The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team traveled to the Mullins Center on Saturday night, Jan. 31, 2026, seeking a nonconference victory but ultimately fell in a 70-67 nail-biter against the University of Massachusetts. Despite a furious second-half rally that saw the Eagles erase a double-digit deficit to briefly take the lead, the Minutemen managed to protect their home court, leaving Eastern with a 9-13 overall record and a 3-7 mark in Mid-American Conference play.
Lawson II’s offensive explosion
The story of the night for the Eagles was the breakout performance of freshman Gregory Lawson II. The Saginaw, Michigan native put together a career-high 20-point performance, shooting a highly efficient 9-for-14 (64.3%) from the floor. Lawson II’s display from the perimeter was equally impressive, as he connected on 2-of-5 from three-point range, marking his fifth game this season with multiple triples.
This standout game followed a 14-point outing against Central Michigan University just days prior, proving the freshman is rapidly finding his rhythm in the rotation. With this performance, he joins Mohammad Habhab as the only two EMU freshmen to eclipse the 20-point threshold in a single game this season. Lawson II also logged a career-high 34:55 of playing time in the effort.
Momentum shifts and a fleeting lead
Eastern's path to the lead was an uphill battle from the start. The Eagles struggled in the opening minutes, falling behind 9-2 and later trailing 20-11. However, the team showed resilience, mounting an 11-2 run to tie the game at 22-22 with just over eight minutes remaining in the first half. UMass responded immediately with a 10-2 spurt of their own, carrying a 38-30 advantage into the locker room.
The Minutemen extended that cushion to 10 points within the first minute of the second half—their largest lead of the night. Eastern remained composed, using a pair of Habhab free throws to cut the deficit to two at the 13:21 mark and eventually tying the score at 6:55 following two Jon Sanders II free throws.
The tension peaked with 5:19 remaining when Lawson II connected on a smooth baseline jumper to give the Eagles their first lead of the night, 57-56. The lead was fleeting, lasting only 16 seconds before the Minutemen reclaimed the advantage. While EMU managed to tie the contest three more times in the closing minutes—most notably on a Habhab layup with 52 seconds left—they were never able to get back in front. A desperate last-second shot at the buzzer fell just short, securing the three-point victory for UMass.
The battle at the charity stripe
Statistical analysis shows that Eastern Michigan was more efficient from the field, outshooting UMass 46.9% to 44.0%. The Eagles also significantly outperformed the Minutemen from behind the three-point line, shooting 22.7% compared to a dismal 7.7% for the hosts.
However, the contest was ultimately decided at the free-throw line. UMass lived at the stripe, taking 35 free throws and making 25, while EMU only attempted 18, converting 16. Physical play and foul trouble plagued the Eagles throughout the evening; four players—Lawson II, Addison Patterson, Jon Sanders II, and Godslove Nwabude—all finished the game with four fouls each, limiting Eastern's defensive flexibility late in the game.
Player milestones and historical context
Beyond Lawson II, several Eagles reached notable milestones:
- Mohammad Habhab continued his dominant interior presence with 15 points and nine rebounds. He recorded two blocks, making him the first Eagle since James Thompson IV in 2017-18 to record multiple blocks in five consecutive games.
- Addison Patterson scored 10 points, extending his double-digit scoring streak to 10 straight games.
- Jon Sanders II contributed 10 points and two three-pointers, his seventh game this year with multiple triples.
- Godslove Nwabude added two blocks, his eighth multi-block game of the season.
History was not on the Eagles' side in Amherst, as the loss moved EMU to 0-2 all-time at the Mullins Center and 1-4 in the overall series against UMass.
Up next
The Eagles will look to bounce back as they return to Ypsilanti to host the University of Akron on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the George Gervin GameAbove Center, with the broadcast available on ESPN+ and WEMU.
