On Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, the Eastern Michigan University (EMU) men's basketball team secured a 66-54 victory over their long-standing in-state rival, Central Michigan University. The Mid-American Conference matchup took place at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and served as a crucial turning point for the Eagles, who effectively snapped an eight-game losing streak with the win.
Eastern Michigan established dominance early, leading for a total of 37 minutes and 55 seconds of game time. The Eagles opened the contest by hitting their first five field goals, racing out to a 12-4 lead that prompted an immediate timeout from the Chippewas. By the end of the first half, EMU held a 35-27 advantage, driven by a 59.3% shooting performance from the floor. The Eagles extended their lead further at the start of the second half with a 14-3 run, reaching their largest lead of the night at 19 points with 15:33 remaining. Although Central Michigan mounted a response with a 15-2 run to cut the deficit to 51-45, the Eagles maintained their composure to close out the 12-point win.
Individual standouts for the Eagles
The victory was fueled by four players scoring in double figures, led by Gregory Lawson II, who scored 17 points. Lawson II was particularly effective from long range, shooting 60% from three-point range. This performance bolstered his standing as the MAC leader in three-point conversion rate, currently at 49.2%.
Godslove Nwabude delivered a career-best performance, recording a career-high 16 points on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting from the field. In addition to his scoring, Nwabude contributed six rebounds and three blocks, marking his 12th game this season with multiple rejections.
Mohammad Habhab continued his double-double streak, recording his 10th of the season with 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Habhab also contributed two blocks and two steals, extending his streak of recording at least one block to 11 consecutive games.
Addison Patterson provided a versatile performance with 11 points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals. This game marked Patterson's 15th consecutive outing with at least 10 points, a streak during which he has scored double digits in 18 of his last 19 games. Additionally, Aidan Rubio contributed a first-half three-pointer against his former squad.
Statistical summary and team performance
The Eagles outshot the Chippewas, finishing with a 49.0% field goal percentage compared to Central Michigan’s 36.8%. EMU was particularly disciplined at the free-throw line, making 12-of-15 attempts, while CMU struggled, hitting only 50.0% of their shots from the stripe, shooting 10-of-20. Rebounding was another area of strength for the Eagles, as they out-rebounded Central Michigan 39-33.
The starters were the primary engines for the offense, accounting for 92.4% of Eastern's total points. For Central Michigan, Tamario Adley led the way with 17 points, followed by Nathan Claerbaut with 12.
Rivalry history and looking forward
The rivalry between Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan is one of the oldest in the region, dating back to February 9, 1906. While different historical records exist, the most recent update indicates Central Michigan holds a slight edge in the all-time series at 108-103.
With this win, Eastern Michigan's season record moves to 10-17 overall and 4-10 in the MAC, while Central Michigan falls to 8-18 and 4-9 in the MAC. The Eagles will look to build on this momentum when they travel to face the University of Toledo on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 5 p.m.
