Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Ball State
Men's Basketball Opens MAC Play Versus Ball State
1/9/2009 1:10:07 PM | Men's Basketball
Eagles host Cardinals in Mid-American Conference Opener
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EAGLES SET TO START 35TH MAC SEASON: The Eastern Michigan men's basketball team will open its 35th Mid-American Conference season Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, when the Eagles play host to the Cardinals of Ball State University. The game will be part of a doubleheader in the Convocation Center with the EMU women hosting Central Michigan University at 2 p.m. followed by the men's contest at 4 p.m.
SECOND AND THIRD DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR BOWDRY: EMU sophomore redshirt sophomore Brandon Bowdry (St. Louis, Mo.-Taylor (Mich.) Truman) turned in the second double-double of the season for the Eagles in a 79-61 setback at Chicago State Saturday, Jan. 3. The 6-foot-6 Bowdry came up with an outstanding all-around game against the Cougars, leading all scorers and rebounders with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Bowdry connected on 7-of-15 field goals, 1-of-2 triple tries, 8-of-10 free throws and had five offensive and five defensive rebounds. He also added three steals, one block and one steal. Bowdry also had a double-double in the season opener against Marygrove, Nov. 14, when he tallied 26 points with 14 rebounds. The double-double at Chicago State was the third of Bowdry's career. He scored 23 points with 10 rebounds as a freshman, Dec, 9, 2006, at home against Chicago State.
EAGLENATION COACHES' SHOW MONDAY AT BW 3s: The weekly EagleNation Coaches' Radio Show is scheduled for BW 3s Restaurant in Ypsilanti Township Monday, Jan. 12, from 6-7 p.m. EMU men's basketball head coach Charles E. Ramsey and EMU women's basketball head coach AnnMarie Gilbert will be the special guests for Monday's show. WTKA (1050 am) radio's Andy Evans will be the guest host for Monday's program.
FOR THE 112th TIME: The 2008-09 season is the 112th of intercollegiate basketball for the Eastern Michigan University Eagles. Eastern played its first season in 1897-98 and split games with Detroit, losing a 2-0 decision before coming back for a 4-0 victory. The 2008-09 season will also be the 35th for the Eagles in the Mid-American Conference. The first year of MAC play for EMU was 1974-75 when the then-Hurons went 12-14 overall and 4-9 in league play. EMU has won three Mid-American Conference titles: 1987-88, 1990-91, and 1995-96, and the Green and White captured MAC Tournament crowns in all three of those years in addition to winning the tournament title in 1997-98.
EMU AND BALL STATE: Ball State enters Saturday's, Jan. 10, game with a 5-7 overall record after dropping a 63-55 home decision to St. Joseph's, Jan. 3. The Cardinals are led by 6-foot-5 senior forward Anthony Newell (15.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg) and 6-foot-9 freshman forward Jarrod Jones (10.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg). EMU is currently 2-12 on the year after a 67-45 home non-conference setback against Temple, Jan. 7. The Eagles are paced by 6-foot-6 redshirt sophomore forward Brandon Bowdry (St. Louis, Mo.-Taylor (Mich.) Truman) who is averaging 15.8 points and 6.6 rebounds a game while 6-foot-8 junior center Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) is averaging 11.1 points and 5.0 rebounds.
THE SERIES: EMU and Ball State will be meeting for the 86th time with Ball State holding a 52-33 edge in the series. EMU recorded a 2-1 record over the Cardinals last year. Eastern dropped a 64-60 decision, Jan. 19, 2008 in Muncie, Ind. and the Eagles came back with a 75-64 win, March 1, in Ypsilanti. The two teams met in the first round of the 2008 Mid-American Conference tournament and EMU advanced to the next round with a 59-55 victory.
COOPER TURNS IN A CAREER BEST: EMU redshirt sophomore Will Cooper (Detroit, Mich.-Pershing-Bridgton (Maine) Academy) came up with the best offensive game of his career Saturday, Jan. 3, at Chicago State with a career-best 16 points. Cooper made 8-of-9 field goals and added eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block. He also came up with several high-flying dunks in the game.
REACHING 600/300: Junior center Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) is the 72nd player in EMU history to reach the 600-point plateau with 613 heading into the Ball State game, Jan. 10, 2009. Dobbins has played in 70 games, starting 57 times, and his 613 points is good for 69th in EMU history and his 310 rebounds is ranked 60th.
BOWDRY MOVES UP: Despite playing in just 46 games in his career, redshirt sophomore Brandon Bowdry (St. Louis, Mo.-Taylor (Mich.) Truman), is climbing the EMU career points and rebound ladder at a brisk pace. Bowdry, who has started in 41 of the 46 games in which he has played, is currently 89th on the EMU career scoring list with 487 points and his 266 career rebounds is tied with Marcus Kennedy (1990-91) for 66th place.
EAGLES IN MAC OPENERS: The Eastern Michigan men's basketball team has a 13-21 record in MAC openers over the past 34 years.
