15 years since the last regular-season basketball game was played there, the Eastern Michigan University men’s and women’s teams will return to Bowen Fieldhouse from Nov. 12-14.
“Going back to Bowen has been part of my vision since the day I was hired,” EMU head men’s basketball coach Rob Murphy said in a press release by the EMU Athletic Department. “This event will continue to help connect the past, present and future for both basketball programs.”
The 1997-98 season marked the last full season of EMU basketball at Bowen, which was the last time the men’s team made the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament.
Known as “The Old Barn,” the facility will host four games within a three-day stretch as the men will host Concordia University on Nov. 12, Robert Morris University on Nov. 14, and an alumni game on Nov. 14, while the women will play Butler University on Nov. 13.
The Concordia and Butler contests will tip at 7 p.m., while the alumni game will start at 5 p.m. and is followed by the RMU game at 7:30 p.m.
The event will provide students who live on campus an opportunity to make the short walk to Bowen Fieldhouse for any of the four games.
“I like it,” EMU senior Andrew Abad said. “Having major sporting events in the middle of campus is really convenient for on-campus residents and helps to bridge the gap between EMU life in the classroom and the sports world on nights and weekends away from campus.”
Eagles “superfan” Carl Ebach has a different take on the return of basketball returning to Bowen.
“It’s not a good idea. I bet they only give a second thought to handicapped seating, meaning they will fit us in where the “normal people” fill it in last.”
When Do Tickets Go On Sale?
Tickets will go on sale on to the public on Sept. 12.
As of press date, season ticket holders were able to have the opportunity to purchase tickets.
Tickets will cost $10 for the men’s games and $8 for the women’s game.
