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YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) -- Eastern Michigan held off Central Michigan's second-half rally for a 79-72 win Saturday afternoon.
James Jackson led the Eagles (11-12, 4-9 Mid-American) with 16 points and John Bowler added 15.
Kevin Nelson's 18 points led Central Michigan (7-15, 2-12), which suffered its eighth consecutive loss.
The Chippewas came back from a 47-28 deficit to make it 54-52 on Sefton Barrett's jumper with 7:14 remaining. But a free throw by Bowler, two by Michael Ross and a Bowler lay-in made it 59-52 with 6:02 to go in the game.
Eastern Michigan led by 12 at halftime and scored the first seven points of the second half and to go ahead 47-28 on Markus Austin's spinning lay-in with 16:09 left.
The Eagles also scored the game's first seven points in the opening 3:02 on lay-ups by Markus Austin and Jackson and a 3-pointer by Danny McElhinny.
Eastern Michigan twice led by 14 in the first half.
