Eastern Michigan's Brandon Bowdry shoots over Western Michigan's Muhammed Conteh on Sunday. Bowdry, who scored 16 points, missed 12 of his first 14 shots in an 87-60 loss at the Convocation Center.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

Charles Ramsey said it was by far the worst effort of his six-year tenure as Eastern Michigan’s basketball coach.

By the time Earl Boykins' jersey was retired at halftime Sunday afternoon, Eastern Michigan was already down by 24 points. The Eagles fell behind by as many as 40 in the second half and went on to lose 87-60 to Western Michigan.

“My apologies go out to everyone because it was a horrible effort,” Ramsey said.

Eastern Michigan (8-20, 4-10 Mid-American Conference) never had a lead in the game, and did few things right. The Eagles shot the ball poorly, both from the field (34 percent) and the free throw line (46 percent). They were outrebounded 44-31.

And most disappointing of all for Ramsey, his team—which is usually solid defensively—played perhaps its worst defense of the season.

“We couldn’t throw it in the ocean and they could,” Ramsey said. “Their defense picked up and ours backed off. It was one of those things that spiraled out of control.

“I’m really disappointed in our seniors. I’m just really disappointed. You need someone out there who’s going to take control and show the way, and that did not happen.”

Even Eagles' star Brandon Bowdry was off his game. He scored 16 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, but missed 12 of his first 14 shots. Derek Thompson hit 6 of 10 shots from 3-point range and had a game-high 20 points, but he did much of his damage late in the game when the result was no longer in question.

Five players scored in double figures for Western Michigan (17-11, 9-5 MAC), led by Flenard Whitfield with 16 and Matt Stainbrook with 15. The Broncos’ two post men dominated down low as they outscored the Eagles 42-16 in the paint.

Ramsey said the game was the low point of a season that has not gone well for the Eagles. He spent most of the second half seated, sometimes shaking his head.

Eastern has just two regular season games remaining—on the road at Northern Illinois next Wednesday, and Toledo at home on Saturday. As one of the bottom four teams in the MAC, the Eagles will have to play the opening round of the MAC Tournament on the road.