Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Central Michigan
Eagles Triumph in Double Overtime Nail Biter Over the Chippewas
1/13/2009 10:30:42 PM | Men's Basketball
Tyler Jones and L.J. Frazier have career nights
Box score.
Click Here to Watch Coach Ramsey's Postgame Press Conference.
YPSILANTI, Mich .— The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team recorded a 84-77 double overtime victory over Central Michigan University, in a Tuesday evening, Jan. 13, Mid-American Conference West Division tilt. With the win, the Eagles end their seven-game losing skid.
For the Eagles, it was the first overtime win since defeating CMU 87-83 on March 2, 2007. It was the first double overtime victory since Feb. 28, 1996, when the Eagles took an 81-77 win over Ohio University.
With the victory, the Eagles improve to 3-13 overall and 1-1 in MAC action, while the visiting Chippewas fall to 3-11 and 0-2 in conference play.
The Eagles shot 43.9 (25-of-57) percent from the field, including 44.4 (8-of-18) percent from behind the arc. CMU was 26-of-56 (46.4 percent), but just 5-of-15 (33.3 percent) from three-point range.
Leading the way for the Eagles was senior guard Tyler Jones (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville), who scored a career-high 22 points, including the go-ahead three-point shot. Redshirt sophomore forward Brandon Bowdry (St. Louis, Mo. (Taylor) Truman) recorded a double-double 22 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Redshirt freshman guard L.J. Frazier (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Ypsilanti) added a career-best 17 points, while senior guard Zane Gay (Olivet, Mich.-Olivet) chipped in 13.
For the visitors, Jordan Bitzer led four Chips into double figures with 21 points.
After being down by as much as 10 late in the first frame, a bucket and a pair of charity shots by Jones put the Eagles within six, 28-22, with 3:34 remaining in the half. After going back an fourth in the remaining minutes, a floater off the glass by Frazier with two seconds remaining in the first cut the Chippewa lead to four, 32-28.
Leading the way at the break was Jones with 10 points, followed by Bowdry's six, while the Chippewas' Van recorded 13 points and five off the glass.
The Eagles hit 46 percent (12-of-26) in the first 20 minutes of action, including 75 percent (3-of-4) from the charity stripe. The Chippewas were 14-of-24 (58.3 percent) from the field and 2-of-4 (50 percent) from the free throw line.
Returning from break, the Eagles went on a 12-0 run, holding the Chips scoreless until the 12:32 mark, with the Eagles holding the 40-34 advantage.
Over the next 3:50, neither the Eagles nor the Chippewas were able to find the basket, until a foul by the visitors put Bowdry at the line, adding two more for EMU, 42-36.
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The Chips would come within two points with 6:53 to play, but the Eagles continued to build upon its lead, but a long three pointer by CMU's Robbie Harmon as the clock hit zero, would tie the match, 59-59, and force overtime.
The Chips were first to strike in the first overtime but the Eagles battled their way back on a long three by Frazier to take the 69-68 lead with 49 seconds remaining in overtime, followed up by two Frazier free throws to put the Eagles up 71-68. However, CMU would not go away as a Bitzer three would tie the game with 12 seconds left, forcing a second overtime.
The second overtime saw the Eagles score first on a Jones charity toss, but the Chips countered with one of their own to tie the game for the eighth time, 72-72. A three by Jones would put the Eagles ahead for good as the EMU squeaked-out the seven-point win.
The Eagles will return to action Saturday, Jan. 17, when they travel to Toledo, Ohio to take on the University of Toledo in a MAC West Division bout. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the newly renovated Savage Arena.
