Men's Hoops Takes Manhattan

Box Score

YPSILANTI, Mich. — Behind a solid defensive effort and 14 points from freshman forward Brandon Bowdry (Taylor, Mich.-Truman), the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team defeated Manhattan, 65-51, in BracketBuster presented by ESPNU and O’Reilly Auto Parts action here Saturday afternoon in the Convocation Center. EMU is now 3-1 all time in BracketBuster games.

For the game, EMU (10-16, 4-8 MAC) held Manhattan (12-15, 9-7 MAAC) to 19-of-53 shooting (35.8 percent) from the floor including 7-of-19 from three-point range. EMU shot 47.2 percent from the field (25-of-53), including making 7-of-19 three-point field goals (36.8 percent). The Eagles took advantage of Manhattan’s 21 turnovers by scoring 19 points off of Jasper miscues.

In addition to Bowdry’s 14 points, the Eagles were led by Jesse Bunkley (Detroit, Mich.-CMA-Mott C.C.) who contributed 12 points and four assists. Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio- Glenville) also reached double figures, scoring 10 points with five rebounds. Devon Austin, brother of former EMU standout Markus Austin, was Manhattans’ leading scorer with 16 points. Darryl Crawford and Jamel Ferguson each added 10 points for the Jaspers

Manhattan opened the game with a 7-4 lead over the first six minutes. EMU scored the next six points capped off by a Devon Dumes (Indianapolis, Ind. Decatur Central) triple to take a 10-7 lead with 11:30 left in the half. The Eagles went on another 6-0 spurt with a three pointer by Jarred Axon (Jackson, Mich.-Jackson (Schoolcraft C.C.), a Bowdry free throw and a James Matthews' (Detroit, Mich.-Denby (Marquette) layup to take a 22-15 lead. The Jaspers then responded to cut the lead to 22-19 with 4:17 remaining. EMU outscored Manhattan by a slim 5-to-4 margin highlighted by a Dobbins' thunder dunk to take a 27-23 advantage into the locker room. The Eagles were led by Bowdry with seven points while Austin paced the Jaspers with nine points.

Bowdry opened up the second half scoring five out of EMU’s first eight points to give the Eagles a 35-28 lead. Matthews added another layup to increase the run to 10-5 and force the Jaspers to take a time out down nine, 37-28, at the 16:18 mark. A Dumes' three-pointer out of the time out gave the Eagles their biggest lead of the night, 40-28. Both teams exchanged baskets for the next three minutes until a Dobbins' layup put EMU up 14, 44-30, with 12:14 to play. The Jaspers got six points from Ferguson but the Eagles were able to answer back each time to keep Manhattan from establishing any sort of momentum. The Eagles outscored the Jaspers, 19-17, over the last 9:26 en route to EMU’s largest margin of victory of the season, 65-51.

EMU resumes Mid-American Conference play with a home tilt against in-state rival Western Michigan Thursday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. here in the Convocation Center.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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