Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Northern Colorado
Men’s Hoops Upend Northern Colorado
12/21/2006 5:14:18 PM | Men's Basketball
Hot second half shooting from beyond the arc sparks Eagles to victory
YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball secured its second victory of the season upending Northern Colorado, 71-61, to snap a six-game losing streak Thursday afternoon here at the Convocation Center. Second half heroics from junior guard Jesse Bunkley (Detroit, Mich.-CMA-Mott C.C.) was the difference, as he scored a career-high 19 points all in the second frame. Bunkley hit 4-of-7 from three-point range while connecting on 6-of-9 shots from the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw line. Defensively, the Eagles held the Bears to a season-low 61 points.
With the win, EMU moves to 2-7 on the season, while the Bears fall to 2-10.
Sophomore Carlos Medlock (Detroit, Mich.-Murray Wright) led EMU with a game-high 20 points while freshman guard Devon Dumes (Indianapolis, Ind.-Decatur Central) chipped in 10 points. Junior forward James Matthews (Detroit, Mich.-Demby) returned to the line-up grabbing six boards. Sean Taibi led Northern Colorado with 14 points.
EMU’s hot second half shooting was too much for Northern Colorado to overcome. The Eagles connected on 11-of-23 shots (47 percent) with hitting a staggering 5-of-10 (50 percent) from behind the three point arc. For the game, EMU hit 11-of-24 (45 percent) from three-point land while out rebounding Northern Colorado, 41-28.
UNC came out on fire in the second half going on a 10-2 run to take a 40-36 led with 15:49 remaining. A Brandon Bowdry (Taylor, Mich.-Taylor) lay-up and Bunkley jumper stopped the bleeding tying the score at 40-40. Bunkley hit a three to regain the lead for the Eagles, 45-42, at the 12:50 mark. However, the Detroit, Mich. native was not done hitting two more three-balls capping off an 11-2 run to give EMU a nine point lead, 51-42. Jarred Axon (Jackson, Mich.-Morr C.C.) and Bunkley hit two more threes putting the Eagles up,59-48, with 7:50 to go. Both teams traded baskets down the stretch with EMU rolling to a 71-61 victory.
The Eagles enjoyed a five point lead, 20-15, with 12 minutes to go in the first half. Northern Colorado responded and outscored EMU 13-8 to tie the game, 28-28, at the 3:45 mark. EMU got a pair of free throws by Dumes with Craig Cashen (Cincinnati, Ohio-St. Xavier) getting the put back on the third missed attempt to put the Eagles up 32-28. Cashen connected on another tip-in off a missed free throw with :29 seconds to go to give EMU a 34-30 halftime lead. Medlock and Dumes led the EMU in scoring with 10 and 14 points, respectively, with Taibi leading the Bears with eight points.
EMU heads to Tulsa, Okla. to face the Tulsa Golden Hurricane Saturday, Dec. 23, at 1 p.m.
