Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, March 4
DeKalb, Ill.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
69
at
76
Northern Illinois
Men’s Hoops Downed by NIU
3/4/2007 5:48:56 PM | Men's Basketball
Dumes leads Eagles with second consecutive 17-point outing
Box score.
MAC Tournament Bracket (PDF).
DEKLAB, Ill. — The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team rallied from a double-digit deficit, but could not complete the comeback as the Eagles fell to Northern Illinois University, 76-69, in a Mid-American Conference tilt here Sunday afternoon at the NIU Convocation Center.
With the loss, EMU concludes the regular season with 12-18, 6-10 MAC record to earn the No. 8 seed heading into the 2007 MAC Tournament. The Eagles will face No. 9 seed Ball State in first round action at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, March 7. Tip off is set for 1 p.m. With the win, Northern Illinois finishes regular season play with a 7-22, 4-12 MAC record.
A late scoring drought by Eastern Michigan and hot second half shooting by Northern Illinois proved to be the difference in the game. EMU pulled within two, 71-69, with 1:26 remaining but missed its last four attempts to decide the outcome. In addition, NIU shot a blistering 68 percent (15-of-22) from the field and 62 percent (5-of-8) from three-point range in the second half compared to 46 percent (12-of-26) and a 0-for-7 effort from three-point range in the first half.
EMU was led by freshman guard Devon Dumes (Indianapolis, Ind.-Decatur Central) who scored 17 points for the second consecutive game on 6-of-12 shooting from the field including 5-of-9 from three-point range. Freshman forward Brandon Bowdry (Taylor, Mich.-Turman) added 14 points for the second consecutive game on 7-of-15 shooting from the field while junior guard Jarred Axon (Jackson, Mich.-Jackson-School Craft C.C.) chipped in 12 points hitting 5-of-10 from the field. Freshman forward Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) also added nine points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Northern Illinois was led by senior James Hughes who scored a game-high 24 points hitting an impressive 10-of-11 shorts from the field while going 4-of-5 from the free throw line. Cody Yelder added 14 points with Zach Pancratz and Mike McKinney each scored 11 and 10 points respectively.
Axon and Bunkley gave EMU its first lead, 38-35, with back-to-back three-pointers to open the second half. However, NIU hit its first six shots from the field to move ahead 47-40 at the 15:41 mark. Out of a 30 second timeout, Axon hit another three to cut the lead to 47-43 but the Huskies hit their seventh straight shot to go up 50-43. Axon hit another jumper followed by NIU’s first miss to pull EMU to 50-45 going into the media timeout. Eastern went on an 8-4 run to pull within one, 54-53 with 11:28 left in regulation. Dobbins hit a pair of free throws to give EMU its second lead of the game at 55-54 but NIU got a quick lay-up on the other end to re-take the lead. Dumes hit a tree to put EMU up, 58-56, but NIU responded with an 8-0 run to take a 64-58 lead with 7:40 to go. Both teams traded baskets over the next three minutes with NIU holding a 66-61 lead. Bunkley picked up his fifth foul which led to two Hughes free throws. Dumes hit a three to pull EMU within four, 68-64 but Yelder hit a three for NIU to give the Huskies a 71-64 lead. Dumes his three fourth three of the half and a Travis Lewis (Kalamazoo, Mich-Loy Norrix) steal led to a Axon jumper to pull the Eagles within two, 71-69, with 1:26 left to play. On Northern’s next possession, Shawn Logan connected on a lay-up, was fouled and hit the ensuring free throw to complete the three point play giving NIU a 74-69 lead with 1:15 left. EMU was unable to score over the final 1:15 seconds securing the 76-69 NIU victory.
Northern Illinois jumped out to an 8-3 lead by the first media timeout. NIU outscored EMU 13-6 to take a 19-9 lead at the 11:50 mark with Hughes scoring 12 of the Huskies first 19 points. Bowdry hit three consecutive lay-ups to pull EMU within eight 26-18 with 3:50 left tin the half. Bunley and Lewis hit three-pointers cut the lead to 28-24. Craig Cashen (Cincinnati, Ohio-St. Xavier) added a lay-up followed by another one by Dumes as time expired sent both teams into the locker room with the game tied 32-32.
2007 FirstEnergy MAC Tournament Pairings
Wednesday, March 7
No. 8 Eastern Micigan vs. No. 9 Ball State, 1 p.m.
No. 5 Ohio vs. No. 12 Bowling Green, 3 p.m.
No. 7 Central Michigan vs. No. 10 Buffalo, 5 p.m.
No. 6 Western Michigan vs. No. 11 Northern Illinois, 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 8
No. 1 Toledo vs. No.8/No.9 Winner, Noon
No. 4 Miami vs. No. 5/No. 12 Winner, 2 p.m.
No. 2 Akron vs. No. 7/10 Winner, 7 p.m.
No. 3 Kent State vs. No. 6/11 Winner, 9 p.m.
Friday, March 9
No. 1/8/9 vs. No. 4/5/12 Winner, 7 p.m.
No. 2/7/10 vs. No. 3/6/11 Winner, 9 p.m.
Saturday, March 10
Championship Game (ESPN2), 7 p.m.
Serving up tacos and aces!
Wednesday, October 22
Men's Basketball Alumni Game All Call
Tuesday, October 21
🎥 Eastern in 60 Seconds: Part 9
Tuesday, October 21
Season 8 - Episode 9: Belcher’s Leadership and Football Returns Home
Monday, October 20