Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
6-5
Samford
5-7
Samford Escapes with 58-56 Victory Over Eastern Michigan
12/22/2009 9:30:21 PM | Men's Basketball
Brandon Bowdry earned his 14th career double-double
Box score.
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Despite Brandon Bowdry's (St. Louis, Mo.-Taylor (Mich.) Truman) 14th career double-double and effective three-point shooting, the Eastern Michigan University Eagles were unable to stave off an equally potent Samford University shooting attack as they dropped a non-conference tilt, 58-56, to the Bulldogs here Tuesday, Dec. 22, at the Convocation Center.
Much of the second half was even, but the Eagles found themselves ahead 53-50 with 2:58 left in the contest before Samford's Josh Davis knotted the score at 53 with a long three pointer as the shot clock expired. Eastern's Jay Higgins (Fayetteville, N.C.-IMG Academy-Hillsborough (Fla.) C.C.) added a free throw to put the Eagles ahead, 54-53, but consecutive baskets by the Bulldogs, including a back door lay up with just over 26 seconds left, made for an insurmountable last-minute comeback.
Bowdry finished the contest with 16 points and 13 rebounds, good for his seventh double-dip of the season. But it was senior guard Carlos Medlock (Detroit, Mich.-Murray Wright) who spearheaded the long distance attack for the Eagles, connecting on 4-of-6 first half three-point baskets en route to 14 points in the opening stanza. He finished the game with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting (5-of-9 from beyond the arc). As a team, the Eagles connected on 10-of-27 threes, while Samford shot 12-of-24 from deep.
Samford's shooting kept them afloat for much of the contest as the Bulldogs also hit 7-of-15 from downtown in the first half and connected on timely shots in the second half to tie or put them ahead. It was junior forward Andy King and his three first-half treys which helped SU battle to a 31-31 halftime score.
King and Trey Montgomery combined to score 34 points for SU as it improved its record to 5-7 on the season, while the Eagles drop to 6-5.
The contest was Eastern's last before taking a one week break for the holidays. The Eagles return to the hard court on Dec. 30 to wrap up 2009 with a home battle versus visiting Norwood. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
