Men's Basketball Drops 53-45 Decision To Western Michigan

Box score.

Click Here to Watch EMU Associate Head Coach Derrick McDowell's Postgame.

Click Here to Watch WMU Head Coach Steve Hawkins Postgame Press Conference.

YPSILANTI, Mich.- A late second-half surge by the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team came up just short, as the Eagles fell to in-state rival Western Michigan University, 53-45, in Mid-American Conference action, Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Convocation Center.

The Eagles were without head coach Charles E. Ramsey, who missed the game with what is believed to be a benign case of vertigo. Associate head coach Derrick McDowell coached in his absence.

With the loss, EMU falls to 3-16 (1-4 MAC) on the season while Western moves to 7-11 (4-1 MAC).

The Eagles were led by redshirt sophomore Brandon Bowdry (St. Louis, Mo.-Taylor (Mich.)) with 12 points and nine boards. Freshman Antonio Green (Inkster, Mich.-Robichaud) chipped in nine for the Eagles. Neither team shot well from the floor, as Eastern Michigan managed a 33.3 percent clip (19-for-57) compared to 39.6 percent (21-for-53) for the Broncos. WMU had a pair in double-figures with David Kool and Shawntes Gary going for 16 apiece.

After Western increased its lead to 14 at the 10:03 mark of the second half, the Eagles began to whittle away at the lead. A three-point play by Green brought the Eagles back within six, with 5:17 remaining in the contest. The two teams then went scoreless over the next two minutes before the teams traded baseline jumpers with 2:42 remaining, with the Broncos hanging to a 49-43 lead. The Eagles then went 2-for-4 from the line to get within four, 49-45, with 1:43 remaining.

On the ensuing WMU possession, Green blocked Kool's lay-up attempt, giving the Eagles the ball back with 1:24 to go. A costly turnover by the Green and White turned into two points for WMU, putting the game out of reach. The Broncos would then hit a pair of free throws to seal the victory.

The first half was one of runs, as the Eagles started the contest on an 11-2 run over the first six minutes of the game to stake an early lead. After increasing the lead to eight, 14-6, the Broncos responded with a 10-0 run of their own to take their first lead of the contest, 16-14, at the 6:50 mark. The run for the visitors would continue over the rest of the half as WMU out-scored EMU 10-5. Western Michigan's Derek Drews' three-pointer to end the half gave the Broncos a 26-19 halftime advantage.

The Eagles had three players with five points in the first frame, with Tyler Jones (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville), Zane Gay (Olivet, Mich.-Olivet) and Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) all chipping in five. EMU struggled offensively, shooting only 28.6 percent (8-for-28) compared to a 35.7 percent (10-for-28) for the Broncos. WMU took advantage of eight Eagle miscues, turning them into 15 points.

The Eagles now switch to cross-divisional play, heading to Kent, Ohio to take on the Kent State University Flashes, Tuesday, Jan. 27. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the M.A.C. Center.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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