Bulls Close Out MAC West Play at Eastern Michigan
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo (15-8 (7-4 MAC)) | 34 | 31 | 65 |
| Eastern Mich. (7-17 (4-7 MAC)) | 35 | 43 | 78 |
| Ypsilanti, Mich. (Convocation Center) | |||
| Buffalo | Eastern Mich. |
|---|---|
| Pts: Javon Mccrea - 17 | Pts: BOWDRY, Brandon - 20 |
| Reb: 2 Players (#12, #24 - 7) | Reb: BOWDRY, Brandon - 6 |
| Ast: Byron Mulkey - 7 | Ast: HIGGINS, Jay - 4 |
| Team Statistics | Buffalo | Eastern Mich. |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 43.1% (25-58 ) | 51.1% (24-47 ) |
| Rebounds | 33 | 28 |
| Assists | 13 | 15 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 13 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 14 | 19 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 14 | 6 |
| Pts in the Paint | 32 | 28 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 2 | 6 |
| Bench Pts | 23 | 28 |
YPSILANTI, MI - Fresh off a blowout win over Central Michigan Tuesday night, the Buffalo men's basketball team will close out its six-game series with the Mid American Conference's West Division in a Saturday evening game at Eastern Michigan. The Bulls are currently 4-1 against the West.
The Eagles have lost four of the last five games, but each one has been close, with the past five games decided by an average of seven points per game. Recently, an apparent buzzer-beating three to beat the Miami (OH) Redhawks was waved off upon review. Eastern sits at 6-17 overall and 3-7 in the MAC, with wins over Toledo, Central Michigan and Akron. While it is only 1-9 on the road, the Eagles are 4-5 in the Convocation Center.
On offense, all roads runs through forward Brandon Bowdry, who leads the team far and away in 12 different categories, highlighted by his 20.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while leading the team in scoring 17 times and leading in rebounding 17 times as well. The senior leader has won three MAC player of the week honors.
As a team, EMU averages 62 points per game and has struggled from the field all season, shooting just under 39 percent as a team. The Eagles have lived and died by the three, attempting over 123 more three pointers than its opponents have, converting 165 total for a shooting percentage of 33 percent.
In a fiercely competitive East division, every game matters, and the Bulls have maintained focus in its play against the West. It has been a mix of deadly outside shooting an efficient inside offense that has spurred the recent streak of seven wins in eight games. The long-range display has been a keyed by guards Byron Mulkey and Zach Filzen, who have combined to average 35.4 points per game over the past eight contests
Most recently, the Buffalo defense absolutely stifled the Central Michigan Chippewas en route to a 72-43 win at Alumni Arena. The Chips shot only 27 percent from the field and just 1-12 from beyond the three point line. Mulkey scored a career-high 29 points and junior Mitchell Watt grabbed nine rebounds (five offensive) and six blocks to lock down the post.
Last season, the Bulls beat the Eagles 84-67. Over four years, Buffalo has gone 3-1 against Eastern Michigan, including 1-1 at the Convocation Center. Tip is set for 4:30 pm Saturday with Josh Whetzel on the call for WECK 1230 AM.