Eagles Set For 2 p.m. Tip with Purdue at the Convo

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team will play host to its first Big Ten Conference competition of the 2012-13 campaign Saturday, Dec. 8. The Purdue University Boilermakers will travel from West Lafayette, Ind. to Ypsilanti, Mich. for a 2:02 p.m. tipoff.

This is the second-straight season that EMU will take on the Boilermakers. Last season Eastern traveled to West Lafayette and fell, 36-61, at Mackey Arena.

FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eagles' matchup with Purdue will be broadcast on WEMU (89.1 FM). Veteran play-by-play voice Chad Bush will be on the call, along with color analyst and engineer Greg Steiner.

However, the game will also air on ESPN3. Michael Reghi will serve as the play-by-play announcer, while former NBA player and Detroit native Tim McCormick will be alongside Reghi as the color analyst.

ALL-TIME VERSUS PURDUE: The Eagles and the Boilermakers have met just three times prior to Saturday's matchup. The last time EMU and Purdue squared off was just last season, Dec. 10, 2011. Eastern dropped that game, 36-61, at Mackey Arena.

The Eagles were led by Derek Thompson offensively after he dropped 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting, while pulling down seven rebounds. Quintin Dailey chipped in with six points. Leading the attack on the glass for the Green and White was Jamell Harris with eight rebounds. Harris added eight points and four blocks for Eastern. As a team, the Eagles shot 13-of-42 from the floor, good for 30.9 percent.

BRYANT FINDS HIS FORM: Junior transfer Glenn Bryant notched the first double-double of his career Monday, Dec. 3, at Syracuse. Bryant poured in 16 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in the 48-84 loss at the Carrier Dome.

TURNOVER TROUBLES: The Eagles turned the ball over a season-high 24 times against Syracuse, Dec. 3. Those 24 turnovers were the most in a game since the Eagles turned the ball over 24 times against then No. 15 Ohio State, Dec. 12, 2009. It was also the first time EMU had turned the ball over 20 or more times since Dec. 21, 2010, when they had 21 turnovers against Samford.

STRUGGLES AGAINST THE BIG BOYS: Eastern Michigan is 9-71 all-time against Big Ten competition in its history. The most wins over a Big Ten opponent have come against Michigan State University, with four. The Eagles have defeated Michigan twice, Wisconsin twice and are 1-0 against Penn State. The only Big Ten team EMU has not faced is Northwestern.

THAT'S HOW YOU START A GAME: After Syracuse opened the scoring Monday, Dec. 3, the Eagles jumped out to a 10-1 run, giving them an early 10-3 lead on the No. 4-ranked Orange.

LET'S NOT DO THAT AGAIN: In two straight seasons taking on Syracuse the Eagles have dropped both contests, and both were by the same score and margin. Back on Nov. 29, 2011 the Eagles fell, 48-84, at the Carrier Dome. EMU dropped its tilt with SU, 48-84, Monday, Dec. 3, 2012, as well.

THE ROAD IS WHAT'S AHEAD: Eastern Michigan will hit the road for a pair of games following its matchup with Purdue at home.

First the Eagles will travel to Chicago, Ill. to take on the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames. Last season, EMU opened up the 2011-12 campaign against UIC with a 68-57 victory at home. The Eagles had three players in double figures, led by guard Derek Thompson with 17 followed by guard Darrell Lampley with 12 and forward Matt Balkema with 10. Forward Kamil Janton added seven points with seven rebounds.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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