Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, November 10
Convocation Center
10:30 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
1-0
92
vs
60
Spring Arbor
6-0
1
2
F
Spring Arbor
25
35
60
Eastern Michigan
40
52
92
EMU Men’s Basketball Wins Season Opener Over Spring Arbor, 92-60
11/10/2017 4:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Minnie makes EMU debut with 22 points and four blocks
Photo Gallery.
Game Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team opened up the 2017-18 season with a 92-60 win over Spring Arbor University Friday, Nov. 10 inside the Convocation Center. The Eagles (1-0) marked Education Day with a decisive 32-point victory against the Cougars (6-1) in the first regular-season meeting between the two programs.
Making his debut for the Green and White, redshirt junior Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Robert Morris) scored 15 of his 22 points in the first half while adding four rebounds and a team-high three blocks. His 22 points marked the most scored by an Eagle in their debut game since Willie Mangum scored 18 in the 2015-16.
Junior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) collected 10 points and a team-leading 14 rebounds to earn his 39th career double-double, one shy of matching Brandon Bowdry's program record during the modern statistical era dating back to 1998. Redshirt freshman Ty Groce (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Huron) marked the beginning of his EMU career with 15 points and a team-best six steals. Freshman Kevin McAdoo (West Bloomfield, Mich.-West Bloomfield) also logged 10 points, while redshirt junior Paul Jackson and freshman Malik Ellison (Flint, Mich.-Beecher) each dished out five assists.
Ellison's three-point play in the game's final minute meant all 11 Eagles to earn playing time scored. In his seventh season as EMU head men's basketball coach, Rob Murphy is a perfect 20-0 against non-NCAA Division I opponents in both regular season and exhibition games.
The Eagles were the superior team on offense, converting on 33-of-66 field goals and 10-of-29 attempts from beyond the arc. EMU also had more opportunities at the free throw line, finishing 16-for-23 while Spring Arbor went 11-for-14. EMU was also solid on the defensive end, forcing 24 turnovers and earning 16 steals. The Eagles held the Cougars to 35.8 percent shooting (19-for-53) and out-blocked Spring Arbor, 8-2.
Trailing by four in the early stages, EMU quickly recovered courtesy of a Thompson bucket and four Minnie free throws to level the score at 6-6 just over five minutes into the contest. The Eagles then took total control of the momentum, going on an 18-5 run to build a 20-11 lead with 11:35 to play in the opening half. Minnie put on a clinic for the Green and White during that stretch, scoring 13 of his 15 first-half points by sinking 3-of-4 field goal attempts and going 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
After a Spring Arbor triple, the Eagles continued to add to their lead, using a 15-3 run to take a commanding 35-17 advantage with just over five minutes remaining in the first frame. Thanks to 13-of-29 shooting and five different Eagles making a three-pointer, the Eagles took a 40-25 lead into the locker room. EMU also took advantage of Spring Arbor's foul trouble, going 9-of-13 from the line, while Spring Arbor did not attempt a single free throw in the opening half.
The Eagles started brightly to open the second half as senior Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) set up Thompson on an alley-oop to start the scoring, much to the delight of the home crowd. EMU scored 12 of the first 16 points in the half to grab a comfortable 52-29 lead. Just past the midway point of the frame, Thompson made both free throws to confirm his first double-double of the campaign to give the Eagles a 65-45 edge.
EMU continued to entertain, as Bond and Groce added back-to-back dunks to give the Eagles a 24-point cushion. In total, the Eagles scored nine unanswered points to improve their lead to 72-45. Groce's three-point basket with under three minutes to play gave the Eagles 10 for the game as the Eagles used another 7-0 run to go ahead, 84-57.
The Eagles saved their most electrifying dunk for last as Ellison set up Groce for a highlight-reel alley-oop with 41 seconds on the clock. Ten of Groce's 15 points came in the second half as EMU cruised past Spring Arbor, 92-60.
