Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Central Michigan
EMU Rallies for 57-56 Victory at CMU
2/28/2009 10:17:16 PM | Men's Basketball
Freshman Antonio Green hit three free throws in the final seconds to lead EMU to victory
Box score.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – A trio of free throws by freshman Antonio Green (Inkster, Mich.- Robichaud) in the final seconds proved to be the difference Saturday night, Feb. 28, at Rose Arena, as the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team registered a 57-56 victory over the Central Michigan University Chippewas.
The victory puts the Eagles at 6-23 (4-10 MAC), while CMU drops 9-18 (5-9 MAC) with the loss.
With 13 seconds remaining in the game and with his team down two points, Green pump faked from beyond the three point arc to draw a foul on CMU's Jordan Bitzer, sending him to the free throw line where he sunk all three freebies to give the Eagles a 57-56 lead, one they would not relinquish.
Green tallied eight points in the victory, while senior Zane Gay (Olivet, Mich.-Olivet) and redshirt sophomore Brandon Bowdry (St. Louis, Mo.-Taylor (Mich.) Truman) each tallied a team-best 12 points.
CMU's Marcus Van finished with a game-high 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting and grabbed nine boards.
The Eagles and Chippewas went shot for shot in the opening frame, but with under a minute let and the shot clock winding down, Bowdry drew a foul from CMU's Jacolby Hardiman at the three point line to earn three shots at the charity stripe. Bowdry hit two of three from the line to put EMU ahead, 28-27. But the Chips would take the lead at intermission, as Adrian Hunter connected from long distance as time expired to give CMU a 30-28 advantage.
The Eagles shot 47 percent (9-of-19) from the field in the first half, including 3-of-9 from beyond the arc, but CMU was not far behind, shooting 46 percent (12-of-26) from the field.
The Eagles battled back to take the lead early in the second half, as Gay hit from long distance to give EMU a 37-36 advantage. Gay again came up with the big shot down the stretch, as his three point bomb with 3:45 remaining in the game put EMU ahead, 51-50.
The Eagles managed to stay within striking distance down the stretch, as Green's free throws in the final seconds coupled with stingy EMU defense allowed EMU to leave Rose Arena with the victory.
EMU shot 64 percent (18-of-28) from the free throw line in the victory, while CMU shot just 6-of-10 from the charity stripe.
The Eagles play their final home contest of the season Wednesday, March 4, as the Huskies of Northern Illinois University invade the Convocation Center for a 7 p.m. Mid-American Conference West Division tilt. The Eagles look to avenge their loss to the Huskies from earlier this season when NIU registered a 72-52 win over EMU in DeKalb, Ill.
