Mohammad Habhab drops 34 points and 13 rebounds as Eastern Michigan opens the Billy Donlon era with a one-point road victory.
CONWAY, S.C. New coach, new roster, same fight.
Eastern Michigan men's basketball opened the 2026-27 season with a statement Monday night, escaping Coastal Carolina with a 71-70 victory in the first game of the Billy Donlon era.
The Eagles needed every bit of it.
Mohammad Habhab came off the bench and put together a performance to remember, finishing with 34 points and 13 rebounds. The Dearborn native scored 18 of his points at the free-throw line, tying a program record with 18 made free throws.
Jaiden Martin also provided a major offensive boost, finishing with 17 points while knocking down three 3-pointers.
Eastern's season opener was anything but comfortable. The lead changed hands 13 times, and the game was tied 11 times as neither team could create much separation.
Coastal Carolina entered halftime with a 37-34 advantage, using its size to control the paint and create second-chance opportunities. The Chanticleers outrebounded Eastern 40-32 and finished with 15 second-chance points.
But the Eagles refused to fold.
Eastern battled back throughout the second half, eventually making its biggest difference at the free-throw line. The Eagles converted 17 of 18 free throws in the final period, keeping themselves in the game even as their shooting from the field slowed down.
Ball security also proved important. After struggling with turnovers during the preseason, Eastern committed just seven for the game, including only two in the second half.
The Eagles also made Coastal pay for its mistakes, turning 13 turnovers into 13 points.
"That grit and grind that you need to be a great basketball team, we showed it," Donlon said after the victory.
The bench played a major role in the win, supplying 39 of Eastern's 71 points. Habhab led that charge, while the Eagles received contributions throughout the rotation.
Monday's victory was especially important for a program entering a new chapter. Donlon took over the head coaching position after Eastern brought in 12 newcomers, including 11 transfers. With only one player returning from last season's roster, building chemistry was always going to be one of the biggest challenges.
There is still plenty of work to do, but the Eagles have an early result to build on.
Eastern was picked to finish ninth in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll, while Habhab earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAC First Team. If Monday's performance is any indication, Habhab could become one of the conference's biggest problems for opposing defenses.
The Eagles will look to carry their momentum into their next matchup Friday, Nov. 6, when they travel to Cincinnati to take on Xavier.
The Donlon era is officially underway, and Eastern Michigan is already finding ways to win.