Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
No. 25 Rhode Island @
EMU Men Fall to 25th Ranked Rhode Island, 92-75
12/28/2007 9:07:30 PM | Men's Basketball
Eagles led by Zane Gay with 12 points
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Rhode Island University Rams lived up to their No. 25 national ranking by recording a 92-75 win over the Eastern Michigan University Eagles here Friday in the opening round of the Islander Invitational in the American Bank Center.
The Eagles fought hard against the Rams and pulled within 11, 73-62, with 9:43 left, but a series of turnovers and key Rhode Island buckets was too much for EMU to overcome and the Rams never let the lead go below double digits.
Eastern will take its 4-6 record into the consolation game Saturday against the winner of the Georgia Southern-Texas A&M Corpus Christi game played later Friday night.
“You’re not going to slow Rhode Island down,” EMU head coach Charles E. Ramsey said after the game. “They made some big shots and we didn’t. They certainly deserve their 25th ranking.”
The Eagles were led by junior wing Zane Gay (Olivet, Mich.-Olivet) with 12 points while junior guard Carlos Medlock (Detroit, Mich.-Murray Wright) and senior guard Jesse Bunkley (Detroit, Mich.-CMA-Mott C.C.) chipped in 10 each while sophomore center Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) and senior guard Travis Lewis (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Loy Norrix) added nine each.
Rhode Island, now 12-1 on the year, was led by Will Daniels and Jimmy Baron with 18 points apiece while Kahiem Seawright added 16.
The Eagles opened the game with a three-pointer by Medlock and quickly followed with another three by Bunkley to stake the Eagles to an early 8-6 lead at the 16:19 mark.
The two teams traded buckets through the next six minutes before the Rams’ Baron connected on three straight three-point field goals to give Rhode Island a 34-27 lead.
The Eagles refused to fold, however, and cut the lead to three, 36-33, on a lay-up and free throw by senior guard Jarred Axon (Jackson, Mich.-Jackson-Schoolcraft C.C.).
The Rams then went to their strong inside game which helped Rhode Island build a 10-point lead, 51-41, at intermission.
Lewis hit three triples in the opening half to lead the Eagles with nine points. Baron led all scorers in the first 20 minutes with 15 points while teammate Will Daniels added 13. The Rams won the first-half rebound battle, 17-13.
The Eagles came out cold in the early stages of the second half as Rhode Island built an 18-point lead twice, the latest with 12:37 left.
Eastern would battle back from that large deficit to cut the margin to 11 points, 73-62, on a three-point field goal by Medlock with 9:43 left. The Eagles would get it no closer, however, as the Rams kept the offense rolling late in the game to record the 17-point win.
