BOX SCORE
YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Eastern Michigan took control of the game in the beginning and when the Broncos tried to fight their way back after gaining the lead early in the second half, the Eagles out-rebounded and added more second-chance points (22-8) to defeat Western Michigan, 81-71, at the Convocation Center in front of 1,397 Saturday afternoon.
Western Michigan played without head coach Steve Hawkins who missed the game due to illness. Assistant coach Clayton Bates was the acting head coach for WMU.
Heading out of the locker room to start the second half down five points, 38-33, the Broncos (7-8, 1-1 MAC) went on an 11-2 run sparked by a Joe Reitz layup followed by an Eastern Michigan (5-9, 1-1 MAC) layup from Jesse Bunkley. David Kool made a jumper followed by back-to-back three pointers from Derek Drews. After a foul from Andre Ricks brought Bunkley to the line making 2-for-2, Kool added another jumper followed by a Martelle McLemore defensive rebound. Derek Fracalossi found Reitz down low adding his second career dunk to bring the Broncos to their biggest lead, 47-42.
Eastern Michigan fought back with their own 10-1 run and would never lose the lead again. Both teams traded baskets until Fracalossi made a layup to bring the Broncos within two but could not get closer. EMU went on another 10-1 run until Kool was brought to the line two seperate times shooting a perfect 4-for-4, 66-59.
With the game being called very closely, both teams found themselves in foul trouble with Reitz, Redell and Kool fouling out along with two Eastern Michigan players, Bunkley and Justin Dobbins. Western Michigan was able to connect on 21-of-34 (61.8 percent) from the free throw line, while EMU connected on 31-of-42.
After Fracalossi's layup it would not be for another 5:16 until a field goal is made until Michael Redell added a layup with 2:12 left in the game, 70-61. Eastern Michigan scored their last field goal by Carlos Medlock with 3:09 left on the clock and the last 21 points added to the score by both teams, 15 would come from the free-throw line, ending with the Eagles soaring over the Broncos 81-71.
Eastern Michigan started off strong against the Broncos connecting on their first two offensive pocessions, 5-0, until Kool sinks his first shot from behind the arc. Kool picked up two quick fouls within the first 2:29 to play, allowing the Eagles' Carlos Medlock to hit 2-for-2 at the free throw line, 7-3.
Ricks subs in for Kool and able to score from behind the arc on his first attempt, making it a one-point game, 7-6, with 15:32 left in the first half.
Donald Lawson found Andrew Hershberger down low to add to the score with a layup bringing the Broncos ahead by one. Lawson followed with a block and would add one more to add to a total of 10 blocks in his last three games.
Both teams made it into bonus early in the game and with both teams in the top three from behind the free throw line of the Mid-American Conference, free throws would add greatly to the scores with WMU shooting 11-for-16 and EMU with 11-for-15 (Western Michigan is currently in second shooting 72.5 percent from the line and Eastern Michigan is in 3rd shooting 72.3).
With the Eagles still in front by two, 13-11, Reitz was brought to the line and shot 2-for-2 and tied the score with 11:19 left in the half.
Both teams ran up and down the court but only the Eagles seemed to get the baskets to fall going on a 6-0 run. Ricks was able to stop the Broncos' 2:43 scoring drought, 21-15.
Again the teams traded baskets both from the field and the free throw line until a rally from the Broncos after a three pointer from Ricks and a dunk by Lawson brought WMU within five points heading into the locker room, 38-33.
Eastern Michigan out-scored the Broncos on second chance points, 22-10, and points off turnovers, 16-5. Western Michigan only shot 28.6 percent from behind the arc (6-21) and 38.6 percent in field goals (22-57) while Eastern Michigan shot 30.0 percent from behind the arc (6-20) and 38.6 percent overall (22-57).
Reitz added his 23rd career double-double adding 14 points and 12 rebounds, Kool led the team with 16 points, followed by Ricks with 11 points.
Eastern Michigan was led by Medlock with 16 points, Travis Lewis and James Matthew with 15 points each, Jarred Axon added 12 points and Zane Gay with 10 points.
The Broncos will continue their MAC road play in Muncie, Ind., to take on Ball State, Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.
