BALTIMORE, Md. - Tim Bond made his homecoming one to remember in his return to Baltimore, Md. having gone for 14 points, four rebounds and a couple steals in Eastern Michigan’s 73-62 win over the Coppin State University Eagles, Monday night.
The score was tight for a majority of the game, but Eastern Michigan got off to a hot start immediately following the opening tipoff with an alley-oop thrown to Tim Bond to get the hometown crowd on its feet, which led to a 10-3 EMU run to start the game.
“I knew if we could give him an early lob he would settle into the game and get comfortable and it worked out the way we planned it,” EMU head coach Rob Murphy said. “He got a dunk to start the game and then he came down and hit a three and he settled into the game.”
Eastern Michigan’s early first half success may have been sparked by the hometown hero, but Jodan Price would come into the game off the bench and make a couple three-pointers as well as Raven Lee and Willie Mangum who also contributed to EMU’s first half shooting success.
EMU has shot only 26 percent from behind the arc this season, but would go 6-for-10 from behind the three-point line in the first half of this game.
“We haven’t shot the ball well but I tell our guys to stay confident and today we just knocked stuff down,” Murphy said. “Once we hit a few shots it started to become contagious.”
The duo of guards are also to credit in EMU’s win as Ty Toney went 6-for-9 from the field, finishing with 13 points. Willie Mangum IV led the team with 15 points in the win.
“I thought we made plays down the stretch, especially Ty Toney, closing out the game with a few layups and free throws,” said Murphy.
James Thompson recorded his seventh straight double-double this season having gone for 13-points and 11-rebounds.
Eastern Michigan will head back home to take on Detroit Mercy for a 7 p.m. tipoff on Monday, December 28.
