Toledo 2nd Half Rally lifts Rockets to Win over EMU

      VS.

        Quite a bit at stake for Eastern Michigan coming into this game. A win would influence the seed the Eagles would get in the MAC tournament, a loss would give EMU a 6 seed. EMU started the game hot but couldn't finish it in the 2nd half falling 67-78 Toledo.

      Right out of the gat Eastern Michigan was able to take a lead and looked like solid team to start the game. EMU was shooting a high percentage, and doing very well from the free throw line. Eastern Michigan got a lead of 10 points at one point in the first half.

      EMU would have these short spurts where they would go on runs. EMU went on a 7-0 run at a point in this game. Eagles went into halftime with the lead, and was shooting just over 50% from the field.

      The second half was a much different story. EMU didn't come out with much intensity, while Toledo started to run away, after Buckley was lighting it up from 3 point range for the Rockets. Toledo was able to take a demanding lead, and EMU wasn't able to get back into it.

      Derek Thompson had a season high 25 points on his senior night. Thompson had 5 three pointers, and 3 of EMU's rebounds. JR Sims also had a decent game from behind the arc with 3, 3 pointers. Sims ended up with 13 points in his start today. Glenn Bryant had 15 points, 8 rebounds, and a steal and a block. Harrison had 7 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.

       Neither team went very far into the bench for this game, Riley, Bryant, Harper, and Ross were the only ones to get into the game today for EMU off the bench. Toledo had 3 players come off the bench with a combined total of 4 points. 19 points came off the bench for EMU, Bryant had 15 of those.

       As a team EMU shot 41% overall, and 41% from 3 point range. EMU went 9 for 9 from the free throw line early in the game but end up going 13 for 17 from the line (76%). EMU had 27 rebounds, 10 of them were offensive. But Toledo outrebound the Eagles with 29 rebounds. EMU had 10 steals, and had 14 turnovers in this game.

        Eastern Michigan will finish the regular season with a 14-17 record, and 7-9 in the MAC. The Eagles are looking forward to the MAC tournament where they will likely get a 6 seed. Toledo is ineligible for postseason play, so 5 teams will get a first round bye. EMU needed a win today to have a chance at a bye game.