Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Ball State
EMU Clips Ball State in Muncie
2/4/2006 6:28:16 PM | Men's Basketball
Eagle snap 17-game road losing skid
Box score.
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team snapped a 17-game road losing skid Saturday afternoon, claiming a 56-43 decision over Ball State at Worthen Arena. The Eagles last road victory came on Jan. 9, 2005, against Central Michigan, when EMU defeated the Chippewas by a score of 86-82.
The Eagles were lead by senior co-captain Danny McElhinny (Hermitage, PA-Kennedy Catholic) who scored a season-high 18 points off the bench. He connected on three-of-five from three-point land and was a perfect seven-of-seven from the free-throw line. Senior co-captain John Bowler (Chicago, Ill.-Notre Dame) turned in his ninth double-double of the season with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in the victory. Carlos Medlock (Detroit, Mich.-Murray Wright) added 10 points to the Eagle attack.
Ball State (7-12; 3-8 MAC) cut Eastern’s (5-14; 2-9 MAC) edge to three with 12:28 to play at 35-32, after a Skip Mills three. The Eagles responded with a three of their own by McElhinny and extended the Eagles lead to six with 10:01 remaining. The Eagles used a 15-4 run to lead by as many of 14 to put the game out of reach. During the run John Bowler scored six points for Eastern.
Ball State finished 2-of-20 from three-point range, including connecting on 1-of-14 in the second half.
Defense was the key to the first half. Ball State got off to early 5-0 lead however the Eagles used a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game at the 15:42 mark. The Cardinals took a 11-10 lead with 11:26 remaining, then the Eagles used a 11-0 run to break the game open, 21-11. McElhinny scored five straight points over the run. BSU cut the lead to 21-16 but Medlock scored the final four points of the half giving the Eagles 25-16 half time advantage.
Ball State was limited to 28.6 percent shooting from the field on 6-of-21 shooting in the first half compared to Eastern’s 36.8 percent.
Eagles are next in action Tuesday, Feb. 7, at Bowling Green, Ohio. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. tip-off.
