Eastern Michigan Athletics
WEMU Remembers the NCAA Victory over Duke
2/6/2006 3:02:37 PM | Men's Basketball
WEMU's celebrates greatest moments in EMU sports history
In the mid 1990's, Eastern Michigan University's men's basketball program became a force to be reckoned with, and gained national attention in NCAA tournaments. Click here for a look back at one of the team's greatest runs toward a national championship.
Dome Dance
The third trip to the NCAA Tournament was a charm for the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team.The 1995-96 Eagles turned in one of the most memorable seasons in school history, notching their third regular-season and postseason MAC titles and qualifying for a third appearance in the NCAA tournament.
Bowen Field House was charged with electricity Sunday, March 12, 1996, when the EMU squad, along with a huge group of fans and supporters, was on hand for the nationally televised NCAA Pairings Show.
The packed house of fans roared with excitement and anticipation when it was announced that Eastern Michigan and Duke would be opponents in the Southeast Regional to be played at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Ind.
The Duke Blue Devils entered the game seeded No. 8 while the underdog Eagles of Eastern Michigan were seeded No. 9.
Playing before a raucous crowd of 31,373 in the RCA Dome, along with a national television audience, the Eastern backcourt tandem of Earl Boykins (23 points) and Brian Tolbert (20) dominated, while Derrick Dial added 12 up front to lead the Eagles to a 75-60 decision in the first round.
The second-round matchup had Eastern squaring off against No. 1-seeded Connecticut.
The Eagles came out with a vengeance against the heavily favored Huskies, racing to a 13-point lead, 32-19, with 12:09 left in the first half. Eastern held a 48-47 halftime lead.
The second half belonged to UConn, however, as the Huskies out scored EMU by a 48-33 margin for the 95-81 win. Seniors Tolbert and Theron Wilson closed out their magnificent careers in style, with Tolbert scoring 36, including seven triples, and Wilson adding 18.
WEMU Remembers... A Look Back at the Series
Part 1 -- Men's Basketball's Victory over Duke (Feb. 1)
Part 2 -- Football's California Bowl Victory (Feb. 4)
Part 3 -- Football's 2004 Collegiate Clash Victory (Feb. 7)
Part 4 -- Women's Basketball MAC Tournament Semifinal Loss to Kent State (Feb. 8)
More Installments to Follow....
