Men’s Basketball Downed By Miami

Box Score

YPSILANTI, Mich. — In a game that was neck and neck until the end, the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team could not get defensive stops when it needed them most. Down six, the Eagles had a chance to get closer but a turnover and two made free throws allowed visiting Miami to escape with a 74-64 victory here Wednesday night in the Convocation Center.

EMU (8-15, 3-7 MAC) notched one of its best shooting performances of the season, hitting an impressive 13-of-23 (56.5 percent) in the first half and 23-of-47 (48.9 percent) for the game. However, Miami (11-11, 7-3 MAC) was too strong and shot 26-of-45 (57.8 percent) from the floor and continuously kept the Eagles from gaining any sort of major momentum. Eastern was unable to stop the RedHawks down low as they were outscored, 40-28, in the paint and only accumulated five points off turnovers compared to 16 points off turnovers by Miami.

Eastern was led by junior guard Jarred Axon (Jackson, Mich.-Jackson-Schoolcraft C.C.) with 14 points shooting 4-of-7 from the field. Jesse Bunkley (Detroit, Mich.-CMA-Mott C.C.) pitched in with 11 points. James Matthews (Detroit, Mich.-Denby-Marquette) scored seven points and had team-high five rebounds, while Nenad Banjanin (Belgrade, Serbia-Lon Morris (TX) J.C.) was one shy of his career high with nine points.

Miami was led by the twin attack of Nathan Peavy and Tim Pollitz who shot a combined 18-of-24 from the field. Pollitz was the high scorer for the RedHawks with 22, while Peavy added 21 points and five rebounds of his own.

A 9-2 run early in the second half put the RedHawks ahead, 36-33, before Axon answered with a layup. A Banjanin layup cut the lead to one, 38-37, at the 4:26 mark of the second half. A Doug Penno three-pointer out of the timeout gave Miami some breathing room, but a layup by Zane Gay (Olivet, Mich.-Olivet) and a Banjanin tip in tied the game at 41-41 with 13:34 to play. The RedHawks went on an 11-2 run over the next five minutes to take a 52-43 lead at the 11:32 mark. The Eagles went 9-of-12 from the line over the next five minutes to cut the lead to four, 56-52, at the 14:49 mark. Four straight points by Peavy put the Red and White up eight, 60-52, with 4:23 remaining. EMU came out of the timeout with a 7-2 run jump started by layups by Matthews and Banjanin coupled with a Devon Dumes (Indianapolis, Ind.-Decatur Central) three pointer that cut the lead to three, 62-59, with 2:22 to play.

The Eagles got off to a fast start and had an early four-point lead thanks to five early points from Axon that put the Eagles up 6-2. However, Miami answered back with a three-pointer from Michael Bramos. A jumper by Bunkley gave the Eagles an 8-5 lead at the first media timeout. Both teams exchanged baskets for the next four minutes before a three pointer by Gay put the Eagles ahead, 15-12, with 11:59 remaining in the first half. A 7-0 Eagles run forced a RedHawks timeout with 6:04 to play in the half. Both teams traded baskets over the final six minutes of the first half as the Eagles took a 31-29 lead into the locker room. For the half, Bunkley led the Eastern with eight points while Pollitz paced Miami with 12 points.

EMU hits the road for a conference tilt at Bowling Green Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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