Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Ohio
Eagles Knock Off Conference Leading Bobcats, 63-56
2/6/2008 9:46:22 PM | Men's Basketball
Jarred Axon’s 18 points a game-high
Box score.
YPSILANTI, Mich. — The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team turned in one of its best all-around games of the season to knock off Mid-American Conference East Division leader Ohio, 63-56, here tonight in a cross- divisional game in the Convocation Center.
The Eagles relied on some hot shooting on offense and a stifling defense to record the upset win over the visiting Bobcats. EMU hit 10-of-26 3-point field goals for 38.5 percent and limited the visitors to just 34.7 percent (17-of-49) from the field to notch the win. The Eagles held Bobcat center Leon Williams, who entered the game averaging 16.5 points and 10.1 rebounds, to just nine points and eight rebounds.
Eastern, now 8-13 overall and 4-5 in MAC action, was led by senior guard Jarred Axon (Jackson, Mich.-Jackson-Schoolcraft C.C.) with 18 points, including 6-of-14 from the 3-point arc. Junior guard Carlos Medlock (Detroit, Mich.-Murray Wright) added 13 and senior guard Jesse Bunkley (Detroit, Mich.-CMA-Mott C.C.) added 12.
Ohio, 15-7 overall and 6-3 in league play, was paced by Williams and Bubba Walther with nine points each while Williams led the way with eight boards.
Both teams struggled out of the gate, with the first basket of the game, a Tyler Jones (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville) jumper, coming after nearly three minutes had expired. Eastern jumped out to a 12-6 lead following an Axon three-pointer at the 12:07 mark. Ohio battled back and tied the game at 18 with 3:51 remaining in the half off a fast-break dunk by Allen Hester. The Eagles, however, rebounded with an 8-0 run sparked by two Axon 3-pointers and a Wendale Farrow (Sacramento, Calif.-Mira Loma (American River (Calif.) J.C.) dunk with less then a minute left in the half.
EMU took a five-point lead into the locker room behind a strong first-half performance from Axon, accumulating a first-half high 12 points, on 4-of-7 shooting from behind the arc.
As a unit, the Green and White shot 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from the field in the first half, including 6-of-16 from downtown. Tenacious defense by the Eagles limited the Bobcats to just seven first half field goals, just 29.2 percent shooting (7-of-24). Leading the Bobcats in the first half was Jerome Tillman with five points.
Ohio’s Bert Whittington closed the gap to two at the start of the second half with a 3-pointer at the 19:09 mark, but the Eagles then went on a 13-2 run over the next five minutes, capped off by a Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) layup at the 13:52 mark, giving the Green and White a 39-26 advantage.
Ohio answered with an 8-1 run of its own, cutting the deficit to six, 40-34, with 10:18 remaining in the game. Both teams traded baskets over the ensuing six minutes before the Eagles’ defense turned the heat up, limiting the Bobcats to no field goals and just four free throws over a five-minute span. Michael Allen’s three-pointer with :54 seconds left brought the Bobcats to within nine, but to no avail, as EMU was able to hold the lead and secure its third conference win of the year.
For the game, Eastern shot 43.2 percent (19-of-44) from the field, including nearly 40 percent from three-point range. The Bobcats were limited to 34.7 percent (17-of-49) shooting from the field, committing 11 turnovers that led to 11 EMU points.
EMU will hit the road next, Sunday, Feb. 10, traveling to Buffalo, N.Y. to take on the University at Buffalo. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Alumni Arena. The Eagles return to the Convocation Center Wednesday, Feb. 13, hosting the Falcons of Bowling Green State University.
