The Eastern Michigan Men’s basketball team fell in double overtime to Pittsburgh, 93-90, at the 2K Classic on Nov. 11.
Redshirt senior Ray Lee led the way for the Eagles offense dropping in 27 points. Lee shot 41 percent for the game, making nine of his 22 shots. Junior and three time slam dunk champion Tim Bond would also add in a double digit scoring effort, shooting seven for nine from the floor and racking up 21 points. Bond and Lee would both do their fair share of work at the free throw line. Lee took seven attempts and made all seven while Bond hit six out of eight shots. Eastern Michigan’s defense would play a large role in the nail bitter, with the team tallying up eight steals.
Both teams battled from start to finish. Although Pitt took a eight point lead into the half they were not able to put the Eagles away until much later. Pitt was able to hold a 12 point lead up until just past the eight minute mark in the second half but the Eagles would surge back to make it a game. The two teams would duke it out until senior Ty Toney would make a drive to the lane and finish through the contact with only a second in the half to tie the ballgame.
In the first overtime, Eastern would find themselves in the driver seat but could not finish. Despite being up three with two and a half minutes left, the Panthers and Eagles would trade baskets until Pitt nailed the front end of a one-and-one to tie it all back up. Pitt would manage to go up four during the second overtime and due to consistent free throw shooting, they would hold on to the lead and take the victory over the Eagles.
The Eagles are set to continue to fight through the 2016 2K classic with a matchup against Southern Methodist University on Sunday, November 13th at 2 pm. The matchup will take place at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas.
