Men's Basketball Clipped By Kent State

Box score.

YPSILANTI, Mich.--On a night where the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team honored its all-time leading scorer and rebounder, Kennedy McIntosh, the Eagles couldn’t take advantage of the special atmosphere, falling to visiting Kent State, 74-64, here Saturday night in the Convocation Center in a Mid-American Conference tilt.

At halftime, EMU honored former basketball great McIntosh by retiring his number "54" jersey. McIntosh is still tops in EMU basketball history in points scored (2,219) and rebounds (1,426). His jersey joins former EMU greats, George "Iceman" Gervin and Grant Long as the only retired jerseys in the program’s 107 year history.

EMU (3-9: 0-4 MAC) was once again led by senior John Bowler (Chicago, Ill.-Notre Dame) who recorded his 21st career double-double with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Senior Danny McElhinny (Hernitage, Pa.-Kennedy Catholic) added 11 points with sophomore Nick Freer (Stevensville, Mich.-Lakeshore) and freshman Carlos Medlock (Detroit, Mich.-Murray Wright) both chipping in 10 points each. Kent State (10-5: 4-0 MAC) was led by Jay Youngblood who tallied 23 points.

"We are growing and doing good things as a team," EMU Head Coach Charles E. Ramsey said. "At times we are making ill-advised mistakes but we are putting ourselves in a position to win. Sooner or later it is going to fall the other way and that will be sooner than later."

"We had opportunities at the end but we didn’t execute to give ourselves an opportunity," Ramsey added. "Things like that you have to do in games of this magnitude. You have to execute."

A late second-half rally was not enough as EMU was unable to overcome consistent shooting by Kent State and inconsistent shooting of its own. For the game, EMU shot 42 percent, hitting 22-of-52 shots from the field, while Kent State shot a blistering 55 percent from the field connecting on 16-of-32 shots.

During the first half, EMU and Kent State traded baskets back-and-forth as the Golden Flashes held an 11-10 lead with 14 minutes remaining. The game stayed tight as EMU took the lead, 15-14, on a Smith jumper but Kent State rattled off the next nine points to retake the lead, 23-17, with six minutes to go in the half. Two cosecutive Bowler buckets stopped the KSU run pulling the Eagles within two, 23-21. The Golden Flashes responded once again with a 11-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game, 31-21, and also outscored the Eagles 10-6 to close out the half with a, 41-27, lead heading into the locker room. EMU was led by Bowler who tallied 11 points while Kent State was paced by Youngblood who notched 14 points. EMU shot 44 percent from the field hitting 11-of-25 shots while KSU connected on 16-of-32 shots for a 50 percent clip.

EMU came out in the second half with fierce intensity outscoring Kent State 15-10 over the first seven minutes to pull within nine points, 51-42. The Eagles didn’t stop there as back-to-back three-pointers by Medlock and McElhinny fueled a 13-8 run cutting KSU’s lead to four, 54-59, with five minutes left in the game. Consecutive Smith and Bowler lay-ups put the Eagles down one, 61-60, at the three-minute mark. The valent effort was cut short as the Golden Flashes ripped off the next seven straight points to pull ahead, 67-60, with 1:46 remaining and went on to secure a 74-64 victory.

"I thought we played pretty hard tonight, which is all I’m concerned about," Kent State Head Coach Jim Christian said. "Whether we play here or in Alaska I just want to make sure our team plays hard and I thought we did that."
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The Eagles are next in action Wednesday , Jan. 18, when it battles Bowling Green State University. Tip-off is scheduled of 7 p.m. in the Convocation Center

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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