Robbery postpones EMU basketball game

Eastern Michigan's men's basketball game scheduled for Wednesday night in Athens, Ohio, was postponed following an armed robbery near the Ohio University campus.

Police were searching for the man who robbed a woman at gunpoint, stealing $5, at an apartment complex Wednesday morning, according to the Athens Messenger newspaper.

"I do understand the importance of gun control and how serious incidents like these are," Eastern Michigan coach Rob Murphy told the Detroit Free Press. "I truly respect the decision of Ohio University’s president and the importance of apprehending the suspect. The school shut down every building on campus. If you do that, you should take away basketball, as well.

"With everything that has gone on throughout the country recently with guns and gun control issues and shootings, I think they made the right move. That is a very, very serious issue. The game will be made up at some point. The school wanted to make sure the campus is safe and secure. (Our team) understands."

Ohio University posted the following statement on its website early Wednesday afternoon:

“In light of the fact that the armed fugitive that was spotted in the Athens campus vicinity has not been apprehended, the President (Dr. Roderick J. McDavis) has decided as a precautionary measure to close the Athens campus. All classes are cancelled, all students will be asked to return to their residences, and all non-essential employees should return home. Unless notified otherwise, classes and normal work activities will resume Thursday at their normal times.”
 
The EMU team was set to leave Ohio and head back to its campus in Ypsilanti, Mich., after the decision to postpone the game became official.
 
The game has been rescheduled for Feb. 20.