EMU Poised to Take on Robert Morris Thursday Night

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - After a pair of decisive victories to open the season against Albion and Concordia, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team will host its first NCAA Division I opponent of the 2013-14 campaign when Robert Morris University comes calling Thursday, Nov. 14. Tip is scheduled for 7:36 p.m. at the Convocation Center as each team comes into the game with an unblemished 2-0 record in the short season. This will be the first game for EMU that is part of the 2013 Keightley Classic. The Green and White will co-host the Classic along with the University of Kentucky.

The Eagles moved to 2-0 on the year after using double-digit scoring performances from Karrington Ward (17), Glenn Bryant (14), Ray Lee (12), Darell Combs (12) and Mike Talley (10) in a 95-50 drubbing of Concordia University.

WHAT'S TO COME: The Green and White remain at home for the first five games of the 2013-14 season. Eastern opened with Albion, Nov. 8, and hosted Concordia, Nov. 12. After its game with Robert Morris Thursday, the Eagles will welcome both Cleveland State, Nov. 18, and Texas-Arlington, Nov. 23, into the Convocation Center for games before finally hitting the road.

FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eagles' contest with the Colonials will hit the airwaves of 89.1 FM (WEMU). In addition to the WEMU broadcast, fans can watch live streaming video on Eastern Michigan's Eagle All-Access. Subscriptions for Eagle All-Access start at just $6.95.

Veteran "Voice of the Eagles" Chad Bush will serve as EMU's play-by-play announcer for both the radio and streaming broadcasts, while Sean Hostetter will be the analyst of the Green and White's contest with Robert Morris.

ALL-TIME AGAINST ROBERT MORRIS: Eastern and Robert Morris have a very short series in the 117-year history of basketball at EMU. The two squads have tangled just three times previously, the Green and White have come away victorious in all three of those contests.

Most recently, just under 12 years ago, the Eagles took down the Colonials in a game at the Convocation Center, 99-85, Nov. 26, 2002. It was the best offensive output by an EMU squad since they posted 101 points against Texas-Christian in an overtime contest during the 1999-2000 season. It was the highest point total for EMU in regulation since the 1996-97 season when then-Head Coach Milton Barnes' team score 100 points against Central Michigan, Feb. 1.

DEFYING MURPHY'S LAW: Although defense has been Head Coach Rob Murphy's philosophy since he stepped foot on the campus of Eastern Michigan, the 2013-14 basketball team seems to be showing the third-year head coach that it might be able to win games on the offensive side of the ball as well. Since coming to Ypsilanti, Murphy's squads have averaged 53.2 and 56.6 points per game, respectively. On the other side of the ball, Murphy's Eagles have allowed just 58.7 and 59.1 points per contest in those two seasons. After two games this season, the Eagles are averaging 86.0 points on the offensive side, while allowing just 47.5 points on the defensive side. It seems as though these Eagles are embracing the defensive philosophy while exploding on the other side of the court as well.

CROSS COUNTY THRASHING: Eastern came out victorious in the second contest of the 2013-14 campaign in a cross-county matchup against Concordia University, Nov. 12, 95-50. The Eagles were led by junior Karrington Ward, who posted 17 points, tying his career-high, after shooting 5-of-10 from the field and five-of-six from the free throw line. He also pulled down a team and career-high seven rebounds and tied with four other Eagles for the team-high in steals, with two. Glenn Bryant tallied 14 points and two steals in the win, while Darell Combs and Ray Lee netted 12 apiece. Mike Talley added 10 points of his own while dishing out seven assists for the evening. Da'Shonte Riley rejected five Cardinal shots to pace the defense.

STUFF YOU VERY MUCH: Eastern Michigan's defensive prowess is what has allowed the team to be successful the last few years. That stealthy includes their shot blocking ability. In its first two games, EMU has blocked 19 shots. Those 19 rejections are already 11.2 percent of last season's total of 169 swatted shots. Projections say the Eagles are on pace for 294 blocked shots this season.

ALL-AROUND OFFENSE: The EMU offense has been strong through its first two games this season, averaging 86.0 points per game. However, it has not been a one-man show on the floor. The Eagles are getting offensive production from players up and down the board. In fact, Eastern has eight student-athletes averaging at least 5.5 points per game, while four are posting 10-or-more points per contest.

KINETIC KARRINGTON: Eastern Michigan's new wingman, Karrington Ward, is currently leading the Eagles in scoring after the first two games of the season with 17 points a game. Ward has become a human highlight reel at EMU, as the two-time junior college All-American has shown his versatility to the fans by dunking, draining threes, rebounding and swiping the ball from the opposition.

DROPPIN' DIMES: The Eagles had struggled the last few seasons to find the open man, but 2013-14 has been a different story. The Green and White is averaging 17.5 assists per game this season, compared to last season when they notched 10.7 per tilt. Mike Talley has been the floor general for EMU and has dished out 5.5 assists per game.

EMU FOR THREE!: Eastern's offense has clicked on all cylinders in its first two contests. The Eagles have knocked down 14 three-pointers in its first two games of the season, but what is more impressive is that they are shooting 53.8 percent from beyond the arc.

IT AIN'T NO THING: After starting 30-of-34 games last season for EMU, senior Glenn Bryant finds himself coming off the bench for Rob Murphy's squad. However, Bryant has embraced the role from the bench, doing whatever he can to help the team win.

Despite not starting the game on the floor in the first two contests of the season, Bryant is averaging 13.0 points a game, good for the second most on the team and the 22nd most in the Mid-American Conference.

NO FIRST GAME JITTERS: Multiple newcomers to the 2013-14 men's basketball squad were impressive in their first games donning the Green and White. Karrington Ward contributed 17 points in the opener, while Mike Talley poured in 10 points with five rebounds and four assists in the first game he played for EMU. Darell Combs and Mo Hughley each contributed to the Eagles' victory. Despite not scoring, Combs was able to record four assists, while Hughley pulled down two offensive rebounds and recorded the first basket of his short EMU career.

ETCHING HIS NAME IN THE RECORD BOOK: Eastern Michigan senior center Da'Shonte Riley has made a name for himself on the defensive side of the court at Eastern Michigan. Riley has totaled 108 blocks in just over two seasons donning the Green and White. That number ranks as the fourth-most rejections in a career at EMU. Theron Wilson holds the all-time record, posting 257 blocks from 1992-96.

Last season, Riley turned away 67 shots. That number ranked as the fifth-most in a single season at Eastern. He is also tied for the second-most blocks (7) in a single game. The Detroit, Mich. native posted seven rejections against Buffalo, Jan. 24, 2012 and most recently against Albion, Nov. 8. Wilson also holds the single game record with eight blocks.

FOR THE 117th TIME: The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team kicked off its 117th season of competition Friday, Nov. 8, when the Eagles downed the Albion College Britons, 77-45. 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 now 69-48 in season openers.

FLOCK OF EAGLES CONTRIBUTE TO OPENING WIN: Eastern used solid performances across the board to take down Albion on Friday, Nov. 8. The Eagles had four student-athletes pour in double digit point performances, while stingy defense held the Britons to just 45 points on 13-of-52 shooting for a 25.0 percent shooting percentage.

Eastern had four Eagles in double digit scoring, led by Karrington Ward with 17 points in the afternoon contest. Ray Lee and Glenn Bryant had 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Mike Talley contributed 10. Talley, Darell Combs and Da'Shonte Riley each dished out four assists in the win. Riley's four dimes were a career-high.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related News

Next Event

Related Videos