Eastern Michigan Athletics
Monday, March 7
Convocation Center
7:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
18-14, 9-9MAC
69
vs
60
Toledo
17-15, 8-10MAC
1
2
F
Toledo
20
40
60
Eastern Michigan
36
33
69
Eagles Survive Late Toledo Run to Advance to MAC Quarterfinal Round
3/7/2016 9:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Rockets took the lead in the final minutes, but the Eagles fought back for the 69-60 win
Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Despite a late scare, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team held on for a 69-60 victory over the Toledo Rockets in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, Monday night, March 7 at the Convocation Center. Leading by as many as 20, the Eagles (18-14, 9-9 MAC) survived a late run by the Rockets (17-15, 8-10 MAC) in which they took the lead for a brief period, but the defense came up big in the final two minutes to secure the win.
Redshirt junior Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) led the way with 19 points, along with four huge steals. Additionally, freshman James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) notched his 18th double-double of the season, posting 11 points and 12 boards, six of which came on the offensive end. Finally, sophomore Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College High School) had another stellar game, notching 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, and five steals.
The Eagle defense came up big in the game, tying a season-high in steals with 17, which also tied for the fourth most in program history, and set the program record for steals in a season with 309. Toledo turned the ball over 19 times, which EMU converted into 24 points. The Eagles shot 25-of-57 from the floor, and dominated in the paint by a 34-20 margin. They also went 14-of-21 from the free throw line, setting the single-season program record for FT makes in a season.
The Rockets were the first on the board, controlling an early 1-0 lead before Thompson sunk a layup. Junior Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va.-Marshall (San Jacinto College)) knocked down a three, putting the score at 5-1, but Toledo quickly responded to make it 5-3. Heading into the first media timeout, the game was tied at five apiece. Junior Ty Toney (Alpharetta, Ga.-Alpharetta (Georgia Highlands College)) then broke the tie on two free throws, making it 7-5.
From there, Bond swiped a Toledo pass, which led to a nice dunk from Lee on the other end. At the 14-minute mark, EMU held an 11-5 lead. The Eagle defense held the Rockets in check, forcing five steals through the first seven minutes of play. Lee then sank an open three, forcing a Toledo timeout with the score at 14-5. Although the Rockets converted a three, the Eagles still held a 16-8 lead halfway through the quarter.
Bond kept it rolling, as he converted a fast break layup following a Thompson block on the defensive end. The offense kept the momentum going, as Lee nailed a three to go up by nine, 21-12, at the 7:30 mark. Thompson battled down low for another two to put EMU ahead by double digits, after which Toney dropped in a layup to go up by 13. The defense controlled the game through this point, as the Rockets were held scoreless for nearly three minutes.
Senior Brandon Nazione (Howell, Mich.-Howell (Des Moines Area C.C.)) then got on the board with a tough layup, pushing the lead to 14, 28-14. From there, Mangum knocked down another long ball to make it 31-14 at the 3:30 mark. A big dunk from Bond once again forced the Rockets to call a timeout with 2:30 remaining in the first period. A three from Nazione pushed the lead to 20, 36-16, as the Eagle defense continued causing problems for the Rocket offense. Heading into the locker rooms, Eastern remained ahead by 16, 36-20.
The Rockets opened the half on a little run, closing the gap to 10 points, 36-26. The EMU offense struggled to find a rhythm, remaining scoreless through the opening two and a half minutes. Lee got the Eagles back on track with a nice floater, putting the lead back at 10. Thompson continued to bully down low, knocking down another layup to increase the lead to 12, 40-28.
Approaching the 15-minute mark, the Eagles remained ahead, 41-32. The Rockets continued battling back, however, pulling within eight, 43-35. Thompson kept rolling, scoring his ninth point on the day, putting him just one point and one rebound away from a double-double. Toledo pulled back within single digits, 47-39, with 10:41 on the clock. Lee then swiped another pass, dribbling down the court and converting a transition layup to put EMU back ahead by 10.
Toney once again increased the lead back to 11, 53-42, before a Toledo bucket brought it back down to nine. Another Rockets basket bought them within seven, 53-46, as the clock neared 6:40 left to play. A Toledo three brought the Rockets within just four, as the Eagle offense struggled to get into a rhythm. A free throw by Toledo brought them within three, but Thompson responded with a quick layup to put the lead back at five.
From there, the Rockets brought it within three again. Neither team could score within the next few possessions, as the score remained 55-52 at the 3:30 mark. Toledo promptly tied it up at 55 on a three, after which the Rockets took a 57-55 lead with 2:25 left in the game. Bond then tied it up on a layup, after which Lee scooped up an errant pass and laid it in for a 59-57 lead. From there, Bond converted a three-point play to go up by five, 62-57, with a minute to go.
With Toledo inbounding the ball, Toney swiped the ball from the Rockets' pocket, sending him to the line, where he converted one to make it a six point game. The Eagles continued knocking down clutch free throws, as Nazione increased the lead to eight, 65-57. Toledo then responded with a quick three, but Lee sunk two more from the line, making it 67-60 in the final seconds. A desperation three from the Rockets was not enough, as the Eagles walked away with a 69-60 victory.
