A bevvy of basketball this afternoon

First off, Michigan, whom Coach John Beilein said was packing for more than one day proved right as rain as Michigan beat down Iowa in the first day of the Big Ten tournament 55-47. The game wasn't THAT close. U-M pretty much owned the day with Manny Harris leading the way with 19 and DeShawn Sims with 14. The Wolverines improved to 10-21 and will play tomorrow against Bucky the Wisconsin Badger at noon.

EMU was not as lucky as they fell to Western Michigan in the second round of the MAC tourney 70-61. EMU came back, way back, from 18 down at one point but in the last ten minutes, Western hit their free throws and did what they needed to do to win a chippy, very intense game between these two longtime rivals. Jesse Bunkley led the Eagles with 15 points. Jarred Axon added 14 and Carlos Medlock had 12. EMU did not lack for effort today, Western was just the better side.

We'll have a complete EMU season hoops wrap-up this weekend looking back over this last season (and we saw some real good things, conference wins improved again from 6 to 8 and EMU was 8-1 at home in the MAC) and ahead to next year.

EMU men win game 1 of the MAC Tournament vs Ball St 59-55

EMU did have things under control the last minute so don't let a couple of late Ball State 3 point baskets worry you.

This game was very much in doubt until EMU went through a series of plays in this game where they got their hands dirty, played ugly, and did what it took to change the game. Leading 45-44 with 6:34 to play, Justin Dobbins missed a short shot. 6'2" Travis Lewis went up in the land of the giants to tip Dobbins shot home and giving EMU a three point lead 47-44. On Ball State's ensuing posession, an EMU player (sorry, Johnny's notes are sloppy) took a charge from Ball State's Peyton Stovall. This gave the ball, and a three point lead back to EMU. Jarred Axon made a layup giving EMU a 5 point lead and when Jesse Bunkley hit a threeball just over a minute later, EMU had secured a hard fought, feels good to get dirty kinda tournament win. They played inside today, they didn't fall in love with the three point shot and coach Charles Ramsey (who we're more impressed with every game) again and again got the ball inside to Justin Dobbins who dominated the Ball State paint with 21 points. Travis Lewis was huge with 12 and 10 rebounds, Carlos Medlock had 15, Jarred Axon 7 and Jesse Bunkley only hit the one three point shot, but it was huge.

EMU has a short turnaround before playing the Sissy Broncos from Western Michigan tomorrow afternoon at noon in Cleveland. EMU split the season series with our good friends from Kalamazoo, with both teams enjoying convincing wins at home.

YCD thinks playing today will be a benefit tomorrow, playing early and being used to the floor and sightlines. We look for another strong EMU performance.

EMU defeated Ball State last year in the first round of the MAC Tourney as well. PWNED

With 54 seconds left in the season, Merlynd Ameti scored his first point

And as it turns out his only point of his freshman season. 1 point, made the first free throw, missed the second. This in no way is being mentioned to ever denigrate his point. We're so not piling on. In fact we think it's a perfect example of sticking with it, working hard and in some strange small way, being rewarded. Thats how life works, where small victories are to be savored. We hope Mr Amaeti turns out to be the next Lorenzo Neely or Earl Boykins one day, but today he scored his point and officially joined the fraternity guys like George Gervin, Grant Long, Fred Cofield, and Marcus Kennedy all belong to and that's not too shabby. That's a good club to be a part of.

And when he Googles his stats this summer (we kid we kid) he'll see his name also associated with the greats of Eastern Michigan basketball.

Eastern beat Northern Illinois today at the ACC 82-63. Carlos Medlock dominated the floor with 23 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Justin Dobbins hit for 20 and Senior Jesse Bunkley said goodbye to Ypsilanti with 11. Besides Bunkley YCD would also like to give a tip of the cap to #0 Nenad Banjanin, Jarred Axon, and Travis Lewis.

8-8 in the MAC was a pleasant surprise with the injuries, a dismissal and chronic low expectations but EMU doesn't look like an easy out in the MAC Tourney. Go get 'em Eastern!

Make it 5 out of 7, EMU 75-Ball St. 64

Carlos Medlock scored 20 points, Jarred Axon had 16, and Jesse Bunkley had 14 as surging EMU dropped the Cardinals of Ball State 75-64 at the ACC. Ball State took a quick lead after halftime but EMU's defense was just too much.

Unfortunately, EMU lost Sophomore center Justin Dobbins to a leg injury in the first minute of the game. Further proof this EMU squad plays hard, won't quit and comes to the gym to win.

Eastern is at Toledo on Tuesday. EMU leveled their MAC record at 7-7 with this win and improve to 12-15 overall.

EMU tips St. Bonaventure 63-60

Dateline Olean, N.Y., Home of the Bonnies of St. Bonaventure and also tonight, the home of SAD. The home club could not beat back the relentless and heroic charge from Eastern Michigan's basketball team Saturday night. Jesse Bunkley led the charge with 17 for EMU while Travis Lewis hit the key free throw to send Bonnies fans home dejected into the cold Olean night.

EMU is 3-2 with a HOME game Wednesday night vs. the University of Detroit

EMU's 2 game mini NY road trip? 2-0

EMU hoops tips off in 30 minutes vs St. Bonaventure

Geez, ya know Johnny, iffen we'd known that we might have bought tickets prior to but only 30 minutes before tip, well you know....Relax, it's a road game. WEMU 89.1 on your FM dial.

EMU is 2-2 and coming off a good win on Tuesday at the Manhattan Jaspers 61-57. Justin Dobbins and Jesse Bunkley were all that and a bag of chips for EMU with 22 and 19 points respectively.