Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Oakland
Eagles Drop Home Opener to Oakland
12/5/2006 9:39:09 PM | Men's Basketball
Bowdry paces Eagles with career-high 10 points
YPSILANTI, Mich.--The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team fell to Oakland University, 66-54, here Tuesday night in the home opener at the Convocation Center. The Eagles were led by freshman Brandon Bowdry (Taylor-Mich.-Truman) and junior Jesse Bunkley (Detroit, Mich.-CMA Mott C.C) who each scored 10 which was also a career high for Bowdry.
With the loss EMU falls to 1-5 on the season, while the Golden Grizzles improve to 6-4.
The story of the game was Eastern had no answer for Oakland’s tenacity on the glass at both ends of the floor as the Golden Grizzlies out-rebounded the Eagles, 41-18, which lead to 19 second-chance points compared to the EMU’s two. Both teams shot well from the floor as EMU hit 25-of-53 shots for a 47 percent clip while Oakland hit 46 percent connecting on 21-of-47 shots.
Oakland was led by senior Vova Severovas who scored a game-high 24 points, while junior Brandon Cassie added 12.
The game was nip and tuck throughout the first 14 minutes of the half with Oakland holding a 25-15 lead with six minutes remaining. The Golden Grizzles outscored EMU 12-8 down the stretch to take a 37-23 lead into the locker room. Bunkley lead all Eagle scorers with seven points, while Cassie led Oakland with 10 points.
The second half was a game of runs as EMU opened the frame on a 13-5 run aided by three-point shots from Bowdry and Bunkley to pull the Eagles within six, 42-36, at the 12:41 mark. Oakland responded and scored the next 11 points aided by back-to-back three-point plays to go up, 53-36. EMU’s Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) who made his collegiate debut after missing the first five games with a foot injury, and Devon Dumes (Indianapolis, Ind.-Decatur Central) hit consecutive lay-ups to cut the OU lead to 13, 53-40, with 7:42 left in the game. Both teams traded baskets down the stretch with EMU outscoring Oakland 14-13 but the Eagles could not cut into the lead as OU locked up the victory.
EMU heads to Berkeley, Calif. to face San Diego at the Golden Bear Classic held on the campus of the University of California, Dec. 8-9. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. EST.
