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EMU cashes in on Bronco turnovers |
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Written by Paul Bowker
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YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Western Michigan‘s David Kool led all scorers with 22 points. Donald Lawson led all rebounders with 13 rebounds. Move beyond the individual stats, though, and Eastern Michigan blasted the Broncos, 66-52, on Sunday at EMU’s Convocation Center. The Eagles led from start to finish, and four starters reached double figures in scoring, led by Brandon Bowdry’s 18.
The victory boosted EMU (13-12, 5-7) into a third-place tie in the Mid-American West with fast-falling WMU (also 13-12, 5-7). The Eagles have won two of their last three games, not that many are noticing in Ypsilanti; a crowd of barely over 1,000 attended the Valentine’s Day matinee. EMU can take another step up Wednesday, when it plays at Toledo, which is winless in MAC play.
The Broncos have lost five of their last seven MAC games, and two of their last three against MAC West competition. The Broncos and Eagles are two games back of West co-leaders Central Michigan and Ball State.
“Obviously, it’s not a good thing that happened today,” Kool said, “but I think we’re going to learn from it and make the best of it.”
The Broncos, who have lost their last two games to EMU and Ohio by an average of 15 points, will play host to Northern Illinois (8-16, 4-8) on Wednesday, their last home game until March 4.
Despite Lawson’s 13 rebounds, just one short of his career high, Bowdry’s 20th career double-double (18 points, 12 rebounds) led EMU’s strong play in the paint. The Eagles outrebounded the Broncos, 42-32, and scored 26 points in the paint.
What really led to EMU’s first win over WMU in three years was its defensive pressure leading to 20 Bronco turnovers and 26 EMU points from those turnovers. The Broncos had, count ‘em, three assists to 20 turnovers (EMU had 11 steals). Point guard Mike Douglas had five turnovers, and Kool had a game-worst seven.
“I felt like we really struggled at the guard spot. We had 20 turnovers, and 14 came from our starting one, two and three (guards),” WMU head coach Steve Hawkins said. “We’ve really taken care of the ball all year long and tonight we didn’t.”
Antonio Green had a team-high three steals for EMU. Justin Dobbins added 17 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals for the Eagles. Carlos Medlock scored 14 and Jay Higgins added 12.
The Broncos dug themselves a hole by not hitting a basket the first 10 minutes of the game. They missed their first 11 shots.
“It … put a tremendous amount of pressure on our defense,“ Hawkins said.
By the time Kool hit a jumper with 9:58 left in the first half, the Broncos were down eight -- only EMU’s 38.2 percent shooting kept it even that close. Only two WMU starters, Kool and Martelle McLemore, hit baskets in the first half as the Broncos shot 36.4 percent and missed 5-of-6 3-pointers. Kool scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half.
Despite all the shooting and turnover problems, the Broncos rather incredibly trailed by just three points, 37-34, with 10:19 left in the game. Two consecutive baskets by Dobbins began the Eagles on a game-ending 17-4 run that left EMU in front 54-38 with 4:43 left.
“It seemed like they were more hungry than us and played with a lot more energy, and that showed in different areas,“ Kool said. “They just played like their backs were against the wall and they were at home.“
After the dust had settled on WMU’s fifth loss in six MAC road games, Hawkins concluded that traveling to Ypsilanti on the same day as the game wasn’t a wise move. Normally, teams travel the day before and hold a practice on the road the night before game day.
“Right now I’m kicking myself for not coming over last night,” Hawkins said. |
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