Box Score

BOX (PDF)  |  BOX (HTML)

 YPSILANTI, Mich. – Eastern Michigan used a late-game rally to defeat the Eastern Illinois men's basketball team, 60-52, on Friday night at the EMU Ice Man Classic at the Convocation Center. EIU returns to tournament action on Saturday, Nov. 17 versus Texas Pan-American.
 
Trailing 48-42 with 6:33 left in the game, the Eagles (2-1) closed the contest on an 18-4 run to pull away from a Panther squad that led most of the second half. EIU took its largest of the game, 43-35, with 10:31 left on the clock in the second half. Neither team led by more than eight points in the contest with the game having 12 lead changes and nine ties.
 
The first half was back-and-forth as both squads exchanged leads nine times while having the game tied on four occasions. Trailing 21-19 with 2:32 left in the first half, the Panthers ended the stanza with a 7-2 run on 3-for-4 shooting with Sherman Blanford scoring four points and Josh Piper adding three points. EIU took a 26-23 advantage into the locker room.
 
Defensively, EIU forced 10 Eagle turnovers in the first half while holding EMU to 28.6 percent shooting from the floor (6-for-21). The Panthers also took four charges in the first stanza.
 
Blanford nearly missed a double-double, scoring a team-high 14 points and grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. Piper added 13 points and six rebounds while Austin Akers dished out a game-high seven assists.
 
Both teams had 33 rebounds in the contest and 14 turnovers. EIU outscored EMU, 22-12, in the paint and scored 11 points off of turnovers.
 
Derek Thompson led the Eagles with 22 points and four rebounds while Daylen Harrison added 18 points, going 11-for-11 from the charity stripe. Da'Shonte Riley paced the Eagles on the glass with seven rebounds.
 
After facing UTPA on Saturday, the Panthers will conclude EMU Ice Man Classic action on Sunday, Nov. 18 against at 3:30 p.m. CT.