YPSILANTI, Mich. — The day that many Eastern Michigan University basketball fans have been waiting for arrived under a gray cloud but the Michigan State University Spartans arrived for a date with the Eagles at the friendliest basketball arena in the Mid-American Conference – the Convocation Center.
The Spartans and the city named after a famous Greek freedom fighter – it just felt right like a brand new Greek fable.
The Eagles and the Spartans are closing the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational and the Spartans are coming into the game with a small three game winning streak.
Eastern Michigan University also supporting a small winning streak, the Eagles have won two games.
Does it matter that the series is a lopsided affair Michigan State University leading the series 28-3 for the mild-manner basketball fans inside the Convocation Center the answer is a loud – no!
Michigan State University’s good shooting and superior physical play under the defense boards and offense boards defeated Eastern Michigan University 72-40 in front 3,711 inside the cozy Convention Center.
Michigan State University basketball coach Tom Izzo game plan against the Eagles get to the foul line, play a tough defense and take care of the basketball.
“It was a little bit of a strange game for us in some ways,” Izzo said after the game. “Eastern is proven that they the right guy for the job. I know they did not play as well and all of that they are missing and it is going to take Rob (Murphy) a little while, I think that he did a great job the first half taking away some things. He took away Draymond (Green) pretty good we couldn’t get him the touches, he did an excellent job on that and I thought that he was patient he did a good job on that right now he is just running out of bodies.”
Michigan State University forward Green finished the game and leading the Spartans with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
The Spartans out rebounded the Eagles 49-29 and the defense for the Spartans forced the Eagles into 16 turnovers including 11 steals.
“There is no problem with our bigs,” Izzo said. “It is our guard play that is still a little shaky.”
Eastern Michigan University basketball coach Rob Murphy wanted his team just to remain calm and get to the rhythm of their 2-3 zone defense and make the Spartans pass the ball around the perimeter creating either a turnover or an offensive foul.
Murphy also wanted and needed the Eagle’s shots to find the bottom of the bucket.
Murphy said after the Eagles defeated Rochester College 62-43 that his team gave away too many good looks at the basket and he said if the Spartans get that many good looks that they will make them shots.
“Over all Michigan State did a great job in defending us they made it really tough for Darrell Lampley to get into the paint to create plays for himself or others coming in, he is our leading scorer and our playmaker and I thought that they did a great job on him,” Murphy said about the game. “They won the battle in the paint it is the first game all year we did not have the rebounding advantage because of their size and athleticism. I think they warn us as the game went on and out rebound us by 20.”
Lampley finished the contest with three points and three assist for the Eagles but what might have Murphy concern are the five turnovers made by Lampley.
The Spartans did get plenty of good open looks at the basket and they did not miss either as Murphy promised.
Michigan State University blistered the nets in the Convocation Center, shooting at 28 of 58 for a respectable 48.3 percent from the floor.
“I think defensively we did a good job and we held them in the first half to one three-point and all the game they made two so we did a great job in our zone,” Murphy said about his team’s defensive play. “Making them take contested three point shots and when they drove we walled them up but physical as they are in the paint they were able to get second chance opportunities and they scored 24 points off of second chance opportunities which really hurt.”
The first half action at times got sloppy on the court that is because of the execution of the zone defense by the Eagles but also by the missed shots by the Eagles.
The Spartans also added to the carnage on the court missing a lot of shots too and their man-to-man defense caused plenty of bodies diving on the floor and a lot of pacing by Izzo on the sideline.
Izzo said he is concern about the Spartans missing uncontested shots but his team will be working harder during practice.
Eastern Michigan University put 30 shots up in the first half but only made six buckets and only one shot from beyond the three-point arch. The Eagles finished the game shooting at a concerning 29.4 percent from the floor.
The defense for the Eagles forced the Spartans into nine turnovers but the defense could not keep the Spartans from dominating under the basket and in the paint area scoring 14 points.
Starting the second half the Eagles continued to miss their shots and the Spartan defense clogged up the middle of the key and in good rebounding position and that created the Spartan transition game.
The first bucket for the Eagles in the second half came at the 16:28 left in the ball game scored by J.R. Sims lead his team with 14 points for the game.
The poor shooting also presented to be a problem at the foul line for the Eagles.
Eastern Michigan University players made it to the foul line 13 times but could only make five free throws that is an unacceptable 38.5 percent.
Eastern Michigan university next game will be Tuesday night Nov 29, at the Carrier Dome against Syracuse University beginning at 7 p.m.
Murphy said that the Orange will have better talent than the Spartans but he feels his team will be prepaired for the game.
The Eagles will be on the road for the next eight games on their schedule and will not see the court of the friendliest court in the league until January 11, 2012 against Central Michigan University.
The fable did not have a happy ending for the Eagles instead there might be some endless nights for Murphy and the Eagles if they do not find somebody to make some points.
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Written by Mel Suiter
Graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2002 and have been working as a beat writer for The Ypsilanti Courier covering Eastern Michigan University football and men's basketball during my school career and after graduation.
I like the Mid-American Conference and the rest of the mid-major conferences.
