Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, March 9
Convocation Center
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
82
vs
63
Northern Illinois
Eagles Top Huskies in Home Finale
3/9/2008 4:54:01 PM | Men's Basketball
Medlock's 23, Dobbins' 20 lead EMU on the day
YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team finished the regular-season with an 82-63 win over visiting West Division rival Northern Illinois University here today at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. Lights out shooting enabled the Eagles to jump out to an early lead and never look back.
The Eagles finish the regular season with a 13-16 overall record(8-8 MAC) record while NIU ends with a 6-21, 3-12 MAC mark.
Seniors Nenad Benjanin (Belgrade, Serbia-Lon Morris J.C.), Jarred Axon (Jackson, Mich.-Jackson (Schoolcraft C.C.)), Jesse Bunkley (Detroit, Mich.-CMA (Mott C.C.)), and Travis Lewis (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Loy Norrix) were honored before their final home game here at Eastern.
Leading the way for the Green and White on the day was junior guard Carlos Medlock (Detroit, Mich.-Murray Wright) with 23 points. Chipping in 20 points and grabbing six rebounds was sophomore Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville).
The Eagles opened the game on a 27-6 run, connecting on 7-of-10 three-point field goals in the first eight minutes of the opening half. Bunkley scored three of the Green and Whites first seven 3-pointers, while Medlock chipped in two.
The Huskies used an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 15, before a Wendale Farrow (Sacramento, Calif.-Miro Loma) layup put the Eagles back on the board with 8:03 remaining in the half. Eastern held its largest lead of the first half, 23 points, after a layup by Dobbins with a little under seven minutes remaining.
The Huskies used a 16-5 run during the final 5:22 of the first half, cutting the deficit to 12, 42-30, heading into the locker room.
Leading the way for the Eagles at the half were Medlock and Bunkley. Medlock chipped in 10 points (3-of-6) and two rebounds while Bunkley added nine points and two boards of his own.
For the Huskies, Shaun Logan led all scorers with 12 points and three rebounds while Najul Ervin pitched in six points and four boards. Both teams shot better than 48 percent from the field, including 50.0 percent (7-of-14) for the Green and White from downtown. The Eagles also took advantage of eight first half NIU turnovers, resulting in 16 points.
Both teams traded baskets to start the second half before Darion Anderson’s layup at the 14:19 mark capped a 6-2 Huskie run, cutting the score to 51-43 Eagles. EMU answered with a 9-0 run over the three minutes, bringing their lead back to double digits at 60-43.
NIU cut the lead to 12 several times, but the Eagles pulled away with an 11-0 run to build their largest lead of the game, 23, with just 2:19 remaining in the half.
For the game, the Eagles shot 46.2 percent (24-of-52), while the Huskies managed a 42.4 percent clip (25-of-59). EMU also won the board war, tallying 38 rebounds to NIU’s 30.
Up next for the Eagles will be the Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio at Quicken Loans Arena. EMU received the No. 7 seed and will play No. 10 Ball State, Wed., March 12 at 12:30.
2008 FirstEnergy MAC Men's Basketball Tournament Pairings
Wednesday, March 12
No. 7 Eastern Michigan vs. No. 10 Ball State, 12:30 p.m.
No. 6 Central Michigan vs. No. 11 Northern Illinois, 3 p.m.
No. 8 Toledo vs. No. 9 Bowling Green, 5:30 p.m.
No. 5 Miami vs. No. 12 Buffalo, 8 p.m.
Thursday, March 13
No. 2 Western Michigan vs. No.7/No.10 Winner, Noon (FSN Ohio)
No. 3 Akron vs. No. 6/11 Winner, 2:30 p.m. (FSN Ohio)
No. 1 Kent State vs. No. 8/9 Winner, 7 p.m. (FSN Ohio)
No. 4 Ohio vs. No. 5/No. 12 Winner, 9:30 p.m. (FSN Ohio)
Friday, March 14
No. 2/7/10 vs. No. 3/6/11 Winner, 7 p.m. (FSN Ohio)
No. 1/8/9 vs. No. 4/5/12 Winner, 9:30 p.m. (FSN Ohio)
Saturday, March 15
Championship Game (ESPN2), 7 p.m.
Inside the Ride Episode 2: Katie Condon
Thursday, October 16
🎥 Eastern in 60 Seconds: Part 8
Tuesday, October 14
Season 8 - Episode 8: Defensive Strength vs. NIU and Hall of Fame Excellence
Monday, October 13
EMU Football Pregame Press Conference: Week 8 at Miami
Monday, October 13