Men's Hoops Set to Begin 2012-13 With Ice Man Classic Opener

The "Ice Man" Classic Tournament Central Page

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team will open the 2012-13 season with the first game of the inaugural EMU “Ice Man” Classic. The Green and White's first matchup of the season pits the Eagles against the Rochester College Warriors Friday, Nov. 9, at noon.

EASTERN TO HOST FIFTH EDUCATION “FIRST” DAY: For the fifth time the Eastern Michigan University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will host Education Day at the Convocation Center. The students will be treated to a pregame program of guest speakers from throughout the community, Nov. 9, at noon when the Eagles and Warriors square-off in the 2012-13 men's basketball regular season opener.

Education Day is a program designed for elementary and middle school students to experience the benefits of being on a college campus while taking part in educational activities related to their day-to-day experiences as a student. In addition, each student will be able to enjoy the excitement of a Division I college basketball game played by student-athletes who exemplify the characteristics of hard work and dedication.

EAGLES TOO MUCH FOR WOLVES IN EXHIBITION MATCHUP: The EMU men's basketball team started the 2012-13 campaign on a winning note, as Head Coach Rob Murphy's Eagles used a high-powered offense to take down the visiting University of Michigan-Dearborn Wolves, 82-38, in the only preseason game of the year Friday, Nov. 2, at the Convocation Center.

Glenn Bryant paced the EMU offense with 21 points, while Derek Thompson posted 17. Daylen Harrison   poured in 15 points of his own, including going 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. As a team, the Eagles shot 54.5 percent (30-of-55) from the floor and 42.1 percent (8-of-19) from three-point land. On the glass, Matt Balkema and James Still each grabbed seven caroms, while Still also posted 10 points.

ALL-TIME VERSUS ROCHESTER COLLEGE: The Eagles and the Warriors have squared off on the hardwood on four separate occasions over the years, with EMU winning all four competitions in the past.

Most recently, EMU and Rochester took the floor last season, Nov. 21, with the Eagles coming out on-top, 62-43. In that game, Eastern was led by guard J.R. Sims with 12 points while guard Darrell Lampley and guard Antonio Green added 11 each. Center Matt Balkema chipped in with 10 points and nine rebounds.

NEW FACES IN THE CROWD: The EMU men's hoops squad has a slew of new faces on the court this season for second-year Head Coach Rob Murphy's Eagles. Returning this season after sitting out due to transfer rules will be redshirt juniors Glenn Bryant, Daylen Harrison, and sophomore Josh Lyle.

Junior James Still is eligible for the 2012-13 campaign after transferring from Henry Ford Community College, while Mike Talley will sit out the season for EMU as a junior transfer, but will be eligible for the 2013-14 campaign with a pair of seasons left, as a redshirt junior.

Other new faces to Ypsilanti, Mich. will be a pair of freshmen guards, Ray Lee and Jalen Ross .

BLOCKING HIS WAY IN THE RECORD BOOKS: Eastern Michigan senior forward, Jamell Harris, posted 40 blocks last season which ranks as the ninth-most in EMU laurels. Heading into his senior campaign, the Euclid, Ohio native trails former EMU defensive great Theron Wilson (1992-96) by 123 blocks. Harris sits second in the record books with 134 career blocks.

Harris not only has been a force blocking shots, but he has made a name for himself on the glass as well. With 395 career rebounds, he ranks 42nd all-time in EMU history. Kennedy McIntosh (1967-71) has the most with 1,426.

EMU'S CAREER DIVISIONAL RECORD: The Mid-American Conference has had a West-East Divisional format since 1997-98. A complete list of Eastern's divisional play is listed below.

