The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team fell behind early to No. 2-ranked Michigan State and lost 96-66 to the Spartans on Friday at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
At the half, the Eagles were down 49-33. It was all Spartans again in the second half as they extended their lead and put the game out of reach by outscoring the Eagles 47-33 in the second half.
The loss sends EMU’s all-time record against the Spartans to 3-27.
Eagles’ senior forward Brandon Bowdry led all scorers with a game-high and career-best 32 points while matching his personal best in rebounds with 15. He made a career-best five three-pointers and also led the team in assists with three.
Junior guard Antonio Green added 12 points as the only other Eagle in double figures. Sophomore forward Jamell Harris led the team in blocked shots with two.
Kalin Lucas led all Spartans in scoring, posting 18 points, and five other Spartans reached double figures. Durrell Summers scored 17, Keith Appling 14, Draymond Green 12, Adreian Payne and Austin Thornton each added 10 points. Draymond Green also led the Spartans in rebounds with nine, in assists with seven and blocks with three.
MSU converted a lot of easy fast-break points in the first half off missed jump shots by the Eagles, resulting in the difference in field-goal percentage.
MSU shot 52.5 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from behind the three point line while the Eagles shot 31.6 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from behind the three point line. The Eagles shot 38.9 percent from the foul line, while the Spartans shot 66.7 percent.
MSU slowly built the first half lead to 16 points off of costly turnovers by the Eagles.
The Eagles next game is against Madonna University at noon Wednesday in the Convocation Center.
