The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team is returning home from the South with two hard-fought victories, the latest a 72-68 triumph over Northern Arizona University on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2023, at Sharp Gymnasium during the Houston Christian MTE (multi-team events). The Eagles, now 5-2 on the season, overcame a furious second-half rally from the Lumberjacks and relied on clutch performances in the final minutes to secure the win.
Eastern got off to a strong start, turning a 6-4 deficit into an 18-6 lead with a 14-point run, highlighted by five points apiece from Jalen Terry (Flint, Michigan/Beecher/Oregon/DePaul) and Christian Henry (Chicago, Illinois/The Skill Factory/Panola College). Consistent defensive pressure allowed the Eagles to carry a 37-23 advantage into halftime, their first solid half punctuated by Terry’s three first-half steals.
The Eagles extended their lead to as many as 17 points early in the second half before Northern Arizona turned the momentum. The Lumberjacks went on a massive 23-2 run, taking a four-point lead, 59-55, with just under five minutes to play. Undeterred, Eastern Michigan responded with a composed and timely effort down the stretch.
Da’Sean Nelson (Toledo, Ohio/Robert S. Rogers/Kilgore College/DePaul), who finished with a season-high 20 points, hit four consecutive free throws to even the score. Moments later, Nelson and Jalin Billingsley (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East/Georgetown) added crucial layups to push Eastern ahead by four. Terry sealed the victory with free throws in the final seconds, preserving the Eagles' lead and delivering the team's fifth win.
Four Eagles scored in double figures for the third time this season. Nelson’s standout performance included eight made free throws on ten attempts, while Henry contributed 15 points, and Billingsley added 10. Terry, who finished with 11 points, also recorded a career-high four steals, all in the first half.
While the Eagles shot 43.6% from the field and held Northern Arizona to 41.5%, rebounding proved challenging, the Lumberjacks dominated the glass with a 46-31 advantage. Despite the rebounding disparity, Eastern capitalized on its defensive intensity, forcing 14 turnovers and scoring critical points off those takeaways.
Freshman Dillon Tingler (Hurricane, West Virginia/Huntington Expression Prep) made a notable impact off the bench, scoring a career-high six points and leading the team with a +21 plus-minus rating in 17 minutes of play. The team also extended its streak of games with at least one made three-pointer to 620, a run dating back to 2004.
The win moved Eastern Michigan to 2-1 all-time against Northern Arizona and marked the team’s first 5-2 start since the 2019-20 season. The Eagles have now hit multiple three-pointers in 42 consecutive games.
Eastern Michigan will return home to face Detroit Mercy on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+ or attend in person to support the Eagles as they look to build on their early-season success.
