The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team traveled to the Memorial Athletic Convocation Center on Wednesday, Feb. 11, looking to reverse a sliding season and snap a six-game losing streak. Despite a dominant offensive display and a career-best performance from forward Addison Patterson, the Eagles were unable to hold off a second-half surge from Kent State University, falling 95-91.
The loss marks the seventh consecutive defeat for Stan Heath’s squad, continuing a frustrating trend of narrow losses in high-scoring affairs. For Heath, the trip to Kent carried significant historical weight; he famously led the Golden Flashes to an Elite Eight appearance in 2002. However, the homecoming was spoiled by a Kent State team that capitalized on a massive discrepancy at the free-throw line and a poor second-half shooting performance.
A dominant start for the Eagles
Eastern Michigan, which is 9-16 on the year and 3-9 in the MAC, appeared poised to break its winless drought early on. The Eagles came out firing, shooting a blistering 64.5% from the floor in the first half. Their strategy was clear: attack the interior. By halftime, EMU held a 47-40 lead, largely thanks to an 18-point advantage in the paint and a commanding 21-6 edge on the boards.
Addison Patterson was the catalyst for this early success. The senior forward, who entered the game with 12 straight double-digit scoring performances, took his game to another level, racking up 20 points by the intermission. He was joined by Mohammad Habhab and Godslove Nwabude, who both contributed 11 points in the opening frame to keep the Eagles in front.
The tide turns in the second half
The second half, however, saw the Golden Flashes, 18-7 on the season, 9-3 in the MAC, find their rhythm from the perimeter. Kent State outscored Eastern Michigan 55-44 in the final 20 minutes. While the Eagles continued to score efficiently — finishing the game with a superior 59% field goal percentage compared to Kent State’s 49% — they could not contain the Flashes' outside shooting.
Kent State connected on 12-of-24 three-point attempts, while the Eagles managed only seven makes from deep. The momentum shifted for good when Jahari Williamson hit three free throws with 6:02 remaining, giving Kent State its first lead since the mid-point of the first half. A crucial three-pointer by Quinn Woidke later pushed the lead to 80-78, and the Flashes never looked back.
Stat lines and standouts
Patterson finished with a magnificent 32 points on 14-of-19 shooting, adding a thunderous dunk that served as a highlight of the Eagles' aggressive interior play. Habhab continued his stellar freshman campaign, recording 22 points and nine rebounds, though he struggled with five turnovers against a physical Kent State defense. Braelon Green added 15 points, and Nwabude finished with 13 points and two blocks.
For Kent State, Morgan Safford led the way with 23 points, including four triples. Delrecco Gillespie secured his 19th double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Perhaps most decisively, Kent State’s Cian Medley orchestrated the offense with 10 assists.
The most glaring statistic of the night was the disparity at the charity stripe. Kent State attempted 33 free throws, converting on 29, while Eastern Michigan was awarded only 10 attempts, making eight. The 21-point difference in made free throws ultimately proved too much for the Eagles to overcome in a four-point game.
What’s next?
The loss leaves Eastern Michigan tied for 11th in the Mid-American Conference standings, moving their postseason prospects into a critical state. The Eagles are currently fighting for one of the eight spots in the MAC Tournament, but they will likely need at least three more conference wins to keep those hopes alive.
EMU has now lost seven straight games decided by six points or less, a trend that Coach Stan Heath will need to address quickly. The Eagles will return to Ypsilanti for their next matchup, hosting Western Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+ or listen on WEMU 89.1 FM.
