Battle of Washtenaw County Rebooted at Crisler Center, Thursday Night

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team will travel west just 5.7 miles to the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. to square off with the No. 2-ranked University of Michigan Wolverines Thursday, Dec. 20.

This is the first meeting between the neighbors in over three years. The last time EMU and U-M faced off came back in the 2008-09 campaign. Eastern dropped a road contest, Dec. 13, to the Wolverines, 91-60.

FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eagles' matchup with the Wolverines will be broadcast on WEMU (89.1 FM). Veteran play-by-play voice Chad Bush will be on the call with EMU Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations Greg Steiner as the color commentator for the game.

However, the game will also air on the Big Ten Network. Eric Collins will serve as the play-by-play announcer, while former Senior Associate Athletic Director at Northwestern University, Shon Morris, will serve as the color analyst for the BTN broadcast.

ALL-TIME VERSUS MICHIGAN: The Eagles and the Wolverines have faced off on 28 occasions prior to Thursday's meeting. The Green and White is just 2-26 all-time against Michigan, with their last victory coming Dec. 17, 1997, when EMU topped U-M, 89-83, in an overtime game.

The last time these two teams met was in the 2008-09 season when the Wolverines topped Eastern, 91-60. The Eagles dominated the glass and led by as many as seven points in the opening stanza, but the Wolverines used stellar outside shooting to overcome the deficit en route to the victory. Brandon Bowdry paced the EMU offense with 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting while grabbing seven rebounds. Junior Justin Dobbins chipped in 13 points to go along with eight rebounds.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: When playing at home this season, the Eagles are a perfect 6-0. Eastern shoots a blistering 40.9 percent within the friendly confines of the Convocation Center, while holding its opponents to just 35.0 percent shooting from the floor. The Eagles also hold their opponents to 49.8 points per game when playing in Ypsilanti.

Conversely, the Green and White is 0-3 outside of the Convo this season. EMU is shooting just 34.5 percent on the road, while its opponents are hitting 43.1 percent of its shots. EMU scores just 50 points per game away from Ypsilanti and the opposition is posting 73 points per game in those three contests.

SECOND HALF SORROW: After holding the Flames to just 24 points and a 30.8 shooting percentage in the first half, the Eagles defense was nearly non-existent in the second half, in a loss to UIC, Dec. 15. Eastern allowed 50 points to the Flames. Illinois-Chicago shot 60.7 percent from the floor and an even better 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from three-point land.

TAKING DOWN THE WOLVERINES AT HOME: The Eagles are looking to take down one of the most stable teams in the nation when playing on its home floor. Michigan has won 22 of its last 23 games at the Crisler Center. The Wolverines last loss in Ann Arbor came last season against Purdue, 75-61, Feb. 25, 2012.

DO NOT SHY AWAY FROM TOP TIER TEAMS: Eastern has made a habit of traveling to top-notch teams over the past five seasons. EMU has played a team ranked in the top-25 each of the last seven seasons, including matchups with top-five teams in the last three-consecutive seasons.

In 2010-11 the Eagles opened the season with No. 2-ranked Michigan State. In 2011-12 EMU traveled to Syracuse to take on the No. 3/4-ranked Orange. This year the Eagles took on No. 4 Syracuse and now square off with No. 2 Michigan.

MISSING SOME TIME: EMU true freshman, Ray Lee, will be out indefinitely with an injury to his foot.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Battle of Washtenaw County Rebooted at Crisler Center, Thursday Night

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