Basketball - The Eastern Echo

Desyree Thomas (11) finished Saturday’s 80-72 loss to WMU with 19 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds. Thomas was one rebound shy of the triple-double.

Women suffer early exit from MAC tournament with 80-72 loss to WMU

By Eugene Evans · Saturday, March 9, 2013

Despite junior Desyree Thomas coming up one rebound short of her first career triple-double, the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team’s season came to an end courtesy of the Western Michigan University Broncos, 80-72 in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament at the Convocation Center.

Men end regular season with 78-67 loss to Toledo

By Al Willman · Saturday, March 9, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team ended its 2012-13 regular season Saturday with a 78-67 loss to Mid-American Conference opponent University of Toledo Rockets. “I was super confident as a coach. After game planning, and practice and reviewing film and talking to our guys, I thought for sure we would win tonight,” EMU coach Rob Murphy said.

Junior guard Desyree Thomas has been a spark plug in the Eagle lineup of late. She has scored in double digits in four of the team’s last five games, averaging 10.2 points per game in that period. She scored 15 points in the team’s last game against WMU, a 73-69 victory on Feb. 23.

Women's basketball team sets sights on MAC tournament

By Al Willman · Thursday, March 7, 2013

March Madness is nearly upon us. The first step in the journey to the NCAA tournament is the Mid-American Conference tournament.

Junior forward Natachia Watkins (50) led the way for EMU with 18 points in Wednesday’s 63-56 loss to CMU.

Eagles women drop regular-season finale to CMU, 63-56

By Al Willman · Wednesday, March 6, 2013

This was not a good week for Eastern Michigan University’s basketball teams against Central Michigan University. Following a loss Tuesday night by the men’s team in Mt. Pleasant, the women’s team fell to the Chippewas on Wednesday night, 63-56, at the Convocation Center.

Eagles drop tough game against CMU, 61-59

By Al Willman · Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Despite a late effort from redshirt junior forward Glenn Bryant, the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team lost to in-state Mid-American Conference Rival Central Michigan University 61-59 in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. Tuesday night.

Eagles women beat Northern Illinois 54-45

By Eugene Evans · Saturday, March 2, 2013

With the help of career-high scoring for junior Desyree Thomas and senior Chelsea Hite, the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team defeated the Northern Illinois Huskies, 54-45, in Dekalb, Ill., Thursday.

Daylen Harrison (35) scored 13 points in EMU’s 50-49 overtime thriller over WMU Saturday.

Eagles men win overtime thriller over WMU 50-49

By Al Willman · Saturday, March 2, 2013

Those who went home Saturday for spring break missed out on an overtime win for the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team over the Western Michigan University Broncos, 50-49.

Junior Sara Stone had six points and five steals in the game against WMU.

Eagles top WMU, look to NIU

By Al Willman · Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013

Coming off a 73-69 win over Mid-American Conference rival Western Michigan University on Saturday, the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team (7-19 overall, 5-8 MAC) has their sights set on tonight’s matchup against the Northern Illinois University Huskies (7-19, 2-11 MAC) in Dekalb, Ill.

Men drop game to Ohio, 73-50

By Hannah Senda · Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team returned to Athens, Ohio, Wednesday to play the game that was originally scheduled for Jan. 30. EMU (12-14, 5-7 Mid-American Conference) played the Ohio University Bobcats (20-6, 11-1 MAC) in front of 5,932 people at Ohio’s Convocation Center. Coming off their first road win of the year, against Ball State University, the Eagles came up short, 73-50.

Women’s basketball loses in 2nd half run

By Eugene Evans · Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team was on the short end of a 31-6 run in the last 12:28 of the second half, which sealed the Eagles’ fate as they fell to the Ball State Cardinals, 56-34, on Wednesday at James E. Worthen Arena in Muncie, Ind. The Eagles’ 34 points was the team’s lowest scoring total in a game this season.

Junior Natachia Watkins scored 13 points and had nine rebounds.

Eagles complete season sweep of Broncos, 73-69

By Eugene Evans · Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013

Behind a balanced attack with four players scoring in double figures, including junior Desyree Thomas’ career-high scoring, the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team completed its season sweep of the Western Michigan Broncos, 73-69, Saturday at the Convocation Center.

Junior Da’Shonte Riley scored two points and had a block and a steal.

Missouri State wins ESPN BracketBuster

By Eugene Evans · Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013

Despite senior Derek Thompson’s great shooting, the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team blew an eight-point lead in the late stages of the game Saturday and fell to the Missouri State University Bears, 57-54, in the ESPN BracketBuster Challenge at the Convocation Center.

Men’s basketball beat Ball State 56-50, prep for Ohio

By Hannah Senda · Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team earned a 56-50 win against Mid-American Conference rival Ball State University (10-14, 4-8 MAC) Saturday at Worthen Arena in Muncie, Ind.

Redshirt junior guard Natachia Watkins recorded a double-double.

EMU falls to Buffalo

By Al Willman · Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013

The snow falling outside the Convocation Center didn’t stop the 252 devoted fans from coming to see the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team take on its Mid-American Conference foe, the University of Buffalo Bulls, Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, the Eagles couldn’t sustain any momentum, and as a result lost to the Bulls 79-63.

College season lacks dominant team

By Alex Alvarado · Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013

Seriously, is this not the craziest college basketball season you’ve ever seen? Top-ranked teams losing every week, upsets happening practically every day, nobody’s going to be able to stop Dick Vitale from hooting and hollering about how awesome this season is, baby.

Junior Desyree Thomas is a player to watch.

Eagles prep for Buffalo Bulls

By Eugene Evans · Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013

After defeating the Ohio Bobcats, 64-57, the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team will be looking for its first back-to-back wins of the season as the University at Buffalo Bulls make the trip to the Convocation Center for a cross-divisional showdown Saturday.

Sports update

Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team postponed its scheduled trip to Newtown, Conn., because of a blizzard warning issued for the New England area by the National Weather Service.

Women lose to Akron

By Eugene Evans · Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013

Despite junior Natachia Watkins putting up her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds, it was not enough. The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team lost to the University of Akron Zips with 0.07 seconds left, 82-81, at James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio.

Freshman Jalen Ross scored five points Saturday.

Rockets beat Eagles

By Hannah Senda · Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team made the short trip to Toledo, Ohio Saturday to take on the University of Toledo Rockets. Toledo was able to hold on using the proverbial home-court advantage over Eastern, keeping the Eagles winless on the road by a score of 60-52.

Junior Natachia Watkins scored 12 points Saturday.

Pink ladies: Eagles ‘Play 4 Kay’

By Al Willman · Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team rebounded from a heartbreaking loss to Akron Wednesday night by defeating the Ohio University Bobcats on Saturday afternoon, 64-57.