Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
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Men's Basketball Opens 2009-10 With a Victory Over Oakland, 81-77
11/14/2009 9:55:04 PM | Men's Basketball
The EMU win puts an end to the nation’s 11th-longest home winning streak
Box score.
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ROCHESTER, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Behind a game-high 26 points from redshirt junior forward Brandon Bowdry (St. Louis, Mo.-Taylor (Mich.) Truman) and a stingy effort on the defensive end, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team was victorious in its 2009-10 season opener Saturday night, Nov. 14, here at the O'Rena as the Eagles downed the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies, 81-77, in an in-state tilt.
The victory marked EMU's first over Oakland three tries in Rochester. Additionally, the win put an end to the nation's 11th-longest home winning streak which dated back to Feb. 21, 2008.
Bowdry paced the Eagles with 9-of-14 shooting from the field in the win, while also grabbing a team-best 13 boards to notch the eighth double-double of his career. His 26 points tie a career high set in last season's home opener against Marygrove.
Senior guard Carlos Medlock (Detroit, Mich.-Murray Wright) had a stellar performance in his first game since the 2007-08 season, as the EMU captain tallied 14 points on 6-for-13 shooting to help the Eagles escape Rochester with the win.
Winning by as many as 14 in the contest, the Eagles found themselves in a close and highly competitive game down the stretch, as OU's Johnathan Jones erased that 14 point deficit to pull the Golden Grizzlies within a basket with a rainbow three-pointer with 44 seconds remaining in the game.
But the Eagles' held strong down the stretch, as key free throws by sophomore Antonio Green (Inkster, Mich.-Robichaud) and stingy defensive allowed EMU to hand the Grizzlies their first loss at home since February of 2008.
The Eagles held the Golden Grizzlies to 41 percent shooting from the field in the contest, but a solid effort around the perimeter by EMU limited Oakland to 18.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc (4-for-22).
In the opening frame it was all EMU, as a three-pointer from Medlock with 11:29 remaining gave the Eagles a 19-18 lead, one they would not relinquish in the contest.
Senior forward Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) pitched in 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field, while true freshman Matt Balkema (Warren, Mich.-Cousino) and junior transfer Jay Higgins (Fayetteville, N.C.-IMG Academy-Hillsborough C.C.) scored six and five, respectively.
The Eagles are back in action next week when they head to Missouri for a four-game road swing. The team will begin play in the Hispanic College Fund Classic Friday, Nov. 20, against The Citadel in Springfield, Mo. Tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CST.
