HARRISONBURG, Va. - It was a close game...until it wasn't. 

After being tied at 38 at the break, EMU outscored Shenandoah 48-34 in the second half to pick up an 86-72 ODAC win over the Hornets. The win moves EMU to 3-3 overall, 1-0 ODAC. 

Highlights

• The teams traded baskets right out of the gate, with Mark Burkholder and Chris Simmons getting EMU on the board first and giving the Royals a 4-2 lead. Shenandoah was able to pull out to a four-point lead, 14-10, before a Michael Watlington layup and a Mizz Nyagwegwe jumper tied the game. Landon Swingler put EMU on top and Nyagwegwe hit a pair of freethrows to give the Royals their own four-point lead at the 11:59 mark. 
• After a Hornet basket, Swingler drilled a three, giving EMU a five-point advantage. Simmons made it seven before Shenandoah scored six straight to cut the lead to one. EMU would hold onto the lead until 6:11 when SU was able to tie things at 26. That didn't last long as Watlington made a bucket and Nyagwegwe hit a three to extend to give. The teams would swap points but Shenandoah was able to cut into the lead and Jaylen Williams, who had 28 for SU in the first half, hit a three with four seconds left to tie the game at the break. 
• Shenandoah took the lead to start the second half but a Burkholder jumper and a three from Jones snatched the lead right back for EMU. The lead would change ninetimes over the next seven minutes, with SU taking a four-point advantage, 58-54, with 11:43 to play. 
• Burkholder hit a big three to bring EMU within one but that was answered by a Hornet basket. Nyagwegwe answered with a three of his own to tie things at 60, and once again, the lead would flip flop. But, with things tied at 64, EMU used a 9-0 run to take control of the game. The closest the Hornets would get was seven, 66-73, but Eastern Mennonite responded with points from Swingler, Jones and Nyagwegwe to push the lead to 14.  
• Jones led the way with 20 points for EMU, 16 of which came in the second half. He also added six assists. Nyagwegwe had his best game of the young season, chipping in 19 on 7-10 shooting. Swingler was also in double-digits, picking up 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds. 

By the Numbers

• 14 - After the Hornets tied the game at 64, EMU outscored Shenandoah 22-8 over the games final 8:06.
• 5% - After a first half that saw the Royals shoot 50% from the field, they followed that up by shooting 55.6% in the second half, including 6-12 from three. 
• 8 - Seven of the eight Royals who scored in the game had at least eight points. 

Postgame Interviews with M. Nyagwegwe and T. Jones

What's Next

EMU won't have long to celebrate tonight's win as they head across Harrisonburg to JMU for a game with the Dukes on Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 pm at Atlantic Union Bank Center. 

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