Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Ohio
Men's Basketball Falls to Ohio, 75-63
1/11/2006 8:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Senior John Bowler records his 20th career double-double
Box score.
YPSILANTI, Mich.--The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team proved to be no match against visiting Ohio here Wednesday night in a Mid-American Conference game in the Convocation Center.
The Bobcats jumped to a quick 25-8 lead and cruised to a 75-63 victory. With the loss, EMU falls to 3-8 (0-3 MAC) while Ohio moves to 9-2 (3-0 MAC). EMU was led by senior John Bowler (Chicago, Ill.-Notre Dame) who recorded his 20th career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Gino Smith (Milwaukee, Wis.-Harmony Comm.) added 18 points for the Eagles.
EMU hung around at the beginning of the second half but could not close the gap as Ohio showed why they are one of the best teams in the MAC out-shooting the Eagles 50 percent to 38 percent from the field in the second half. For the game, three-point shooting proved to be the difference as the Eagles only hit 5-for-19 for a dismal 26 a percent clip, while the Bobcats hit 8-of-20 from the beyond the arc for 40 percent. For the game, EMU shot 41 percent, hitting 26-of-63 shots, while Ohio connected on 27-of-58 shots for 46 percent.
"They play with a lot of confidence and a a certain swagger," EMU Head Coach Charles E. Ramsey said of Ohio. "Give them all of the accolades. It will be a good battle the next few months but Ohio plays with a certain confidence that you can’t take away from them and that is a good thing to have.
"You can’t let a team of that caliber start off the game 8-for-8," Ramsey added. "They started off the game 8-for-8 and 3-for-3 from three and they weren’t working hard enough to score buckets. You can’t give a team of that caliber that type of cushion and then fight back."
During the first half, Ohio came out hot connecting on five of its first six shots to take a commanding, 15-5, lead with four minutes gone. The Bobcats continued their run, outscoring the Eagles 10-3 over the next six minutes, increasing the lead to 17, 25-8, at the 11-minute mark. Two triples by Danny McElhinny (Hermitage, Pa.-Kennedy Catholic) sparked the Eagles as they out-scored Ohio, 16-10, over the next seven minutes to trim the Bobcat lead to, 35-21, with four minutes to go. A Nick Freer (Stevensville, Mich.-Lakeshore) dunk cut into the lead, 28-37, but Ohio maintained control and took a, 45-31, advantage into the locker room.
The Eagles are next in action Saturday, Jan. 14, when it battles the Kent State University. tip-off is scheduled of 7:30 p.m. in the Convocation Center.
