EMU Set to Sqaure Off With Defending National Champions

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team will travel to Lexington, Ky. Wednesday, Jan. 2, for a matchup with the 2012 NCAA National Champion, University of Kentucky Wildcats. Tip-off at Rupp Arena is scheduled for 6:02 p.m.
   This New Year's matchup will be the first between Kentucky and the Eagles. Although both programs have storied histories, this will be the first time that these two institutions lock-up on the hardwood.

FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eagles' matchup with the Wildcats will be broadcast on WEMU (89.1 FM). Veteran play-by-play voice Chad Bush will calling the game solo in Lexington.
   The game will also be available for viewing on ESPNU. Tom Hart will serve as the play-by-play broadcaster while Joe Dean is scheduled as the color analyst. Coverage on ESPNU begins at 6 p.m. with the tip set for 6:02 p.m.

ALL-TIME VERSUS KENTUCKY: The Eagles will take on another nationally ranked institution Wednesday, Jan. 2, when they travel to Lexington, Ky. to take on the defending 2012 NCAA national champion University of Kentucky Wildcats. This will be the first meeting between No. 23-ranked Kentucky and Eastern Michigan.

FIRST TIME OVER 75: Eastern made history in the Rob Murphy era Friday, Dec. 28, when they posted 87 points. That output was the most recorded by a team coached by Murphy. The previous high was 75 when the Eagles defeated Madonna University, 75-57, Nov. 24, 2012. This is also only the third time that a team coached by Murphy has posted 70-or-more points in a contest. The third time EMU scored 70 was in a 74-70 loss to Colgate, Dec. 1, 2011.

FOUR IN DOUBLE-DIGITS: Eastern's offensive balance showed in the game against Siena Heights as they put four players in double figures. That was the first time this season that EMU has had more than three players score 10-or-more points. Daylen Harrison, Derek Thompson and Jalen Ross each had double-digit scoring affairs against Oakland, Dec. 22.

SCORCHING SHOOTING: EMU's win over Siena Heights was the first time the Eagles have shot 50% or better from the field they shot 22-of-44 (50.0 percent) in a 57-62 overtime loss to Miami last season, Feb. 1, 2012. The Eagles' 33-of-60 (55.0 percent) is the best shooting percentage since Eastern shot a sizzling 28-of-39 (57.1 percent) against Toledo during the 2007-08 campaign, Jan. 22, 2008.

GET THAT OUTTA HERE: The Eagles posted a season-high 10 blocks for the second time in the 2012-13 campaign Friday, Dec. 28, against Siena Heights, including five from junior Da'Shonte Riley. The Eagles also posted 10 blocks against Eastern Illinois, Nov. 16. That game against EIU was the first time EMU had posted 10-or-more blocks in a game since the 1998-99 campaign when it notched 11 blocks in an overtime win against Central Michigan, Jan. 20, 1999.

DISHING OUT THE ROCK: Including five assists from Antoine Chandler, along with four apiece from Daylen Harrison and Jalen Ross, the Eagles posted 20 assists against Siena Heights which is the most this season, since dishing out 18 against Madonna, Nov. 24.

UMASS ON THE HORIZON: The Eagles will stay on the road after taking on the Kentucky Wildcats. EMU is scheduled to travel to Amherst, Mass. to take on the University of Massachusetts for a 2 p.m. contest.
   Eastern is 0-1 all-time against UMass. The last time EMU and the Minutemen faced off was during the 1972-73 season when the Eagles fell, 61-68, in the Motor City Tournament.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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