Ypsilanti, MI (Sports Network) - Jalen Ross drilled the game-winning 3-pointer
in the final minute as the seventh-seeded Eastern Michigan Eagles held off the
10th-seeded Northern Illinois Huskies, 45-44, in the first round of the Mid-
American Conference Tournament at the Convocation Center.
Da'Shonte Riley tallied 13 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, while Glenn
Bryant notched 10 points and eight boards in the defensive struggle for
EMU (15-17), which will face off against 11th-seeded Miami-Ohio in second
round.
Aksel Bolin and J.J. Cravatta both scored nine points for NIU (5-25), which
ended its season by extending its losing streak to 11 games.
EMU shot a lofty 57.9 percent from the field in the first half while holding
NIU to just 30.8 percent shooting, as it took a 28-21 lead into intermission.
The Eagles led by 11 points with under eight minutes to play before the
Huskies made their push, ripping off a 15-2 run to take a 44-42 advantage with
2:08 remaining. EMU answered with Ross's 3-pointer with 32 seconds left to
retake the lead, and NIU missed its final three field goal attempts down the
stretch.
Neither team was sharp from the foul line, as EMU shot 7-of-13 and NIU made
only 7-of-18.
GAME NOTES:
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