YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) –It took overtime and a big defensive stand, but the Eastern Michigan Eagles pulled out a 50-49 victory over the visiting Western Michigan Broncos Saturday at the Convocation Center.
Eastern Michigan (14-15, 7-7 MAC) won the jump ball and scored the first basket of the extra period, but it did itself no favors by putting Western (18-10, 9-5 MAC) on the line in both of the Broncos' first two possessions of overtime. WMU converted each of its three attempts from the charity strip to gain a one point lead, 47-46.
Glenn Bryant rose to the occasion, nailing a shot from the high post to put EMU in the lead and then making a sensational block on the other end of the court.
With less than thirty seconds on the clock, the Broncos fouled J.R. Sims, who knocked back both of his free-throws. WMU answered with a Nate Hutcheson layup to cut EMU's lead to 50-49.
The Broncos were forced to foul, sending Da'Shonte Riley to the line. Riley missed the front end of a one-and-one, giving the ball back to Western. However, a Broncos' runner fell short of the rim, giving the victory to the Eagles.
Bryant led all scorers with 15 points and had an equally impressive day on the defensive side of the ball, tallying two steals and two timely blocks. Junior Daylen Harrison engineered a terrific stat line with 13 points and six rebounds. Guards Derek Thompson and Sims handed out three assists each.
The Eagles shot 21-of-53 (39.6 percent) from the field, but possibly more importantly shot 3-of-5 (60.0 percent) in overtime. The Broncos hit 18-of-43 (41.9 percent) and were led by Shayne Whittington with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Bryant put EMU on the scoreboard first with a mid-range jumper facilitated by a crafty pass from Thompson. The Eagles sent an early message defensively, blocking Western's first shot attempt and forcing a shot clock violation during the Broncos' second possession.
Darius Paul scored the initial points for the Black and Gold, putting back an offensive rebound. The quick hands of Matt Balkema broke up a Western inbound pass and, and the senior was rewarded at the other end of the court when Harrison found him down low for the easy bucket to put the Eagles up 8-4 with 13:47 remaining in the first half.
With 6:33 remaining in the opening stanza, Paul hit a jumper from just inside the arc to give Western its first lead of the game, 15-14. Thompson responded quickly, getting a step on his man and making a runner in the lane to recapture the lead for the home team.
At the four minute mark, Harrison went to work, first making a turnaround from the low post, then nailing a fast break three to push the Eagles lead back up to six.
Riley put on a defensive clinic in the closing minutes of the first half, single-handedly stifling four consecutive Bronco scoring attempts. The stretch included a crowd energizing steal where he simply ripped the ball out of a WMU player's hands.
The Eagles shot 10-of-29 (34.5 percent) compared to 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) by the Broncos in the first half. Harrison led all first half scores with seven. Brandon Pokley paced the Broncos with five. The rebound battle was close with the Eagles edging the Broncos, 17-14. EMU tallied seven steals leading to 13 points off turnovers.
Pokley opened scoring in the second half, making a deep three on the Broncos' first possession. WMU's Austin Richie then chipped in a triple to tie the game, 24-24, at the 17:00 minute mark.
With six minutes elapsed in the second half, Harrison cleaned up his own miss to put EMU back out front. Two Richie triples powered an 8-0 Western run to give the visiting team its largest lead of the game, 35-26.
With 6:16 remaining in the second half, a Jalen Ross steal started a fast break that ended with a Bryant layup to bring the Eagles back to within one of the lead. After a forced throw-away, Bryant made a mid-ranger to reclaim the lead for the Eagles.
David Brown converted a triple from the corner to put the Broncos up, 42-39, with only three minutes remaining, but Thompson immediately tied things back up with a three of his own, bringing the crowd at the Convo to its feet.
With less than one minute on the clock, Riley produced a block to give the Eagles an opportunity to put the game away, however they were unable to score on their last possession, and the game went into overtime.
