Men’s Hoops Falls to In-State Rival Central Michigan, 74-68

Box score.

YPSILANTI, Mich. — The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team opened Mid-American Conference play with a 74-68 loss to in-state rival Central Michigan here Saturday afternoon in the Convocation Center. The loss snapped a three-game Eagles’ winning streak.

Eastern (5-9, 0-1 MAC) grabbed a four-point lead, 56-52, with 5:36 left in the game on two foul shots by Carlos Medlock (Detroit, Mich.-Murray Wright) but the Chippewas came back to out-score the Eagles, 22-12, the rest of the way to notch the win.

Turnovers plagued EMU as the Eagles committed 19 which led to 19 CMU points. The Chippewas also held a 24-16 points-in-the-paint advantage. For the game, EMU shot 45.2 percent from the field (19-of-42), including making 11-of-21 three-point field goals (52.4 percent) and connecting on 19-of-27 free throws (70.4 percent).

The Eagles were led by junior guard Jesse Bunkley (Detroit, Mich.-CMA-Mott C.C.) and sophomore guard Medlock with 15 point each.

CMU (6-7, 1-0 MAC) was paced by junior guard Giordan Watson who led all scorers with 30 points, tying his season and career high. Sophomore Chris Kellerman added 10 for the visiting Chippewas.

EMU fell behind 42-32 to open the second half before going on a 5-0 run to close the gap to five points, 42-37, at the 15:35 mark. Medlock then connected on a floater from the baseline along with a Bunkley three pointer to tied the game at 42-42. However, CMU went on a 6-0 run to re-take the lead, 48-42, but Medlock hit three consecutive free throws to pull the Eagles within three, 48-45. Medlock was not done, hitting another three to tie the game, 48-48, with 11 minutes to go. Nick Freer (Stevensville, Mich.-Lake Shore) hit a three and Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) added a free throw to put the Eagles up, 52-50, at the eight-minute mark. EMU pushed its lead to four, 56-52, with 5:23 left mark when Watson connected on two free throws to pull the Chips within two, 56-54. Dobbins missed a lay-up and Watson hit a jumper to tie the game, 56-56. With EMU up one, 59-58, CMU scored the next five points to go up 63-59. EMU cut the lead to 63-61 but committed costly back-to-back costly turnovers with a minute remaining that led to a five consecutive Chippewa points making the score, 68-61. Devon Dumes (Indianapolis, Ind. Decatur Central) hit two free throws and a three-pointer to cut the lead to 73-68 with nine seconds left in regulation but CMU was able to hit its foul shots and close out the game with the 74-68 victory.

Eastern came out of the gate firing going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc to take a quick 11-5 lead at the 15:48 mark of the first half. Out of the first media time out, CMU responded by scoring the next seven points to take its first lead, 12-11. With the score tied at 14-14, James Matthews (Detroit, Mich.-Murrary Wright) threw down a thunder dunk to put EMU ahead, 16-14, with 11 minutes to go in the half. CMU responded once again going on a 7-0 run to re-take the lead, 20-16. Freer put down the Eagles’ second dunk of the game and was fouled in the process. He hit the foul shot to complete the three point play to give EMU the lead, 21-20. Both teams traded baskets over the next three minutes with CMU holding a two-point lead, 28-26, at the 3:50 mark. CMU went on a 9-3 run to close out the half to take a 37-29 lead into the lockerroom. For the half Eastern shot 47 percent from the field (9-of-19) while Central hit 50 percent from the floor (14-of-28). At the half, Bunkley led EMU with five points while Watson paced CMU with 14 to lead all scorers.

EMU continues conference play and concludes its five-game home stint against Northern Illinois,

Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. here in the Convocation Center.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Men’s Hoops Falls to In-State Rival Central Michigan, 74-68

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