Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
8-20 (4-10MAC)
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Western Michigan
17-11 (9-5MAC)
Hot-Shooting Western Downs Eastern
2/27/2011 4:50:49 PM | Men's Basketball
Eagles fall to Broncos on Earl Boykins Jersey Retirement Day
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team fell behind by double digits in the first half and could not catch up in an 87-60 loss to a visiting Western Michigan University squad here in a Sunday, Feb. 27, in a Mid-American West Division game in the Convocation Center.
The loss came on a day when EMU honored one of its all-time great men's basketball players, point guard Earl Boykins, with his No. 11 jersey being retired in a halftime ceremony.
In the action on the court Saturday, Western roared out to a 44-20 halftime lead, shooting a blistering 58.1 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes, making 18-of-31 attempts while EMU was making just 9-of-27 for 33.3 percent. Western also held a 20-14 rebound edge in the first half.
Western would finish the game shooting 52.5 percent, making 31-of-59 field goal attempts and a hot 83.3 from the line, hitting 20-of-24 attempts.
Eastern would shoot just 34.5 percent from the field, connecting on 19-of-55 shots, and the Eagles would make only 12-of-26 free throws for 46.2 percent. Western also held a whopping, 44-31 edge on the boards.
The Eagles, now 8-20 overall and 4-10 in MAC action, were led by sophomore guard Derek Thompson (Detroit, Mich.-Melvindale-SEMO) with 20 points, while senior forward Brandon Bowdry (St. Louis, Mo.-Taylor (Mich.) Truman), turned in the 38th double-double of his career with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Western, now 17-11 overall and 9-5 in league play, had five players in double figures, led by Flenard Whitfield with 16, Matt Stainbrook 15,Mike Douglas 12, and Juwan Howard Jr. and Demetrius Ward with 11 apiece.
Western opened the game with a quick 5-0 lead before Bowdry scored on a layup with 17:30 on the clock.
Eastern would get to within two, 9-7, with 12:35 left on a dunk by Bowdry, but the Broncos would go on a 14-5 run over the next five minutes, building the advantage to 24-12.
That Bronco lead would balloon to 16, 28-12, before Eastern would answer with a dunk by Jamell Harris (Euclid, Ohio-Euclid) and a layup by Thompson, to make it 28-16, with 5:15 left in the half.
Western would once again find its shooting touch, boosting the lead back to 19, 37-18, with 2:03 left and the Broncos' Douglas would hit a three-point field goal at the buzzer for a 44-20 halftime advantage.
The Broncos kept the offense rolling in the early stages of the second half, gradually increasing its lead to 37, 67-30, with 11:12 left.
The Eagles could not significantly cut the deficit the rest of the way¬, and Western would roll to the 27-point win.
Eastern will hit the road Wednesday, March 2, for a matchup with West Division rival Northern Illinois in DeKalb, Ill.
