Late Rally Pushes UWGB Past EMU

Box score.

GREEN BAY, Wisc. – Wisconsin-Green Bay used a 17-1 run over the game’s final 4:07 to claim a 73-69 victory over the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team in non-conference action Wednesday night here at the Resch Center.

The Eagles, 2-4 on the season, were paced by senior John Bowler (Chicago, Ill.-Notre Dame) who turned in a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Junior Chris Knaub (South Bend, Ind.-St. Joseph's (Jacksonville (TX) J.C.) and sophomore Nick Freer (Stevensville, Mich.-Lakeshore) both turned in career-highs with 10 points each.

UWGB, now 4-5 on the year, was paced by Ryan Evanochko with a game-high 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Cordero Barkley added 13 points while Mike Schachtner poured in 10 in the victory.

The game opened with both teams exchanging baskets until UWGB took a four point advantage, 19-15, on a Josh Lawrence jumper with 9:50 remaining in the first period. The Phoenix lead grew to nine, 28-19, on a Barkley three-point field goal with 5:51 left before the half. EMU responded with a 13-4 run to end the period, as Bowler poured in seven points down the stretch as the two teams headed into the locker room tied at 32.

After the intermission, UW-Green Bay grabbed a quick 36-35 lead on an Evanochko jumper before but the Eagles were prepped for a run of its own. EMU used a pair of treys by senior Danny McElhinny (Hermitage, Pa-Kennedy Catholic) to roll off 15 of the contest’s next 19 points to take a 50-40 edge with 14:28 left in the game. The margin would grow to as much as 14, 57-43, as sophomore James Matthews (Detroit, Mich.-Denby (Marquette) layed one off the glass at the 10:23 mark,

The Phoniex began to chip away but were unable to cut into the deficit, as each time the Eagles answered with a run of its own to keep the advantage in double-figures. A Bowler jumper with 4:58 left made the score 68-56, but it would be Eastern’s final field goal of the contest.

Seven quick points by Barkley and a dunk by Terry Evans pulled UWGB within three, 68-65, with just under three minutes remaining. Following a timeout the Phoenix pulled within a basket, but Gino Smith (Milwaukee, Wisc.-Harmony Community School) made the first of two free throws to keep the lead at three. Following a timeout the Wisconsin-Green Bay run continued as the Phoenix pulled ahead, 70-69, on a Schachtner jumper with 35 seconds remaining.

Down the stretch, EMU missed four of five free throws, including Carlos Medlock's miss on the front end of a bonus situation with 13 seconds left. The Eagles made only 9 of 17 free throws in the game.

One free throw by Evans made it 71-69 and gave Eastern Michigan one last chance, but Medlock was called for traveling while trying to get off a three-point shot. A pair of Evanochko free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining sealed the victory and completed the 17-1 UWGB run.

The Eagles take a week off for final exams before returning to action Dec. 22 when Tulsa visits the Convocation Center at 6 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the EMU Ticket Office at 734.487.2282.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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