HARRISONBURG, Va. - After 24 days, two holidays and a week of finals, the Royals men's basketball team was finally back on the court Wednesday night. 

They welcomed in ODAC foe Washington and Lee in a matchup of teams sitting at .500 in the conference. The Generals took a three point lead into the break but EMU outscored W&L by 11 in the second half to pick up a 91-83 win and move to 4-6 overall, 2-1 in the ODAC. 

Highlights

• Both teams came out running and gunning in the first half, combining for 103 points in the first 20 minutes. Landon Swingler got the Royals on the board in the first minute, drilling a three off an assist from Aviwe Mahlong. The teams swapped buckets for a big chunk of the half, until with 14:28 left, W&L took a lead that would stand for 10 minutes. Everytime the Royals pulled within one, the Generals would answer and extend the lead back out. 
• At the 4:45 mark, Tim Jones hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 35 and answered a General three with one of his own to knot things again. Mahlong made a layup to give EMU its first lead since the beginning before W&L tied the game once again. Jones hit another three to put EMU ahead 43-40 but Washington and Lee ended the half on a 13-7 run to take a lead into the half. 
• Back to back layups from Mizz Nyagwegwe kicked off the second half for EMU and put them ahead, 54-53. The Royals would extend their lead to five on a Jones layup and a pair of Mark Burkholder freethrows. W&L would cut into the lead but the Royals responded with a bucket from Mahlong and a three from Jones to go up nine, 63-54. 
• After Washington and Lee pulled within five, Nyagwegwe and Jones hit threes and put EMU's lead at double digits. The Generals would respond with an 8-0 run of their own, forcing an EMU time out. Out of the break, the teams traded points until, with EMU leading by just two, Burkholder hit a monster three to push the lead back to five. W&L would eventually tie things at 78 but Burkholder answered again with a layup and Nyagwegwe added a three to lead by five once again. EMU would keep W&L scoreless for an almost five minute stretch at the end of the game, giving up a layup with a minute left and the game already sealed. 
• Jones finished with a game-high 32 points to go along with nine rebounds and six assists. The senior started the game 6-6 from three, not missing from behind the arc until the 10:38 mark in the second half. He finished the game 6-8 from long distance. Nyagwegwe also had a big night, dropping 19 points, 15 of which came in the second half. Burkholder was held scoreless in the first half but picked up 11 in the second on 4-5 shooting from the field. 

By the Numbers

• 50% - EMU shot a season-best 13-26 from three. 
• 1142 - 91 points is the most points scored by EMU since a 92-73 win over Wilson College on Nov. 20, 2018. 
• 32 - The 32 points scored by Jones was a career-high and gives him 980 for his career.

Postgame Interview with the Royals

What's Next

EMU will continue ODAC play on Saturday when they head to Lynchburg to take on Randolph College. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 pm. 

To keep up to date with everything surrounding the men's basketball program this year follow EMU on Twitter and Instagram, like EMU Athletics on Facebook or visit our website.