Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
15-13 (7-7MAC)
Ball State
15-12 (8-6MAC)
Eagles Knock off MAC West Leader Ball State, 72-67
2/24/2010 9:42:27 PM | Men's Basketball
Four Eagles score in double figures in the victory
Box score.
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – Clutch free throw shooting and key defensive stops down the stretch proved to be the difference Wednesday night, Feb. 24, for the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team, as the Eagles went on the road to knock off Mid-American Conference West Division leader Ball State University, 72-67, inside Worthen Arena.
The victory improves EMU to 15-13 (7-7 MAC) this season, while the Cardinals drop to 15-12 (8-6 MAC) with the loss. EMU's 15 wins this season are the most since the 1999-2000 season.
Clinging to a two-point lead with under two minutes to play, the Eagles made 9-of-12 from the charity stripe and forced a key BSU turnover with five seconds remaining to win their third MAC road game in the month of February and keep pace with the Cardinals and Central Michigan University in the MAC West Division. The victory also marks the first time EMU has swept the season series against Ball State since the 2006-07 season.
Sophomore guard Antonio Green (Inkster, Mich.-Robichaud) tallied a career-high 15 points on 4-for-12 shooting in the victory, including a 3-for-10 clip from beyond the arc and 4-for-4 shooting from the free throw line.
Redshirt junior forward Brandon Bowdry (St. Louis, Mo.-Taylor (Mich.) Truman) recorded his 14th double-double of the season, despite playing only 21 minutes due to foul trouble. Bowdry scored 16 points on 6-for-14 shooting, while also grabbing a game-high 13 boards.
Seniors Carlos Medlock (Detroit, Mich.-Murray Wright) and Justin Dobbins (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) were the only other Eagles in double figures, as they pitched in 15 and 12 points, respectively.
The Eagles out-rebounded the Cardinals, 35-32, despite going into the locker room at half time down five on the glass. As a team, EMU shot 76 percent (19-for-25) from the free throw line in the victory, while also turning the ball over just six times.
Down 17-10 with less than 11 minutes to go in the first half, the Eagles went on an 8-0 run to take the lead for the first time since the early stages of the game, as Medlock connected from long distance to make it an 18-all game.
The EMU offense seemed to click on all cylinders for the remainder of the half to take a 36-33 advantage into the locker room, as Green led all scorers with 10 points in the opening frame.
As a team, EMU shot 32 percent (10-for-31) from the field in the opening frame, including a 6-for-18 clip from beyond the arc. As a team, the Eagles turned the ball over just once in the first 20 minutes, a season low. EMU also shot 77 percent (10-for-13) from the charity stripe in the first half, with Green going a perfect 4-for-4 and Medlock making 5-of-7 from the line.
EMU came out firing to start the second half, as Medlock again connected from downtown with under 18-minutes to go in the game to give the Eagles their largest lead, 43-35, forcing BSU Head Coach Billy Taylor to call a timeout with 17:05 left.
But the Cardinals came roaring back to tie the game at 45-all with 14:01 remaining in the game, as Terrence Watson completed a three-point play with a lay-up and made free throw to erase the Eagles' eight point advantage.
Following a dunk by junior Will Cooper (Detroit, Mich.-Pershing- Bridgton (Maine) Academy), junior college transfer Jay Higgins (Fayetteville, N.C.-IMG Academy-Hillsborough (Fla.) C.C.) gave the Eagles a five point lead, as his three-pointer in the corner gave EMU a 60-55 advantage with 3:35 remaining in the contest.
But clutch free throw shooting down the stretch and key defensive stops proved to be the difference, as the Eagles escaped Worthen Arena with the victory in a key MAC West Division tilt.
The Eagles return to the friendly confines of the Convocation Center Saturday, Feb. 27, for an afternoon matinee with the Northern Illinois University Huskies at 2 p.m. EMU looks to avenge its loss to NIU from earlier this season and vie for position in the MAC Tournament, as the Eagles dropped their last meeting to the Huskies, 77-69, at the Convocation Center in DeKalb, Ill., Jan. 16. After facing NIU, the Eagles close the regular season at home when they take on instate rival and MAC foe Central Michigan University, March 4, at the Convo for Senior Night.
