The efficient second half scoring propelled EMU to a road win at McGuirk Arena against the Chippewas men's basketball who were 11-1 at home going into the game. The Eagles shot 55% and outscored CMU by 10 after halftime to win 73-70. Ty Groce scored 22 with 12 rebounds, while Boubacar Toure scored 20 with 13 rebounds.
Other key contributors for the Eagles were Thomas Binelli, who scored 15 points on 5-for-11 3-point shooting and Noah Morgan, who scored 14 points for Eastern Michigan, who is now 13-11 and 3-8 in the conference. The Eagles shot 49% for the game and went 15-for-19 from the free throw line.
David DiLeo scored 24 points with six 3-pointers for the Chips, coming off last week where he broke the conference record at Buffalo for career 3-pointers made. Travon Broadway Jr. scored 17 points and Deschon Weston scored 10 points for CMU, who falls to 13-10 and 6-4 in the MAC.
The game proved that the Eagles dominate with their size around the basket, as they outscored CMU 40-14 on points in the paint and outrebounded the Chips 36 to 28. EMU kept a lead for most of the first half, having a seven-point lead with 9:28 left. CMU started a comeback with seven straight points from Broadway, who tied the game at 22 a few minutes later that led to an Eagles timeout.
EMU turned the ball over and missed shots to end the half and the Chips went into the break leading 35-28. The lead closed around the 14-minute mark in the second half. Groce scored on a dunk with the assist by Toure to put the score at 42-40. Morgan stole the ball on the next CMU possession then missed a 3-pointer, which was gathered by Toure who slammed in the tying basket with 13:27 remaining.
It wasn't until late in the game that CMU threatened to take the lead away from the Eagles. EMU had a lead for the last 11 minutes of the game. DiLeo's shooting was what made the game close in the closing minutes, though, where he scored 12 on 3-for-3 from behind the 3-point arc. EMU was efficient enough at the free throw line to keep a lead.
DiLeo fouled Morgan with six seconds left and the score at 72-70. Morgan made one of the two and Broadway had one last chance at a game-tying shot but he missed it. EMU scored its last eight points at the free throw line, shooting 13-16 from the charity stripe in the second half.
CMU remained at the top of the conference in points per game at 81, while EMU sits as the second-best defense with allowing just 63 points per game. The Eagles have seven games remaining on the regular season schedule, four of the next five being at home at the Convocation Center. EMU will next play Western Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 15.
