YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — Willie Mangum had 18 points and four steals to lead Eastern Michigan to a 70-50 win over Vermont on Friday in a college basketball opener.
Tim Bond scored 15 points and Brandon Nazione added 10 rebounds and 10 points for the Eagles. Kurt Steidl had 12 rebounds and 11 points and for the Catamounts, who led 30-27 at halftime.
The Catamounts trailed 41-39 with 12:29 left after a 3-pointer by Ernie Duncan. The Eagles went on a 15-3 run to extend the lead to 56-42 on a jumper by Mangum with 5:03 remaining.
Eastern Michigan played without top-scorer Raven Lee, who was suspended indefinitely for violation of team rules on Friday. The junior guard averaged 16.7 points last season.
On the first day of the college basketball season, the Vermont-Eastern Michigan game was one of two Division I men’s games that began at 11 a.m. to get things rolling. The other game was Kean College at Columbia.
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