The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team traveled to the Holmes Convocation Center in Boone, North Carolina, on Saturday, Feb. 7, but was unable to secure a victory in a tightly contested 65-60 loss against Appalachian State. The matchup, part of the Mid-American Conference-Sun Belt Conference (MAC-SBC) Challenge, saw the Eagles battle through nine ties and four lead changes before the Mountaineers pulled away in the closing minutes.
Habhab dominates despite the loss
Redshirt Freshman forward Mohammad Habhab delivered one of his most complete performances of the season, leading the Eagles with a double-double consisting of 14 points and 12 rebounds. Habhab was the engine of the Eastern offense, also contributing six assists, two blocks, and a steal. His presence on the defensive end was equally impactful; by recording two blocks, Habhab marked his seventh consecutive game with multiple blocks, a feat not achieved by an Eagle since Da'Shonte Riley in the 2013-14 season.
Supporting Habhab’s effort was Addison Patterson, who also netted 14 points while grabbing nine rebounds. Patterson has remained the most consistent scoring threat for the Eagles, marking his 12th-straight game in double figures. Jon Sanders II added 12 points, including two three-pointers, while Gregory Lawson II rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points. For Lawson II, it was his fourth consecutive game reaching the 10-point mark.
A tale of two halves
The Eagles found success early, jumping out to a 7-4 lead. However, the Mountaineers responded with a 10-2 run to reclaim the advantage. The first half remained a see-saw affair until the 4:26 mark, when a basket by Habhab gave EMU a 25-23 lead. Unfortunately for the Eagles, this would be their final lead of the contest. Appalachian State utilized a late 13-5 spurt to regain control, though a Patterson triple at the buzzer sent Eastern into the locker room trailing by only three, 36-33.
In the second half, the Eagles repeatedly threatened to retake the lead. On three separate occasions, Eastern brought the score within a single point. The closest they came was at the 11:17 mark, following a run that cut the deficit to 42-41. Every time the Eagles knocked on the door, however, the Mountaineers found an answer, responding with a 12-6 run to push the lead back out.
The game entered a bizarre stalemate late in the second half. With Eastern trailing 56-51, both teams went scoreless for over two minutes, from the 4:19 mark until 2:16 remained. The Eagles were unable to capitalize on Appalachian State’s offensive drought during this window. Braelon Green finally broke the silence for Eastern with a clutch three-pointer at the 1:37 mark, cutting the deficit to 58-54, but the Mountaineers responded with five unanswered points to effectively seal the game.
Statistical oddities and historical context
Despite the loss, the Eagles actually outshot the Mountaineers from the field, finishing at 39.7% compared to Appalachian State’s 39.0%. Historically, outshooting an opponent has been a recipe for success for EMU, but this loss marked the third consecutive game where the Eagles lost despite having a higher shooting percentage. Prior to this stretch, the team had been 9-0 in such games this season.
Ball security was a bright spot for Eastern, as they recorded a season-low six turnovers. This was three fewer than their previous low and the fewest the program has recorded in a single game since November 2024. However, the Mountaineers dominated the interior, scoring 38 points in the paint compared to Eastern’s 24. Appalachian State’s Alonzo Dodd was the primary thorn in the Eagles' side, leading all scorers with 23 points.
This matchup represented the first-ever meeting between the two programs, giving Appalachian State a 1-0 lead in the all-time series. The loss also dropped Eastern's all-time record in the MAC-SBC Challenge to 3-3, including a winless 0-3 mark in road games.
Looking ahead
The Eagles (9-15, 3-8 MAC) will look to snap their losing skid as they return to conference play. The team hits the road again to face Kent State University on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Memorial Athletic Convocation Center, with the game set to air on ESPN+. Fans can follow live stats or listen to the broadcast via the Varsity Network or WEMU.
