For the first 20 minutes on the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team appeared to have the momentum necessary to claim a critical Mid-American Conference road victory. However, a late offensive explosion by Western Michigan University erased a halftime deficit and sent the Eagles home with a 79-62 loss at University Arena.
The contest was a tale of two halves for the Eagles (8-9, 2-3 MAC), who saw their six-point halftime lead evaporate under the pressure of a 15-0 Bronco run late in the second half. Despite the score remaining deadlocked at 56-56 with 8:15 left in regulation, the Broncos (7-9, 1-3 MAC) found a rhythm that Eastern could not match down the stretch.
The tale of the tape
Eastern Michigan entered the matchup having out-shot its opponents from three-point range in 10 consecutive games, a streak dating back to the start of the season. That trend met a sharp end in Kalamazoo. While the Eagles struggled to a 23.1% clip (6-of-26) from beyond the arc, Western Michigan utilized a second-half barrage to finish at 43.8% (7-of-16).
The discrepancy was most notable in the second half. After failing to connect on a single 3-pointer in the first frame, Western Michigan went a blistering 7-of-9 (77.8%) from distance in the final 20 minutes to pull away.
Standout performances
Redshirt freshman forward Mohammad Habhab anchored the Eagles' interior presence, leading the team with 20 points and nine rebounds. It marked his fourth 20-point performance of the season and his 13th game scoring in double figures. Habhab finished just one rebound shy of what would have been his sixth double-double of the year.
Supporting Habhab was Addison Patterson, who tallied 17 points and flirted with a triple-double by contributing seven rebounds and eight assists. Patterson’s eight dimes matched a career high, and his performance marked his fifth straight game with at least 12 points.
For the Broncos, Jalen Griffith proved to be the difference-maker, dropping a game-high 21 points while shooting 7-of-12 from the floor. Western’s depth was also on display as their bench outscored Eastern’s reserves 22-10.
How it unfolded
The Eagles initially struggled, falling behind 20-12 early in the first half. They responded with a defensive lockdown and an offensive clinic, mounting a 12-0 run to take a four-point lead. During this stretch, Eastern was nearly perfect, connecting on 10 consecutive shots from the field over a nine-minute span. This efficiency allowed them to enter the locker room with a 36-30 lead.
The second half began with a quick 5-0 burst by the Broncos in under a minute. Though the Eagles briefly regained control to lead 43-37, the tide turned for good during the final 10 minutes. After the 56-56 tie, Western Michigan’s 15 unanswered points effectively ended the Eagles' hopes of a comeback.
Historical context and what’s next
The loss extends a difficult trend for the Eagles in enemy territory, marking their fourth consecutive defeat in Kalamazoo. Western Michigan now holds a 67-56 lead in the all-time series, which dates back to 1915.
Eastern Michigan will have a chance to regroup as the team returns to Ypsilanti to host Northern Illinois University on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at the George Gervin GameAbove Center, with the game scheduled for broadcast on ESPN+.
As the Eagles move into the heart of the MAC schedule, they will look to recapture the shooting efficiency that defined their early-season success and find consistency across both halves of play.