On Tuesday, Eastern Michigan will head to McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant, where they will meet up with the Central Michigan. The Chippewas edged EMU, 58-52, at the Convocation Center, Jan. 15. Western Michigan hosts Ball State Tuesday. Both games tip off at 7 p.m.
Glenn Bryant rose to the occasion, nailing a shot from the high post to put EMU in the lead and then making a sensational block on the other end of the court.
With less than thirty seconds on the clock, the Broncos fouled J.R. Sims, who knocked back both of his free-throws. WMU answered with a Nate Hutcheson layup to cut EMU's lead to 50-49.
The Broncos were forced to foul, sending Da'Shonte Riley to the line. Riley missed the front end of a one-and-one, giving the ball back to Western. However, a Broncos' runner fell short of the rim, giving the victory to the Eagles.
Bryant led all scorers with 15 points and had an equally impressive day on the defensive side of the ball, tallying two steals and two timely blocks. Junior Daylen Harrison engineered a terrific stat line with 13 points and six rebounds. Guards Derek Thompson and Sims handed out three assists each.
The Eagles shot 21-of-53 (39.6 percent) from the field, but possibly more importantly shot 3-of-5 (60.0 percent) in overtime. The Broncos hit 18-of-43 (41.9 percent) and were led by Shayne Whittington with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Bryant put EMU on the scoreboard first with a mid-range jumper facilitated by a crafty pass from Thompson. The Eagles sent an early message defensively, blocking Western's first shot attempt and forcing a shot clock violation during the Broncos' second possession.
Darius Paul scored the initial points for the Black and Gold, putting back an offensive rebound. The quick hands of Matt Balkema broke up a Western inbound pass and, and the senior was rewarded at the other end of the court when Harrison found him down low for the easy bucket to put the Eagles up 8-4 with 13:47 remaining in the first half.
With 6:33 remaining in the opening stanza, Paul hit a jumper from just inside the arc to give Western its first lead of the game, 15-14. Thompson responded quickly, getting a step on his man and making a runner in the lane to recapture the lead for the home team.
At the four minute mark, Harrison went to work, first making a turnaround from the low post, then nailing a fast break three to push the Eagles lead back up to six.
Riley put on a defensive clinic in the closing minutes of the first half, single-handedly stifling four consecutive Bronco scoring attempts. The stretch included a crowd energizing steal where he simply ripped the ball out of a WMU player's hands.
The Eagles shot 10-of-29 (34.5 percent) compared to 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) by the Broncos in the first half. Harrison led all first half scores with seven. Brandon Pokley paced the Broncos with five. The rebound battle was close with the Eagles edging the Broncos, 17-14. EMU tallied seven steals leading to 13 points off turnovers.
Pokley opened scoring in the second half, making a deep three on the Broncos' first possession. WMU's Austin Richie then chipped in a triple to tie the game, 24-24, at the 17:00 minute mark.
With six minutes elapsed in the second half, Harrison cleaned up his own miss to put EMU back out front. Two Richie triples powered an 8-0 Western run to give the visiting team its largest lead of the game, 35-26.
With 6:16 remaining in the second half, a Jalen Ross steal started a fast break that ended with a Bryant layup to bring the Eagles back to within one of the lead. After a forced throw-away, Bryant made a mid-ranger to reclaim the lead for the Eagles.
David Brown converted a triple from the corner to put the Broncos up, 42-39, with only three minutes remaining, but Thompson immediately tied things back up with a three of his own, bringing the crowd at the Convo to its feet.
With less than one minute on the clock, Riley produced a block to give the Eagles an opportunity to put the game away, however they were unable to score on their last possession, and the game went into overtime.
On Tuesday, Eastern Michigan will head to McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant, where they will meet up with the Central Michigan. The Chippewas edged EMU, 58-52, at the Convocation Center, Jan. 15. Western Michigan hosts Ball State Tuesday. Both games tip off at 7 p.m.
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