Eagles Keep Hold on to Second Place in the West with Win

YPSILANTI, Mich. — The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team avenged a four-point loss earlier in the season, coasting by the Cardinals of Ball State University, 75-64, here today at the Convocation Center. The win, EMU’s fourth straight at home and fourth straight Mid-American Conference home win, keeps it tied for second place in the Mid-American Conference West Division with Central Michigan.

With the win the Eagles improve to 12-15 (7-7 MAC) on the year while Ball State falls to 5-22 (4-10 MAC).

EMU had four players reach double figures, led by junior guard Carlos Medlock’s (Detroit, Mich-Murray Wright) 20 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. Senior guard Jarred Axon (Jackson, Mich.-Jackson (Schoolcraft C.C.) chipped in 16 while junior Jesse Bunkley (Detroit, Mich.-CMA (Mott C.C.) tallied 14 and senior Nenad Banjanin (Belgrade, Serbia-Lon Morris (TX) J.C.) added 11.

Pacing the Eagles in the first half was Bunkley with nine points, including 2-of-4 from long range. For the half, EMU shot 40 percent (12-of-30) from the field and a blistering 50.0 percent (7-of-14) from behind the arc. BSU managed to shoot 52.0 percent (13-of-25) from the field, but committed eight turnovers which led to 17 points for the Eagles.

Wendell Farrow’s (Sacramento, Calif.-Mira Loma (American River (Calif.) J.C.) layup at the 17:10 mark capped a 7-3 EMU run to open the game. Ball State battled back, tying the game at 16-16 with a Laron Frazier layup at the 12:16 mark.

The Eagles broke the tie and pulled away, starting with back-to-back three pointers by Bunkley and Medlock. EMU continued to widen the margin, using a 16-2 run to build a 32-18 lead with just over five minutes to play in the opening half.

Rashaun McLemore’s free throw at the 2:38 mark capped a 10-3 Ball State run, cutting the deficit to seven at 35-28. After two Axon free throws put EMU up nine with just over two minutes on the clock, BSU closed out the half with a 5-0 run on a Peyton Stovall 3-pointer and a Frazier layup, bringing the first half to a close with the Green and White enjoying a four-point advantage, 37-34.

The visitors opened the second half with a flourish, tying the game at 37-all with 17:57 left in the game. The Cards then managed to take a two-point lead, 41-39, before the Eagles bounced back on a Benjanin layup and free throw to regain the lead, 42-41, with just over 15 minutes left in the game.

The two teams traded baskets over the next eight minutes before the Eagles went on a 10-3 run to take control, 69-58, with 1:36 left The Green and White made good on 7-of-9 free throws down the stretch to hold on to the lead, winning, 75-64.

EMU will be in action again Tuesday, March 4, as the Eagles travel to Toledo, Ohio, for a MAC West Division showdown with the Rockets.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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