-Here at Rose Arena for updates throughout the CMU-EMU game. Tip is about 20 minutes away but the Chippewas already got some good news today as Northern Illinois edged Ball State to give CMU a chance to get within a game of first place in the MAC West with a win tonight. Western Michigan is playing at Toledo tonight and with a CMU win and a Broncos loss, the Chips and WMU would be tied for second in the MAC West.

This should be a game CMU wins, as it as at home against a struggling Eagles team. CMU just needs to improve its rebounding from the previous meeting as well as avoid lengthy scoring droughts, as it experienced at Ball State on Wednesday.

Everyone is dressed for the game and there are no injuries to report.

-15:47 left in the opening half, EMU up 9-7. Marcus Van has five of CMU's seven points. Eastern took a 7-3 lead and had the momentum until Antonio Weary picked off a pass and cruised in for a big slam dunk. CMU starting to play a little better after a slow start, but just had a turnover on a fast break attempt.

-10:21 to go in the first and EMU is up 16-15. Robbie Harman just picked up his second foul shortly after making a great play on an assist to Adrian Hunter for a wide-open 3-pointer. Weary made another big play, getting a 3-point play to get CMU its first lead at 10-9, but the Eagles have answered every big play CMU has had. L.J. Frazier has two big 3-pointers, but CMU will let EMU have those shots, as the Eagles are just 29% from the arc as a team.

-6:55 left in the half and the Eagles hanging on to the lead at 20-19. Lawrence Bridges picked up his second foul shortly after a nice put-back. But, again, EMU hit another key 3-pointer, this time it was Antonio Green to give EMU the lead again.

-3:15 to go. EMU still winning, 24-21. The Eagles were on a 7-0 run before Jacolby Hardiman scored on a nice drive to the basket. Eastern is shooting 50 percent from the field at this point in the game. The Eagles are getting good looks, especially Brandon Bowdry, who had six points in the last eight minutes.

-CMU leads 30-28 at halftime. Adrian Hunter hit a 3-pointer with seven seconds to play to give CMU the lead. Weary injured his shoulder late in the half and did not return, but was back on the bench before halftime and should play in the second half. Van has 10 points and three rebounds to lead CMU at the half while Bowdry has eight points and three boards for EMU.

-15:57 left in the game, CMU ahead 34-32. Weary had a nice put back early on but EMU answered with four-straight points to even the score. Van hit a jumper on an assist from Weary to put CMU back up by two prior to the media time out.

-13:36 to go. CMU up 39-37 after Harman hit a 3-pointer for his first points of the night. CMU took a 36-32 lead after back-to-back scores from Van, but Zane Gay scored five-straight for the Eagles to give EMU a 37-36 lead before Harman's 3. Jacobly Hardiman picked up his third foul at the 15:29 mark.

-At the 11:59 mark and the score is tied 39-39. CMU can't shake the Eagles. Bridges picked up two fouls in the last minute, giving him four. Hardiman was brought back in with his three fouls, but this could create a problem if Jacolby gets his fourth in the upcoming minutes.

-8:45 left. CMU up 46-44. CMU had a run going and Jacolby Hardiman made a great steal and was bulldoged by Justin Dobbins but was called for a travel??? instead of a foul on Dobbins. Since EMU has went on a 4-0 run and taken the moentum from the Chippewas. Huge turning point in this game.

-3:01 remaining, EMU ahead 51-50 after Gay banks in a 3-pointer. CMU is looking tight right now and someone needs to step up on offense.

-1:10 to go, game tied at 54-54. Van has hit a pair of big shots to tie the game. EMU is killing itself at the free throw line, going just three for their last six.

- Van with a big jam to give CMU a 56-54 lead with 32 seconds left. Assist by Bitzer. Van has given CMU the spark they needed this half. CMU got the ball by forcing a turnover on Bowdry. EMU has the ball and could still get the lead with a 3-pointer.

-EMU gets a prayer. Antonio Green throws up a shot while jumping into Bitzer and draws a foul. Green hits all three FT's to take a 57-56 lead. CMU has the ball with nine seconds left.

EMU wins 57-56. I don't tend to blame refs in games, but there were some very shady calls that went against CMU. Ultimately the Chippewas can't let the refs keep them from winning, but they have to overcome that adversity. What a disappointing loss given Ball State losing earlier today and Western currently trailing Toledo.