Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Samford
EMU Hosts Samford in Final Holiday Tuneup
12/21/2009 11:50:52 AM | Men's Basketball
EMU’s 6-4 record this season is the best start since the 2004-05 squad went 8-3 in its first 11 games.
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STRONG START: EMU's 6-4 record this season is the best start since the 2004-05 squad went 8-3 in its first 11 games.
THREE IN DOUBLES: The Eagles had three players in double figures in a 66-65 loss at Georgia State Saturday, Dec. 19. Redshirt junior Brandon Bowdry (St. Louis, Mo.-Taylor (Mich.) Truman) turned in his sixth double-double of the season and 13th of his career with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Senior point guard Carlos Medlock (Detroit, Mich.-Murray Wright) added 18 points and freshman center Matt Balkema (Warren, Mich.-Cousino) turned in a career-best 10 points to go with a career-high nine rebounds.
DOBBINS SIDELINED: EMU senior center Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) will be sidelined for several weeks with a hairline fracture of his lower left leg. Dobbins was hurt on the Eagles' trip to Missouri and played several games before it was determined he would have to sit out to heal properly. Dobbins has played in seven games this year, all as a starter, and is averaging 10.1 points and 3.6 rebounds a game.
CHECKING THE SERIES WITH SAMFORD: EMU and will be meeting for the first time ever when the Eagles and Bulldogs hook up for a Tuesday, Dec. 22, 7 p.m. game in EMU's Convocation Center in Ypsilanti.
NORTHWOOD AND CHICAGO STATE AWAIT BEFORE LEAGUE SEASON BEGINS: The Eagles will have two more non-conference games on the schedule before heading into Mid-American Conference play Saturday, Jan. 9, at Western Michigan. After Tuesday's, Dec. 22, home game against Samford University, Head Coach Charles E. Ramsey's Eagles will have eight days off before hosting in-state rival Northwood, Dec. 30, followed by another non-conference game, against Chicago State, Jan. 3, before meeting the WMU Broncos to start the MAC slate, Jan. 9, in Kalamazoo.
13th DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR BOWDRY: Brandon Bowdry (St. Louis, Mo.-Taylor (Mich.) Truman) turned in the 13th double-double of his career and the sixth this season with 21 points and 14 rebounds in a heartbreaking 66-65 loss at Georgia State Saturday, Dec. 19.
STRONG AT THE STRIPE: The Eagles turned in an outstanding effort at the free-throw line in Saturday's, Dec. 19, one-point loss at Georgia State. Eastern connected on 28-of-34 free throws for 82.4 percent, the best shooting effort for the Eagles since an 84.6 percent output (11-of-13) at Detroit, Nov. 13, 2008.
BALKEMA BEST ON THE ROAD: True freshman center Matt Balkema (Warren, Mich.-Cousino) saved the best effort of his first season for the road after turning in career bests in scoring and rebounding at Georgia State, Dec. 19. Balkema, filling in as a starter for the injured Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) scored 10 points with nine rebounds against the Panthers. The 6-foot-10 Balkema enters the Samford game, Dec. 22, with a 4.5 scoring average and a 4.0 rebound mark.
LEADING THE MAC: Redshirt junior forward Brandon Bowdry (St. Louis, Mo.-Taylor (Mich.) Truman) currently leads the Mid-American Conference in rebounding at 10.9 rebounds per game and is second in scoring at 19.8.
HOME FOR THREE STRAIGHT: The Eagles will have three consecutive home games over the holiday season. Eastern hosts Samford, from the Southern Conference, on Tuesday, Dec. 22, followed by a Dec. 30 home date with Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic (GLIAC) member Northwood, and then a Jan. 3 matchup with Chicago State, from the Great West Conference.
FIRST FOR A CENTURY SINCE 2003: When EMU gave up more than 100 points in the 111-60 loss at Ohio State, Dec. 5, it marked the first time that the Eagles allowed 100+ points since a 106-89 defeat at Central Michigan, March 1, 2003.
MAC OPENER ON THE ROAD AT WMU: EMU will open its 36th year in the Mid-American Conference on the road, Jan. 9, at Western Michigan. The Eagles are slated to begin the MAC home season, Jan. 13, against Toledo.
JUST ONE POINT: EMU's 66-65 loss at Georgia State, 66-65, Dec. 19, was the fifth one-point decision for a Charles E. Ramsey coached squad. Eastern has a 3-2 record in those close encounters. The Eagles defeated IPFW, 62-61, Dec. 31, 2006, and also NIU, 63-62, Jan. 9, 2007. Eastern dropped a 61-60 decision to Georgia, Nov. 18, 2008, but then handed Central Michigan a 57-56, setback, Feb. 28, 2009.
