Purdue Fort Wayne
Eastern Michigan
New Year's Eve No Party for IPFW
12/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2006
YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) -Craig Cashen hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer and Jesse Bunkley scored 19 points Sunday to rally Eastern Michigan to a 62-61 victory over IPFW.
James Matthews also had 12 points and Carlos Medlock added 10 for the Eagles (4-9) who have won two straight games for the first time this season.
Jakari Johnson and Tyler Best had 15 and 14 points, respectively, for the Mastodons (4-10) who have lost six of their last seven games.
IPFW built off its 28-24 halftime lead by scoring 10 of the first 14 points of the second half.
Two free throws and a 3-pointer by Medlock with just under eight minutes left pulled Eastern Michigan within 48-42.
The Eagles turned up their intensity on both ends of the court in the final minutes and were able to take a 55-53 lead on Cashens 3-pointer with 2:47 remaining.
The teams traded the lead twice in the last 54 seconds before DeWitt Scott hit a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left to give the Mastodons a 61-59 advantage.
Cashen scored the game-winning basket following two previous missed Eastern Michigan shots in the final 16 seconds.
IPFW started out the game with a 12-0 run.
Eastern Michigan chipped away at the deficit and took its first lead 21-20 on Dewon Dumes 3-pointer with 5:42 left.
However, the Mastodons ran off eight of the final 10 points to grab a 28-24 halftime edge.
The loss marked the first time this season that IPFW had lost a game after leading at halftime.
Junior forward DeWitt Scott was the only other Mastodon in double-figures with 12 points.
IPFW will finish its current three-game road swing on Tuesday night with a 7:00pm contest at Wright State.
-'Dons-
