On a high-stakes Tuesday night at the George Gervin GameAbove Center on Dec. 30, 2025, the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team notched a gritty 80-74 victory over the University of Massachusetts. The win was a milestone for the program, marking the first-ever meeting between the two schools as conference rivals and moving the Eagles to 1-1 in Mid-American Conference play.
The Eagles (7-7, 1-1 MAC) were fueled by a pair of dominant individual performances that rewrote the stat sheets. Carlos Hart led the charge with a game-high 23 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, securing his first double-double as an Eagle. Meanwhile, Mohammad Habhab delivered a performance for the books, tallying 20 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Habhab also set a personal NCAA career-high with 13 points in the first half alone, a massive jump from his season average of 5.6 points in opening periods.
A battle of runs and defensive intensity
The game began with a defensive masterclass from Eastern, as they held UMass to an 0-of-8 start from the field, jumping out to a 9-2 lead. However, the Minutemen (9-5, 0-2 MAC) refused to go away quietly, battling back to take their first lead midway through the first half and eventually entering the locker room with a 41-38 halftime advantage.
Eastern’s defensive identity remained the focal point in the second half as they forced the Minutemen into difficult looks. UMass struggled from deep, shooting just 24.0% beyond the arc on 25 attempts. This marked the first time the Eagles held an opponent to six or fewer three-pointers on at least 25 attempts since February 2025. While Eastern only managed three triples of their own, they remained the more efficient team overall, finishing with a 45.5% field goal percentage compared to UMass's 40.0%. This efficiency was anchored by Hart’s aggression; he converted 10-of-13 free throws and has now scored 73 points over his last three games, matching a total that took him eight games to reach earlier this season.
Supporting cast and record-breaking numbers
The second half was a back-and-forth affair until Hart took over, reclaiming the lead for Eastern with a jumper at the ten-minute mark. The Eagles' supporting cast proved vital in the closing stretch; Addison Patterson recorded his first double-double at EMU with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Jon Sanders II added 12 points, including two critical three-pointers. The duo of Hart and Patterson marked the first time two Eagles recorded double-doubles in a non-overtime game since January 2021.
Beyond the starters, Eastern’s depth provided the necessary friction to wear down the Minutemen. The Eagle bench contributed 17 points, with Mak Manciel and Godslove Nwabude providing high-energy minutes to maintain the lead in the closing stages. On the defensive end, the team recorded eight blocks—their highest total since March 2024—effectively shutting down the interior passing lanes that UMass relied on early in the game.
Dominance in the paint
Eastern’s victory was further secured by their physical play and dominance on the glass, finishing with a 46-39 rebounding advantage. Additionally, Eastern’s aggressiveness led them to the charity stripe frequently, where they converted 27 free throws—the most the team has made in a single game since February 2025.
What’s next?
With this victory, Eastern snaps a historical trend, as UMass had previously held a 3-0 lead in the all-time series dating back to 1972. This six-point win also stands as Eastern's largest margin of victory in series history. The Eagles will look to carry this momentum into the weekend as they remain at home to host Ohio University on Saturday, Jan. 3, at 2 p.m.
