Basketball - The Eastern Echo

Q-and-A with women’s coach Verdi

By Al Willman · Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013

Tory Verdi is in the middle of his first season as the women’s basketball coach for Eastern Michigan University. Before the team boarded the bus for their matchup at Kent State University, Verdi gave The Eastern Echo a few minutes and provided some background on his coaching career and life off the court as well.

Eagles get 10th win of season over NIU 42-25

By Alex Alvarado · Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team picked up its 10th win of the season over Mid-American Conference East Division opponent the Northern Illinois University Huskies Saturday.

Eagle women beat Kent State on the road, 64-45

By Eugene Evans · Friday, Jan. 25, 2013

Behind a season-high 40 points from the Eastern Michigan University bench, the women’s basketball team cruised to their largest victory this season, 64-45, Thursday night against the Kent State Golden Flashes at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center in Kent, Ohio. For EMU (4-14, 2-3 Mid-American Conference), freshman Bianca Cage played 23 minutes and scored nearly half of the bench’s 40 points, with 19 from 8-of-17 shooting to go along with 3-of-9 from three-point range. “Bianca stepped on the floor and they played zone and she was our zone-buster tonight,” EMU head coach Tory Verdi said. Junior Desyree Thomas finally had her breakout game of the season as she scored a season-high 12 points.

James Still to face 15 years, 4 in prison

By Al Willman · Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013

Sentencing was announced Tuesday for former Eastern Michigan University basketball forward James Still. He pled guilty in November to felony assault for an incident in April 2010 when he was a student at Providence College in Rhode Island.

Freshman Jalen Ross hopes to stay close to basketball

By Al Willman · Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013

Freshman Jalen Ross plays point guard on the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team. He comes to EMU from Greensboro, N.C. which is about an hour away from Raleigh. Ross said it’s right in the middle of Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte.

Women’s basketball loses 70-48

By Eugene Evans · Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team, through missed opportunities and lackluster effort, dropped its third consecutive contest, 70-48, Sunday to the Miami University of Ohio RedHawks at Millett Hall in Oxford, Ohio.

Eagles men lose close game to MAC rival Western Michigan

By Colin Maresh · Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team suffered a tough loss to the Mid-American Conference West Division leading Western Michigan Broncos Wednesday 63-59 in Kalamazoo.

Eagles get 1st win over RedHawks since ’97

By Al Willman · Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013

Many celebrated the long-awaited beginning of the NHL season Saturday, but before the first puck dropped in North America, there was a Mid-American Conference basketball game to be played. The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team defeated the Miami University of Ohio RedHawks 65-58.

Eagle women drop third straight, 70-48 to Miami-Ohio

By Eugene Evans · Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team, through missed opportunities and lackluster effort, dropped its third consecutive contest Sunday 70-48 to the Miami University of Ohio RedHawks at Millett Hall in Oxford, Ohio.

Women's basketball loses to Toledo 56-40

By Eugene Evans · Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

Despite junior Natachia Watkins’s best efforts to keep her team in the contest with a game-high 16 points, the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team dropped its second game in a row 56-40 to the Toledo Rockets at the Convocation Center Wednesday evening.

Eagles stop losing streak, beat CMU

By Al Willman · Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013

Tuesday was a good day for the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team. The team ended a four-game losing streak with a 58-52 win over Mid-American Conference rival, the Central Michigan University Chippewas.

Ball State halts comeback; EMU loses MAC opener by 2

By Colin Maresh · Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013

One foul by senior center Da’Shonte Riley and two free throws by the Ball State University Cardinals turned overtime into a 60-58 loss for the Eastern Michigan University Eagles at the Convocation Center Wednesday night.

Eagles drop close game to BGSU Falcons

By Al Willman · Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013

Two is shaping up to be an unlucky number for the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team. Two conference games and two Mid-American Conference losses—both losses by two points.

Women's basketball falls to Chippewas 77-51

By Eugene Evans · Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013

After a come-from-behind victory against Western Michigan University Thursday, Eastern Michigan University’s women’s basketball team could not keep up the momentum; a lack of ball movement played a significant factor in its loss to the Central Michigan Chippewas 77-51 in Mount Pleasant Sunday.

Head Coach Rob Murphy looks on as his team takes on Bowling Green Saturday.

Eagles drop second straight conference game, 46-44 at Bowling Green

By Al Willman · Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013

Two is shaping up to be an unlucky number for the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team. Two conference games and two Mid-American Conference losses—both losses by two points. Saturday’s loss was to the Bowling Green State University Falcons, 46-44.

Eagle women come from behind to beat Broncos 56-52

By Eugene Evans · Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013

From bench player to difference maker, freshmen Bianca Cage came on the court in just her fifth career game to score 25 points in 20 minutes and lead the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team to a come from behind 56-52 win against the Western Michigan Broncos Thursday in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Freshman guard Jalen Ross (21) calls out a play while head coach Rob Murphy (left) looks on.

Last second foul spoils MAC opener for Eagles

By Colin Maresh · Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013

One foul by senior center Da’Shonte Riley and two free throws by Ball State University turned overtime into a 60-58 loss for the Eastern Michigan University Eagles at the Convocation Center Wednesday night. Despite the tough loss, coach Rob Murphy had a few positive comments about the game and his team.

Thompson credits father for court skills

By Theodora Robinson-Jones and Theodora Robinson-Jones · Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013

For many student-athletes, high school years are filled with recruitment and plans for taking their skills to the next level. For most of them, the next step is college. However, for Derek Thompson, a senior at Eastern Michigan University, the process of playing college basketball looked a bit different.

Loyola-Chicago wins against EMU 64-54

By Eugene Evans · Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team lost Saturday to the University of Loyola-Chicago Ramblers at the Convocation Center 64-54, in front of 244 fans.

Eagles fall to UMass in last non-MAC game

By Al Willman · Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team traveled to Amherst, Mass. to face the University of Massachusetts Minutemen Saturday. On the heels of a 90-38 loss to the University of Kentucky, the Eagles had hoped to wrap up their non-conference play on a positive note. Unfortunately, the Minutemen had different plans and sent the Eagles home with a 75-61 loss.