Men’s Basketball Takes Out North Dakota State

Box score

YPSILANTI, Mich. — Behind a solid defensive effort, the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team won its third consecutive game with a 74-66 non-conference victory over North Dakota State here Wednesday night in the Convocation Center.

For the game, EMU (5-8) held its fifth straight opponent to 66 points or less. The Eagles shot 51 percent from the field (25-of-49), including making 6-of-14 three-point field goals (42.9 percent) and connecting on 18-of-24 free throws (75 percent). Defensively, Eastern forced 15 turnovers which accounted for 15 of the Eagles’ 74 points.

The Eagles were led by sophomore guard Carlos Medlock (Detroit, Mich.-Murray Wright) who tied his season’s high with 23 points, just missing his career best of 24. Medlock connected on six-of-8 field goals including 3-of-5 three-point field goals to go along with a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line. Junior Jarred Axon (Jackson, Mich.-Jackson-Schoolcraft C.C.) added 14 points for the Eagles. Junior Travis Lewis (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Loy Norrix) made his first start of the season notching a career-high nine points while hitting a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and 2-for-2 at the line.

NDSU (8-6) was led by forward Brent Winkelman with 16 while Mike Nelson added 15, Ben Woodside chipped in 14 and Sam Sussenguth added 10.

“We beat a very good team today who has some quality wins on their schedule,” said Head Coach Charles E. Ramsey. “This is the best win that we have had since our victory over California last season.”

North Dakota opened the second half outscoring EMU, 7-3, to pull within nine, 43-32, with 15 minutes remaining in the game. Both teams traded baskets over the next six minutes with Eastern continuing to lead by nine, 53-42. Medlock connected on three and Jesse Bunkley (Detroit, Mich. CMA-Mott C.C.) hit a jumper to extend the Eagle lead to 58-48 at the four-minute mark. The game was again nip and tuck as the Bison hit a three to once again cut the lead to single digits at 62-53. Bunkley hit a layup coupled with a Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) free throw that moved EMU ahead, 65-53, at the 2:29 mark. North Dakota would not go away and went on a quick 7-0 run to pull within seven, 67-60. Medlock and Lewis both hit a pair of free throws to move EMU ahead 71-62 with 00:49 left to play. The Eagles went on to close out the game with a 74-66 victory.

EMU started the game connecting on 4-of-5 three pointers while shooting 72 percent from the field to take a 23-9 lead at the 10-minute mark of the first half. Eastern was not done, scoring the next seven points to take a commanding 29-9 lead with eight minutes left in the half. North Dakota State responded with an 8-3 run to cut into the lead, 32-17. Both teams scored eight points each to close out the half with EMU leading, 40-25, at intermission. The Eagles shot a blistering 62 percent from the field while holding NDSU to 33 percent. Medlock led EMU with nine points while Vaughn paced NDSU with 10 points.

EMU opens conference play and concludes its five-game home stint against in-state rival Central Michigan, Jan. 6, at 3 p.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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