The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team dropped its second straight loss to Northern Illinois University on Saturday, Feb. 3, in Dekalb, Ill., as the Huskies downed the Eagles, 76-66.
Sophomore guard Orlando Lovejoy (Detroit, Mich.) finished with a career-high 19 points and four steals while adding five assists as he sparked for 13 second-half points for the Eagles despite the loss. Lovejoy has now recorded at least one steal in 11 of his past 12 games for EMU.
Including Lovejoy, the Eagles had four players in double-digit totals for points as junior guard Tyson Acuff (Detroit, Mich.) added 14 points, junior forward Jalin Billingsley (Cleveland, Ohio) finished with 12, and junior forward Yusuf Jihad (Farmington Hills, Mich.) had 10.
Acuff’s 14 points marked his 24th-straight game that he’s totaled at least 10 points, totaling the most by an Eagles hooper since 2000.
Despite outshooting the Huskies 40% compared to 38%, foul trouble would haunt the Eagles as they totaled 25 fouls that allowed NIU to shoot 35 free throws, converting 30 into points.
The Eagles now drop to 9-13 overall and 2-8 in Mid-American Conference play while NIU improved to 7-14 overall and a 1-8 MAC record.
Next up, EMU will return to Ypsilanti, Mich., on Tuesday, Feb. 6, to host the University of Toledo in a MAC showdown inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
