It was homecoming for Eastern Michigan, and they were heavily favored to win this game.
This was the second of a four game series between Massachusetts and Eastern Michigan, and the fourth game overall between the two teams, with UMass leading the series all-time.
Eastern Michigan won the opening stanza last year in the new, non-conference series, and Massachusetts looked to avenge that loss on the road.
The Minutemen would start that effort in style. open the scoring on a 49-yard drive that was finished by quarterback Gino Campiotti to go up to a 7-0 lead.