EMU IN MAC DIVISIONAL PLAY
   Year   MAC Record   Overall Record   Divisonal Place
   1997-98   13-5   20-10   3rd-West
   1998-99   5-13   5-20   5th-West
   1999-00   9-9   15-13   3rd-West
   2000-01   1-17   3-25   6th-West
   2001-02   2-16   6-24   6th-West
   2001-03   8-10   14-14   T-4th-West
   2003-04   7-11   13-15   5th-West
   2004-05   5-13   12-18   6th-West
   2005-06   3-15   7-21   5th-West
   2006-07   6-10   13-19   4th-West
   2007-08   8-8   14-17   T-2nd-West
   2008-09   6-10   8-24   4th-West
   2009-10   8-8   17-15   T-2nd-West
   2010-11   5-11   9-22   T-4th-West
   2011-12   9-7   14-18   1st-West

EAGLES PICKED TO FINISH SECOND IN THE WEST: The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team was picked to finish second in the West Division in the 2012-13 Mid-American Conference preseason poll by the MAC News Media Panel. The announcement was made in Cleveland Tuesday, Oct. 30. Second-year Head Coach Rob Murphy and his Eagles received 118 votes, which was shy of only the University of Toledo's 143 votes in the West Division. Following Toledo and EMU in the poll was Western Michigan (88), Ball State (74), Northern Illinois (46) and Central Michigan (35).

FOR THE 116th TIME: The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team will kick off its 116th season of competition Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, when the Eagles play host to the Rochester College Warriors. The noon matchup can be caught on Eagle All-Access.

Eastern played its first season in 1897-98 and split games with Detroit, losing a 2-0 decision before coming back for a 4-0 victory. The Eagles are are 67-48 in season openers.

39th MAC SEASON: The 2012-13 season will also be the 39th for the Eagles in the Mid-American Conference. The first year of MAC play for EMU was 1974-75 when the then-Hurons went 12-14 overall and 4-9 in league play.

EMU has won three Mid-American Conference titles: 1987-88, 1990-91, and 1995-96. The Green and White captured MAC Tournament crowns in all three of those years in addition to winning the tournament title in 1997-98. In 2011-12, the Eagles captured their first-ever Mid-American Conference West Division crown, going 9-7 in MAC tilts.

CONVO UPGRADES SCOREBOARD FOR 2012-13 SEASON: The basketball scoreboard has been replaced for the 2012-13 campaign. Eastern Michigan will enjoy the comforts of a $1.6 million scoreboard in the Convocation Center. The scorebard will feature four video boards on the main scoreboard which will hang above center-court. It will also feature ribbon boards along the sidelines above, between the lower and upper bowls.

EAGLES FACE FOES FROM 10 LEAGUES: The 2012-13 EMU men's basketball team will square off against teams from at least 10 different leagues. In addition to its Mid-American Conference schedule that starts Wednesday, Jan. 9, the Eagles will meet teams from the Big Ten (Michigan and Purdue), the Ohio Valley Conference (Jacksonville State and Eastern Illinois), the Summit League (IPFW and Oakland), Horizon (UIC), Great West (Texas-Pan American), Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (Madonna and Siena Heights), Big East (Syracuse), Southeastern Conference (Kentucky) and Atlantic 10 (Massachusetts). The Eagles will also meet a team that does not hail from a conference, as Rochester College is an independent NAIA school.

EMU'S MURPHY NAMED 2011-12 MAC COACH OF THE YEAR: It did not take long for Eastern Michigan University Head Men's Basketball Coach Rob Murphy to make his mark on the Mid-American Conference as the first-year Head Coach was named Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year for the 2011-12 season. Murphy led the Eagles to a 9-7 MAC record and the school's first-ever West Division championship. Murphy is one of just four first-year coaches to earn the Coach of the Year Award since its inception in 1970.

FOLLOW EMU MEN'S BASKETBALL ON EAGLE ALL-ACCESS: Building off the success of Eagle All-Access through spring 2012, the Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics has continued the growth of the broadband channel with the announcement of the school's 2012-13 broadcast schedule. The productions are a combined effort between the EMU Athletic Media Relations Office, WEMU (89.1 FM) and SIDEARM Sports. The following men's basketball games in 2011-12 will be part of Eagles All-Access.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Men's Hoops Set to Begin 2012-13 With Ice Man Classic Opener

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