# 2004–05 Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball team

The 2004–05 Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball team represented Eastern Michigan University during the 2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Eagles, led by fifth year head coach Jim Boone, who was fired at the end of the season. The Eagles played their home games at the Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center and were members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 12–18, 5–13 in MAC play. They finished sixth in the MAC West. They were knocked out in the first round of the MAC Tournament by Akron.

## Roster

Source:
The team captains were John Bowler, Michael Ross.
| Number | Name | Position | Height | Year |
| 3 | Michael Ross | Guard | 5–9 | Senior |
| 4 | James Matthews | Center | 6–8 | Sophomore |
| 5 | Nick Freer | Forward | 6–6 | Freshman |
| 11 | Rico Harris | Guard | 6–2 | Freshman |
| 12 | Eric Williams | Guard | 6–3 | Sophomore |
| 13 | Danny McElhinny | Guard | 6–0 | Junior |
| 21 | Craig Cashen | Forward | 6–8 | Sophomore |
| 22 | James Jackson | Senior | 6–9 | Freshman |
| 23 | Darryl Garrett | Freshman | 6–3 | Guard |
| 25 | Markus Austin | Senior | 6–6 | Forward |
| 33 | Derek VanSolkema | Guard | 6–1 | Sophomore |
| 42 | John Bowler | Forward | 6–8 | Junior |
| 52 | Dan Redder | Center | 6–10 | Sophomore |

## Schedule

| Date time, TV | Opponent | Result | Record | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Regular season |||||
| 11/20/2004* 6:30 pm | vs. Austin Peay Paradise Jam | W 73–59 | 1–0 | Sports and Fitness Center (1737) Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| 11/21/2004* 6:30 pm | vs. Saint Louis Paradise Jam | W 61–58 | 2–0 | Sports and Fitness Center (2019) Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| 11/22/2004* 9:08 pm, FSN Detroit | vs. Arkansas Paradise Jam Championship | L 64–82 | 2–1 | Sports and Fitness Center (3014) Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| 11/30/2004 7:05 pm | Marshall | W 90–88 | 3–1 (1–0) | Convocation Center (3162) Ypsilanti, MI |
| 12/07/2004* 7:05 pm | Rochester | W 89–29 | 4–1 (1–0) | Convocation Center (3014) Ypsilanti, MI |
| 12/11/2004* 7:05 pm | Canisius | W 86–72 | 5–1 (1–0) | Convocation Center (3391) Ypsilanti, MI |
| 12/18/2004* 2:00 pm | North Dakota State Throwback Game | W 60–58 | 6–1 (1–0) | Bowen Field House (3243) Ypsilanti, MI |
| 12/20/2004* 7:06 pm | at Detroit | L 83–88 | 6–2 (1–0) | Calihan Hall (3840) Detroit, MI |
| 12/23/2004* 7:05 pm | Cleveland State | W 89–76 | 7–2 (1–0) | Convocation Center (1836) Ypsilanti, MI |
| 12/30/2004* 7:05 pm | at Montana | L 68–80 | 7–3 (1–0) | Dahlberg Arena (2903) Missoula, MT |
| 01/02/2005 4:05 pm | Toledo | W 75–70 | 8–3 (2–0) | Convocation Center (2782) Ypsilanti, MI |
| 01/05/2005 7:00 pm | at Kent State | L 64–67 | 8–4 (2–1) | Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (2364) Kent, OH |
| 01/09/2005 1:00 pm | at Central Michigan | W 86–82 | 9–4 (3–1) | McGuirk Arena (2058) Mount Pleasant, MI |
| 01/12/2005 7:5 pm | Bowling Green | L 63–79 | 9–5 (3–2) | Convocation Center (2478) Ypsilanti, MI |
| 01/15/2005 7:00 pm | at Akron | L 68–76 | 9–6 (3–3) | James A. Rhodes Arena (2830) Akron, OH |
| 01/19/2005 7:05 pm | Miami (OH) | L 73–83 | 9–7 (3–4) | Convocation Center (1936) Ypsilanti, MI |
| 01/22/2005 7:05 pm | at Northern Illinois | L 74–87 | 9–8 (3–5) | Convocation Center (1701) DeKalb, IL |
| 01/29/2005 2:05 pm | Buffalo | L 68–80 | 9–9 (3–6) | Convocation Center (2893) Ypsilanti, MI |
| 01/31/2005 7:00 pm | at Ball State | L 86–96 | 9–10 (3–7) | John E. Worthen Arena (6022) Muncie, IN |
| 02/03/2005 8:00 pm | at Western Michigan | L 71–82 | 9–11 (3–8) | University Arena (3428) Kalamazoo, MI |
| 02/06/2005* 2:05 pm | IPFW | W 74–54 | 10–11 (3–8) | Convocation Center (1539) Ypsilanti, MI |
| 02/09/2005 7:00 pm | at Marshall | L 75–81 | 10–12 (3–9) | Cam Henderson Center (3689) Huntington, WV |
| 02/12/2005 4:07 pm, Comcast Local | Central Michigan Cram the Convo | L 79–82 | 11–12 (4–9) | Convocation Center (5423) Ypsilanti, MI |
| 02/16/2005 7:05 pm | Northern Illinois | W 79–63 | 12–12 (5–9) | Convocation Center (1042) Ypsilanti, MI |
| 02/19/2005* 2:00 pm | at Youngstown State Bracket Buster | L 60–74 | 12–13 (5–9) | Beeghly Physical Education Center (2122) Youngstown, OH |
| 02/23/2005 7:00 pm | at Ohio | L 65–68 | 12–14 (5–10) | Convocation Center (3471) Athens, OH |
| 02/26/2005 7:05 pm | Western Michigan | L 63–73 | 12–15 (5–11) | Convocation Center (3029) Ypsilanti, MI |
| 03/02/2005 7:07 pm, Comcast Local | Ball State Senior Day | L 56–71 | 12–16 (5–12) | Convocation Center (1589) Ypsilanti, MI |
| 03/04/2005 2:30 pm | at Toledo | L 70–78 $^{OT}$ | 12–17 (5–13) | Savage Arena (4429) Toledo, OH |
| 2005 MAC tournament |||||
| 03/07/2005 7:00 pm | at Akron 1st Round | L 66–78 | 12–18 (5–13) | James A. Rhodes Arena (1520) Akron, OH |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||

## Awards

MAC Honorable Mention
* John Bowler
Preseason 1st Team All-MAC West Division
* John Bowler
E-Club Hall of Fame Inductees
* Ben Braun
* Harold Simons
MAC Individual Records
* Michael Ross- Free Throw Percentage (.854)

## Season Highlights

11/22 vs Arkansas
* Paradise Jam Basketball Tournament Finals
01/01 at Central Michigan
* EMU attempted the most free throws in school history.