Men's Basketball Beats Ball State

Box score.

YPSILANTI, Mich. — Behind solid efforts from seniors Craig Cashen (Cincinnati, Ohio-St. Xavier) and Chris Knaub (South Bend, Ind.-St. Joseph’s-Jacksonville (TX) J.C.) on Senior Day, the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team defeated Ball State, 61-51, here Sunday afternoon in a Mid-American Conference West Division game in the Convocation Center. The game was televised live on Comcast Cable. Cashen tallied 11 points in his final home outing, hitting 3-for-4 from behind the arc, while Knaub chipped a season-high nine points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field in his final Convocation Center appearance.

The second half started slow, with the Eagles gaining the lead, 30-27, within the first five minutes of the half. The Cardinals responded by outscoring the Eagles 13-3 over the next three minutes to take a 40-33 lead at the 13-minute mark. A 23-4 run, however, sparked by three Cashen three pointers, gave EMU the lead, 56-44, with just under three minutes left. During the run, a stingy EMU zone defense held Ball State scoreless for nearly eight minutes until Skip Mills hit a layup with 1:13 left in the game. Eastern went on to score another five points, and finish the game with the 10-point advantage.

EMU was paced by junior guard Jarred Axon (Jackson, Mich.-Jackson-Schoolcraft C.C.) with 16 points, while Cashen had 11 and junior guard Jesse Bunkley (Detroit, Mich.-CMA-Mott C.C.) added 10. Junior guard Travis Lewis (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Loy Norrix) had a game-high 11 rebounds for the Eagles. Ball State (9-19, 5-9 MAC) was led by forward Anthony Newell with 17 points, while Mills added 13.

EMU limited Ball State to just 31.6 percent (18-of-57) shooting from the field, while the Eagles shot 46.5 percent (20-of-43). Eastern outrebounded the visiting Cardinals, 39-32.

Over the first four minutes of the opening half, EMU used a 6-0 run to take a 7-2 lead. The Eagles then got a quick five points from Bunkley, to extend their lead to 12-5, at the 13:18 mark. Ball State responded with an 11-0 run of their own, to take the lead, 16-12, with eight minutes left in the first half. Consecutive layups by Knaub and Banjanin tied the score at 16-all with just over six minutes left in the first. The game was nip and tuck down the stretch of the first half, with a Bunkley three pointer tying the game, 24-24, heading into the lockerroom. For the half, Bunkley led the Eagles with eight points, while Mills and Newell led Ball State with six points a piece.

EMU hits the road for a Thursday night showdown with instate Rival Central Michigan, March 1, at 7 p.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related News

Next Event

Related Videos