 EASTERN MICHIGAN 82, ROCHESTER 63
EMU senior forward Brandon Bowdry turned in the 30th double-double of his career with 22 points and 14 rebounds against Rochester. He also registered a double-double in the opening game of the tournament, with 24 points and 10 boards against Valparaiso, and was named to the All-Tournament Team for his two-game effort.
Junior forward Kamil Janton scored a career-high 11 points and three players, Quintin Dailey, Derek Thompson, and Adrian Burton each added nine points.
Eastern, now 2-9 on the year, shot 44.6 percent from the field, making 29-of-65 field goals and hit 10-of-32 three-point field goals for 31.3 percent. The Eagles also posted a huge,53-31, advantage on the boards.
Rochester, now 8-7 on the season, was led by Michael Graham with 11 points, while Lawrence Hicks added 10.
The Eagles went to the three-point shot early in the game to post a 9-3 lead with Antonio Green and Thompson connecting on long-range shots.
Rochester methodically cut into Eastern's lead, and the Warriors went up one, 16-15, at the 12:28 mark of the first stanza.
Eastern would then go on the offensive, running off 13 points to just one for Rochester to forge a 28-17 lead with 8:38 left.
The Eagles built a 17-point edge, 39-22, with 3:55 left on a triple by Dailey. Rochester, however, cut the EMU lead to 12, 43-28, at intermission.
Bowdry reached his double-double in the first 20 minutes with 14 points and 10 boards. The Eagles out-rebounded Rochester, 26-13, in the first half.
The two teams traded baskets in the early stages of the second half, but Rochester began to slowly chip away at the deficit, cutting it to 10, 50-40, with 15:37 remaining in the game on a layup by Ewell.
The Eagles would withstand that Rochester rally, building the lead back to 20, 64-44, on a free throw by Will Cooper with 10:38 left.
Eastern kept the lead near the 20-point mark over the final 10 minutes to cruise to the win.
Eastern will be idle until Friday, Dec. 31, when the Eagles fly to Birmingham, Ala. to square off against the Samford University Bulldogs. Game time is 2 p.m.
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