Men’s Basketball Bows Out of MAC Tournament

Box score.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team bowed out of the 2008 FirstEnergy Mid-American Conference Tournament, with a 70-61 setback to second-seeded Western Michigan University Thursday afternoon, March 13, here at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Broncos advances to the semifinals and will play the winner of the No. 6 Central Michigan/No. 3 Akron game, which takes place later this afternoon. Game time for that is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday.

The Eagles (14-17) mounted a valiant second half comeback to rally from a 16-point hole to tie the contest at 44 with 10:34 remaining in the game. Western (20-11) would never relinquish the advantage though, keeping the Eagles at bay by controlling the glass.

The Eagles had four score in double-figures, led by senior Jesse Bunkley (Detroit, Mich.-CMA (Mott C.C.)) with15 points. Senior guard Jarred Axon (Jackson, Mich.-Jackson (Schoolcraft C.C.)) chipped in 14, while junior guard Carlos Medlock (Detroit, Mich.-Murray Wright) notched 12 and sophomore center Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) scored 10 for the Green and White. Travis Lewis (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Loy Norrix) grabbed a team-high eight boards on the afternoon.

The Eagles shot 37.7 percent (20-of-53), with the Broncos managing a slightly better 39.1 percent (18-of-46) clip. WMU was able to get the free throw line 37 times, compared to just 17 for Eastern. The Broncos were also able to dominate the glass, out-rebounding EMU, 42-25.

Defense was the story for both teams for both squads out of the gate, as neither side was able to crack the scoreboard until more than two minutes had gone by. Then five consecutive points by David Kool opened the scoring with 17:50 showing. A Bunkley triple at the 17:14 finally put Eastern on the board. But Western continued to assault the hoop, upping the margin to eight points, 11-3, on a Donald Lawson jumper in the lane.

The deficit would grow to as many as 11 points before the Eagles were able to whittle it down to just six, 14-8, on a pair of Axon charity tosses. Just as quick as the lead went down, the Broncos’ advantage would balloon back to 13 points, 24-11, on a Shawntes Gary jumper at the 7:32 mark.

An Axon dive into press row to save a loose ball inspired the Eagles, keying an 8-1 run capped with a Lewis 3-pointer with 3:45 showing to make it 28-21. Eastern would not got any closer though, as Western entered the locker room up 36-23 at the half.

Western Michigan shot 48.0 percent (12-of-25) from the floor in the first 20 minutes compared to just 30.4 percent (7-of-23) for Eastern Michigan. WMU also controlled the glass in the frame, out-rebounding EMU, 36-23.

The Western advantage remained in double figures following the intermission until an Axon trey with 15:54 remaining cut it to eight, 39-31.The Brown and Gold would get it back to 10, but another Axon 3-pointer combined with a Bunkey tip-in make it five, 41-36, with 13:51 to go. Following another WMU miss, Dobbins would lay one off the glass to pull EMU even closer.

The momentum continued to roll in favor of the Green and White, as Bunkley would grab an offensive rebound and then drive to the hoop to make it 41-40. An Andre Ricks jumper ended the WMU skid, but Medlock would answer with a bucket of his own to keep the margin at just one.

Western would add a free throw by Andrew Hershberger, but down at the other end of the floor, Axon would knock down two tosses to knot the game at 44 with 10:34 to go. The tie was the first since the game was deadlock at 3-3. However, the tie would be short lived as a 4-0 run by the Broncos forced a timeout by head coach Charles E. Ramsey.

The margin would go back to eight points, 56-48, with 6:29 when Axon picked up his fifth foul of the game. The teams would trade possessions and scores, with EMU once again pulling within three, 58-55, on a Bunkey 3-pointer with 4:29 to play.

A 5-0 spurt by Western made it 62-55, but Medlock had a chance to chip away at the deficit. Unfortunately, he would miss from the front end of the one-and-one, leaving the door open for the reigning West Division Champions. Two more Western free throws made it a nine-point contest.

Medlock would drain his 11th point of the game with 2:17 to play. Second chance opportunities for WMU were critical as was foul trouble was taking its toll on EMU. Three seniors for Eastern fouled out leaving Western able to dominate the glass.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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