Jalen Terry from Flint, Michigan, ended a day in which both of the Eastern Michigan University Basketball programs obtained wins! After trailing 76-69 with 1:21 to play, the men’s team finished the game on a 10-0 run to steal a game that looked like Northern Illinois had.
The team won another conference over Northern Illinois to improve to 14-13 overall and 7-7 in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play. The seven wins are the most that a Stan Heath-coached team in four seasons at Eastern Michigan has achieved.
To put it into perspective, Northern Illinois once led this game by 11 points, 49-38, early in the second half, which was their largest lead. Eastern’s largest lead of the game was only four when they led 12-8 just four minutes in.
Like the women’s game, the men’s game was back-and-forth between both teams. However, NIU led for 32 minutes, unlike EMU’s three minutes. The game started with Northern Illinois scoring 25-22 in the first 10 minutes. The Huskies got the better of the later part of the first half and went into the locker room leading 48-38.
The Eagles started the second half on fire. They went on an 11-1 run to tie the score at 49. The following few minutes were back and forth as NIU did hold a one-point lead over Eastern Michigan 61-60.
Eastern Michigan still looked like they had a chance at this point, but Northern Illinois started to take control, leading 74-65 at the 3:58 mark. Terry and Da’Sean Nelson, hailing from Toledo, Ohio, each made free throws to cut the deficit to 74-69.
NIU made a basket to increase the lead to 76-69 with 1:21 to play. This would be the last time that the Huskies would score a basket. Terry first converted on a three-pointer to cut the deficit to four points. The game would remain this way for the next 56 seconds.
Nelson would make a layup with 18 seconds left to cut the Huskie lead to two points. The Eagles' defense was influential in the last few seconds as Christian Henry from Chicago, Illinois, had a big steal, and then Terry made a layup to tie the score at 76.
After NIU once again turned the ball over, Terry threw it up at the buzzer from well beyond NBA range with no time left as the Eagles won.
Offensively, Eastern Michigan was led by Terry, Nelson, and Henry, who had 28, 19, and 10 points to combine for 57 of EMU’s 79 points. Terry pulled down six boards and had two steals as the defense came alive late. Henry had six assists to help the offense get going.
The defense won the game late for Eastern Michigan, and in addition to Terry’s two steals, Nelson had three blocks, Henry had two steals, and so did Dillon Tingler from Hurricane, West Virginia. Jalin Billingsley from Cleveland, Ohio, had eight rebounds for the Eagles and scored nine points. EMU as a team outrebounded Northern Illinois, 35-31 in the victory.
Road to Cleveland
With today’s win, Eastern Michigan moved to 14-13 and 7-7 in MAC play. As of 8:30 p.m. ET on February 22, the Eagles are in a tie for sixth place in the conference with Ball State. The top eight teams advance to the MAC Tournament at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. They are two games ahead of the line and will not attend the tournament.
Next, Eastern Michigan returns to the George Gervin GameAbove Center on Tuesday, February 25, to take on the Bowling Green Falcons. Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m., and the game will be streamed on ESPN+. It will also air on WEMU 89.1 FM, with Tom Helmer on the call.
For more information on the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball program, visit The Echo’s website.
