A dominant performance by James Thompson leads the Eastern Michigan Eagles over the Miami Redhawks, 74-57, in Oxford on Saturday.
“James (Thompson) had one of the best performances that any one player has had during my time coaching tenure here,” said coach Rob Murphy. “ Any time he can play like that we will have an opportunity to win the basketball game.”
The sophomore forward dropped 26 points while also collecting 20 rebounds for the Eagles. Tim Bond added to the tremendous performance by the Eagles with his 10 points, three rebounds, seven assists, six steals as well as two blocks.
The Eagles got off to a hot start on both ends of the court as they took an early 17-3 lead behind Thompsons six points and five rebounds in the first eight min. of the first-half.
Eastern Michigan took a 14-point lead with a Bond three-pointer to beat the buzzer to send the game into halftime 41-27.
The Eagles had 11 blocks of Miami compared to the Redhawks single block while also collecting 44 rebounds as a team.
EMU kept its momentum going as they pulled away for a 74-57 win over Miami. This was the first win in Oxford for the Eagles since 1999.
With a game against Kent State on Tuesday, the Eagles look to get back in the race for the MAC west title.
“This was a great bounce-back win, any time you can get a road victory it is always special in this league,” said Murphy.
