Eagles Fall, 58-54, to Visiting Drake University Squad

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — A furious second-half rally fell just short as the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team fell, 58-54, to a visiting Drake University team here Wednesday night, Dec. 8, 2010, in a non-conference men's basketball game in the Convocation Center.

The Eagles fought back from a second-half double-digit deficit to pull within three, 54-51, with 1:29 left in the game, but after gaining possession EMU suffered a turnover which led to a Drake basket for a 56-51 Bulldog lead.

Junior forward Brandon Bowdry (St. Louis, Mo.-Taylor (Mich.) Truman), who turned in the 27th double-double of his career with 25 points and 10 rebounds, then hit a three to make it 56-54, with 9.8 seconds left, but Drake's Frank Wiseler would make two free throws to give the visitors a 58-54 lead with just 9.2 seconds left and the game would end with that score.

The loss drops EMU to 1-7 on the season with a date against in-state foe Detroit on the agenda Saturday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. here in the Convocation Center.

Sophomore center Matt Balkema (Warren, Mich.-Cousino) added nine points while sophomore guard Derek Thompson (Detroit, Mich.-Melvindale-Southeast Missouri State) added eight points.

The Eagles shot just 35.4 percent from the field, making 17-of-48 shots and connected on only 3-of-17 triple tries for 17.6 percent. Drake shot 45.7 percent on 21-of-46 from the field. EMU won the rebound battle, 33-28.

Drake, now 3-4 overall, was led by Rayvonte Rice with 13 points while Ryan Wedel added 10.

Bowdry put the Eagles on the scoreboard first, scoring on a driving layup while being fouled. He would make the free throw for a three-point play at the 18:52 mark of the first half.

Eastern would up its lead to 5-3 on a hook shot by Balkema but Rice would then score eight straight points and the Bulldogs would go up by seven with 14:48 on the clock.

Bowdry would almost singlehandedly keep the Eagles within reach, scoring 18 points in the first half, including tying the score at 28-all with 14.8 seconds left in the half on two free throws.

Drake's Kraidon Woods tipped in a miss to finish the half with the visitors leading 30-28.

The Eagles made 9-of-23 field goals in the first half for 39.1 percent while Drake was hitting 45.8 percent on 11-of-24 shooting. Rice paced the Bulldogs with 11. EMU doubled up Drake on the boards, 18-9, in the first half.

After a slow start by both teams to begin the second half, the Bulldogs ran off eight unanswered points to take a 10-point lead, 43-33, at the 16:11 mark of the second half.

Thompson would get the Eagles back on track with a long triple from the right corner to cut the deficit to seven, 43-36, with 12:45 left.

The Eagles would not quit, however, and Bowdry would hit a pair of charity tosses to cut the Drake lead to four, 48-44, with 6:23 remaining in the contest, setting up the late-game flurry.

EMU will be back in action this Saturday, Dec. 11, when it hosts the University of Detroit Mercy in the opening game of a midday doubleheader at the Convocation Center. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. with the women's game against Canisius set to begin a half hour following the conclusion of the men's contest.

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Team Stats

Brandon Bowdry

Matt Balkema

Derek Thompson

Adrian Burton

Eastern Michigan Athletics