Men’s Basketball Defeats Ball State in MAC Tournament First Round

Box score.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio – Behind a strong effort by sophomore center Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville), the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team advanced to the quarterfinal round of the FirstEnergy Mid-American Conference Tournament with a 59-55 victory here Wednesday afternoon at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Eagles will now play second-seeded and reigning West Division Champion Western Michigan University Thursday, March 13, at noon in Cleveland. The team’s split the regular season series with each side winning a contest on its home court.

Leading the way for EMU was Dobbins, who scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds. Also hitting double figures for the Eagles were junior guard Carlos Medlock (Detroit, Mich.-Murray Wright) with 15 points and Travis Lewis (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Loy Norrix), who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. For the game, EMU shot 44.4 percent (20-of-45) and out-rebounded the Cardinals, 32-27.

Both teams struggled out of the shoot, with the game knotted at nine with 14:25 to play. However, a 6-0 run by the Cardinals push the momentum in their favor, as Peyton Stovall capped the run with a layup to make it 15-11 contest with 12:26 to go. Back-to-back buckets by Dobbins and senior guard Jarred Axon (Jackson, Mich.-Jackson (Schoolcraft C.C ) promptly cut the deficit back to just one.

The scoring would slow dramatically, as the sides combined for just 11 points over the next five minutes with BSU still holding a 21-14 edge. But then the Eagle offense found its rhythm, as consecutive scores by Dobbins gave the Green and White its first lead with 4:46 showing. Ball State would answer with a score of its own; however, Lewis would drain his second three-pointer of the game to make it 26-23.

Ball State would not fold, posting a 5-0 run to reclaim the advantage and force EMU head coach Charles E. Ramsey to burn a timeout with 1:50 remaining before the half. The Cardinals would enter the locker room at the half up four points, 30-26.

During the first 20 minutes of play, Eastern shot just 36.0 percent (9-of-25) from the floor while committing five miscues. On the opposite end of the court, Ball State managed a 44.0 percent (11-of-25) shooting clip while turning the ball over three times. On the boards the teams were equal with each side pulling down 15 caroms. BSU’s Anthony Newell led all scorers with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting while EMU was paced by Lewis with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting.

Following the intermission Ball State would expand the margin to seven, 33-26. The game of runs continued as an 8-0 run over the next 2:49 that featured back-to-back lay-ins by Dobbins gave Eastern Michigan a 34-33 with 15:56 left. The Eastern edge would grow to three, 38-35, on a pair of Axon free throws.

The teams would exchange buckets and lead changes, as neither side was able to take control of the contest. A senior wing Jesse Bunkley (Detroit, Mich.-CMA (Mott C.C.)) three point field goal with 4:34 ended that streak and gave the EMU its biggest lead of the game at six point, 50-44. Junior guard Tyler Jones (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville) added a free throw at 3:37 to make it a seven-point cushion.

A Newell jumper with 3:16 left ended a 6:17 Ball State scoring drought from the field. The pesky Cardinals cut it to four, 53-49, but Medlock answered with a runner with 47 ticks remaining. Back down the court, Ball State had a continued to push the ball, but a charge thwarted the Cardinals hopes of a score.

Having to foul, BSU sent Medlock to the line for a pair of charity tosses to make it 57-49. Ball State would connect for a quick score and then send Melcok to the line for two more. The Cardinals hit another long trey attempt to pull within four, but let the clock run out on the ensuing EMU possession, giving the Eagles the victory.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Men’s Basketball Defeats Ball State in MAC Tournament First Round

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