Jalen Terry delivered a historic performance for Eastern Michigan basketball on Saturday, dropping a career-high 38 points to secure an 80-73 upset against Mid-American Conference rival Toledo. The Eagles (12-13, 5-7 MAC) leaned on Terry’s extraordinary efficiency – 15-of-17 shooting with six three-pointers – to outlast the Rockets (15-10, 8-4) in a pivotal conference clash.
Terry dominated from tip-off, scoring 19 first-half points to give Eastern Michigan a 43-33 halftime lead they never surrendered. “This is the version of Jalen we’ve been building toward,” head coach Stan Heath noted postgame. Da’Sean Nelson complemented Terry’s heroics with 21 points and three steals, while Toledo’s Isaiah Adams (13 points) struggled to match the Eagles’ offensive firepower.
Key factors in the win:
- Shooting efficiency: EMU shot 54% from the field vs. Toledo’s 42%
- Turnover battle: Eagles converted 14 Rocket mistakes into 18 points
- Clutch defense: Held MAC scoring leader Dante Maddox Jr. to 9 points
The victory shakes up the MAC West standings, keeping Eastern Michigan’s tournament hopes alive. Terry’s performance – which included eight rebounds and multiple momentum-shifting threes – positions him as a contender for conference Player of the Week honors.
“When Jalen’s locked in like that, he’s unstoppable. This game changes our entire season trajectory.” – EMU Guard Tyson Acuff
With four regular-season games remaining, Eastern Michigan basketball now faces critical matchups against Ball State and Northern Illinois. Saturday’s win proves they can compete with MAC elite – a crucial development for a program seeking its first NCAA tournament bid since 1998.