The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team (10-11 overall, 3-4 Mid-American Conference) is still winless on the road, dropping its fourth game to the Kent State Golden Flashes (12-10
overall, 3-5 MAC) on Saturday, 77-62.
Senior guard Derek Thompson led the Eagles with 17 points, shooting 40 percent from the floor, making all four free throws and also picking up a pair of offensive rebounds and assists.
Junior center Da’Shonte Riley only had five points, but had three of the Eagles’ five blocks, with four rebounds, two assists, two turnovers and a steal.
Senior forward Jamell Harris also scored five points, but caused three turnovers and grabbed six rebounds on defense.
Redshirt junior forward Glenn Bryant had 18 minutes of playing time, but is responsible for nine points, causing a pair of turnovers and grabbing five offensive rebounds.
The Eagles got off to a slow start, and were down 13-11 midway through the first half. The Golden Flashes went on a 9-2 run in just over two minutes.
EMU called a timeout, and eventually got things going after a missed shot by Daylen Harrison and three missed shots by Bryant. Bryant made a shot with 9:30 to go in the half.
This sparked a 7-0 run by the Eagles.
The team still trailed 22-20 with 6:22 left in the first half, but the Flashes stayed with EMU every step of the way. EMU was down 32-26 at the half.
Kent State wasted no time getting more points on the board to start the second half, going on an instant 10-0 run to give them the 16-point lead less than four minutes into the half.
The Eagles had trouble getting close to the Golden Flashes. The team’s closest deficit was 13 points after a dunk by Harris, with 12:00 remaining in the game. Kent State’s biggest lead of the game was with 5:14 to go, when Devareaux Manley hit a three-pointer to set the score at 65-44.
Kent State cruised for the remainder of the game, sealing a 15-point victory.
This is the eighth time this season the Eagles have scored at least 60 points in a game, where they now have a 6-2 record in games where they have 60 or more points.
The Eagles next take on the University of Buffalo (8-13 overall, 3-4 MAC) at 7 p.m. Wednesday at home. The Bulls are coming off an 11-point road loss Saturday to Western Michigan University. The game will be carried live on WEMU 89.1 FM.
