the points in the paint and fast break battle, 36-34, but were outmatched in second chance points, 26-11. The defense forced the Cardinals into 15 turnovers, 10 of which were Eastern Michigan steals.
Ball State ran to an early 8-0 lead, as the EMU offense struggled to find a rhythm and convert shots. The Eagles still could not get the ball into the net, with the Cardinals increasing their lead to 14-0 to start the game. The Green and White finally got on the board with a Bond layup near the 16-minute mark, after which Lee threw down a dunk. Bond continued carrying the early offensive load, driving the lane and sinking a tough layup, after which he nailed a free throw. The offense finally began sinking shots, but Ball State still held a big 25-11 lead. Nazione then made a three to give the Eagles 14, but the Cardinals offense continued to roll. The following possession, the senior drove the lane and converted a tough layup, after which he nailed the free throw for a three-point play.
Nazione kept it rolling heading into the final 10 minutes of the half. After converting another three-point play, the Howell, Mich. product already had 11 points. Eastern decreased Ball State's lead to 10, before a few quick buckets put the Cardinals back ahead by 14. Although the Eagles continued converting on the offensive end, BSU responded quickly with points of their own. At the 6:58 mark, the Eagles trailed by 11, 41-30. At this point, Nazione and Lee were shouldering the load offensively with 11 and 10 points, respectively. From there, however, the three-ball kept dropping for the Cardinals, extending the lead to 47-30. Thompson then got on the board with a pair of free throws, putting the score at 47-36. The three-ball kept falling for the Cardinals, however, who led 56-38 with a minute to go in the half. Thompson dropped two additional free throws, after which he made one more to make it an 18-point game. Heading into the locker rooms, the Cardinals held a 61-41 lead. Although the team was winning the points in the paint battle, Ball State's hot shooting led to the big lead.
The Eagles opened the second half with a quick bucket, but like the first half, Ball State answered on the other end. Nazione then drained another three, putting him at 14 on the day. A possession with multiple offensive rebounds allowed the Cardinals to sink another three, extending the lead to 71-48. At the first media timeout of the half, BSU held a 77-48 lead. The Eagle offense cooled off, allowing BSU to race ahead to an 82-48 lead with 14 minutes to play. Thompson continued getting to the line, knocking down two more to give him 10 points on the day. Nazione then drained his third three of the game, tying his career-best. With 10:58 remaining in the game, the score stood at 84-56 in favor of the Cardinals.
The Eagles kept fighting however, as Nobles sunk a nice mid-range jumper to give him six points, just one off his career-best. Shortly after, he dropped a layup to nab a new career-best with eight points. With 6:30 left to play, Ball State was ahead 96-68. Sophomore Ethan Alvano (Corona, Calif.-Corona) provided a nice spark off the bench, putting up four points within a two-minute span, and then sinking a three. Martin collected a nice rebound and took it down the floor, going through traffic for a nice layup. At the buzzer, the Cardinals came out on top, 115-79.
The team will return home to the Convocation Center, Tuesday, March 1, for a bout with the Huskies of Northern Illinois University at 7 p.m. The game will serve as the Eagles' Senior Day where both Nazione and fellow senior, Jordan Martin (Detroit, Mich.-Chandler Park Academy (Oakland C.C.)), will be honored for their time as members of the EMU men's basketball program.
Team Stats
EMU
BSU
FG%
.413
.551
3FG%
.217
.462
FT%
.688
.724
RB
30
47
TO
11
15
STL
10
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
C
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