The Green and White now advance to the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament, where they will square off with No. 1 seeded Akron in Cleveland. Tip-off from Quicken Loans Arena is set for noon, Thursday, March 10.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Despite a late scare, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team held on for a 69-60 victory over the Toledo Rockets in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, Monday night, March 7 at the Convocation Center. Leading by as many as 20, the Eagles (18-14, 9-9 MAC) survived a late run by the Rockets (17-15, 8-10 MAC) in which they took the lead for a brief period, but the defense came up big in the final two minutes to secure the win.
Redshirt junior Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) led the way with 19 points, along with four huge steals. Additionally, freshman James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) notched his 18th double-double of the season, posting 11 points and 12 boards, six of which came on the offensive end. Finally, sophomore Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College High School) had another stellar game, notching 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, and five steals.
The Eagle defense came up big in the game, tying a season-high in steals with 17, which also tied for the fourth most in program history, and set the program record for steals in a season with 309. Toledo turned the ball over 19 times, which EMU converted into 24 points. The Eagles shot 25-of-57 from the floor, and dominated in the paint by a 34-20 margin. They also went 14-of-21 from the free throw line, setting the single-season program record for FT makes in a season.
The Rockets were the first on the board, controlling an early 1-0 lead before Thompson sunk a layup. Junior Willie Mangum IV (Richmond, Va.-Marshall (San Jacinto College)) knocked down a three, putting the score at 5-1, but Toledo quickly responded to make it 5-3. Heading into the first media timeout, the game was tied at five apiece. Junior Ty Toney (Alpharetta, Ga.-Alpharetta (Georgia Highlands College)) then broke the tie on two free throws, making it 7-5.
From there, Bond swiped a Toledo pass, which led to a nice dunk from Lee on the other end. At the 14-minute mark, EMU held an 11-5 lead. The Eagle defense held the Rockets in check, forcing five steals through the first seven minutes of play. Lee then sank an open three, forcing a Toledo timeout with the score at 14-5. Although the Rockets converted a three, the Eagles still held a 16-8 lead halfway through the quarter.
Bond kept it rolling, as he converted a fast break layup following a Thompson block on the defensive end. The offense kept the momentum going, as Lee nailed a three to go up by nine, 21-12, at the 7:30 mark. Thompson battled down low for another two to put EMU ahead by double digits, after which Toney dropped in a layup to go up by 13. The defense controlled the game through this point, as the Rockets were held scoreless for nearly three minutes.
Senior Brandon Nazione (Howell, Mich.-Howell (Des Moines Area C.C.)) then got on the board with a tough layup, pushing the lead to 14, 28-14. From there, Mangum knocked down another long ball to make it 31-14 at the 3:30 mark. A big dunk from Bond once again forced the Rockets to call a timeout with 2:30 remaining in the first period. A three from Nazione pushed the lead to 20, 36-16, as the Eagle defense continued causing problems for the Rocket offense. Heading into the locker rooms, Eastern remained ahead by 16, 36-20.
The Rockets opened the half on a little run, closing the gap to 10 points, 36-26. The EMU offense struggled to find a rhythm, remaining scoreless through the opening two and a half minutes. Lee got the Eagles back on track with a nice floater, putting the lead back at 10. Thompson continued to bully down low, knocking down another layup to increase the lead to 12, 40-28.
Approaching the 15-minute mark, the Eagles remained ahead, 41-32. The Rockets continued battling back, however, pulling within eight, 43-35. Thompson kept rolling, scoring his ninth point on the day, putting him just one point and one rebound away from a double-double. Toledo pulled back within single digits, 47-39, with 10:41 on the clock. Lee then swiped another pass, dribbling down the court and converting a transition layup to put EMU back ahead by 10.
Toney once again increased the lead back to 11, 53-42, before a Toledo bucket brought it back down to nine. Another Rockets basket bought them within seven, 53-46, as the clock neared 6:40 left to play. A Toledo three brought the Rockets within just four, as the Eagle offense struggled to get into a rhythm. A free throw by Toledo brought them within three, but Thompson responded with a quick layup to put the lead back at five.
From there, the Rockets brought it within three again. Neither team could score within the next few possessions, as the score remained 55-52 at the 3:30 mark. Toledo promptly tied it up at 55 on a three, after which the Rockets took a 57-55 lead with 2:25 left in the game. Bond then tied it up on a layup, after which Lee scooped up an errant pass and laid it in for a 59-57 lead. From there, Bond converted a three-point play to go up by five, 62-57, with a minute to go.
With Toledo inbounding the ball, Toney swiped the ball from the Rockets' pocket, sending him to the line, where he converted one to make it a six point game. The Eagles continued knocking down clutch free throws, as Nazione increased the lead to eight, 65-57. Toledo then responded with a quick three, but Lee sunk two more from the line, making it 67-60 in the final seconds. A desperation three from the Rockets was not enough, as the Eagles walked away with a 69-60 victory.
The Green and White now advance to the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament, where they will square off with No. 1 seeded Akron in Cleveland. Tip-off from Quicken Loans Arena is set for noon, Thursday, March 10.
Team Stats
TOLEDO
EMU
FG%
.415
.446
3FG%
.304
.294
FT%
.643
.667
RB
34
32
TO
19
12
STL
7
17
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
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