Eastern Michigan returns to action when it hosts Michigan-Dearborn Sunday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
Game Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team opened up the 2017-18 season with a 92-60 win over Spring Arbor University Friday, Nov. 10 inside the Convocation Center. The Eagles (1-0) marked Education Day with a decisive 32-point victory against the Cougars (6-1) in the first regular-season meeting between the two programs.
Making his debut for the Green and White, redshirt junior Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Robert Morris) scored 15 of his 22 points in the first half while adding four rebounds and a team-high three blocks. His 22 points marked the most scored by an Eagle in their debut game since Willie Mangum scored 18 in the 2015-16.
Junior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) collected 10 points and a team-leading 14 rebounds to earn his 39th career double-double, one shy of matching Brandon Bowdry's program record during the modern statistical era dating back to 1998. Redshirt freshman Ty Groce (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Huron) marked the beginning of his EMU career with 15 points and a team-best six steals. Freshman Kevin McAdoo (West Bloomfield, Mich.-West Bloomfield) also logged 10 points, while redshirt junior Paul Jackson and freshman Malik Ellison (Flint, Mich.-Beecher) each dished out five assists.
Ellison's three-point play in the game's final minute meant all 11 Eagles to earn playing time scored. In his seventh season as EMU head men's basketball coach, Rob Murphy is a perfect 20-0 against non-NCAA Division I opponents in both regular season and exhibition games.
The Eagles were the superior team on offense, converting on 33-of-66 field goals and 10-of-29 attempts from beyond the arc. EMU also had more opportunities at the free throw line, finishing 16-for-23 while Spring Arbor went 11-for-14. EMU was also solid on the defensive end, forcing 24 turnovers and earning 16 steals. The Eagles held the Cougars to 35.8 percent shooting (19-for-53) and out-blocked Spring Arbor, 8-2.
Trailing by four in the early stages, EMU quickly recovered courtesy of a Thompson bucket and four Minnie free throws to level the score at 6-6 just over five minutes into the contest. The Eagles then took total control of the momentum, going on an 18-5 run to build a 20-11 lead with 11:35 to play in the opening half. Minnie put on a clinic for the Green and White during that stretch, scoring 13 of his 15 first-half points by sinking 3-of-4 field goal attempts and going 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
After a Spring Arbor triple, the Eagles continued to add to their lead, using a 15-3 run to take a commanding 35-17 advantage with just over five minutes remaining in the first frame. Thanks to 13-of-29 shooting and five different Eagles making a three-pointer, the Eagles took a 40-25 lead into the locker room. EMU also took advantage of Spring Arbor's foul trouble, going 9-of-13 from the line, while Spring Arbor did not attempt a single free throw in the opening half.
The Eagles started brightly to open the second half as senior Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) set up Thompson on an alley-oop to start the scoring, much to the delight of the home crowd. EMU scored 12 of the first 16 points in the half to grab a comfortable 52-29 lead. Just past the midway point of the frame, Thompson made both free throws to confirm his first double-double of the campaign to give the Eagles a 65-45 edge.
EMU continued to entertain, as Bond and Groce added back-to-back dunks to give the Eagles a 24-point cushion. In total, the Eagles scored nine unanswered points to improve their lead to 72-45. Groce's three-point basket with under three minutes to play gave the Eagles 10 for the game as the Eagles used another 7-0 run to go ahead, 84-57.
The Eagles saved their most electrifying dunk for last as Ellison set up Groce for a highlight-reel alley-oop with 41 seconds on the clock. Ten of Groce's 15 points came in the second half as EMU cruised past Spring Arbor, 92-60.
Eastern Michigan returns to action when it hosts Michigan-Dearborn Sunday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
Team Stats
SAU
EMU
FG%
.358
.500
3FG%
.423
.345
FT%
.786
.696
RB
38
37
TO
24
8
STL
5
16
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF/C
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