Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, November 23
Convocation Center
2:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Longwood
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Chloe Smith
Eagles Prepped For Noon Matchup with Rochester College
11/25/2014 1:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Green and White will take on the Warriors on Wednesday
| Game Notes | Live Video |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team continues the beginning of the 2014-15 campaign on a hot streak, sitting at 5-0 after the three-game in three-day EMU Showcase tournament, Nov. 21-23. The Eagles now turn their attention to Rochester College, Nov. 26, for a noon matchup. The Warriors (5-3) have become a familiar name on the schedule since Rob Murphy took the reins of the EMU program. Murphy has scheduled RC in all four seasons and is looking to remain at a perfect 4-0 versus the Warriors when the two teams clash at the Convocation Center.
FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eastern Michigan versus Rochester contest can be found exclusively on Eagle All-Access. Video and audio will be provided so fans can enjoy listening to the smooth sounds of EMU Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations, Greg Steiner. Joining Steiner on the call will be analyst and Assistant Athletic Media Relations Director Sean Hostetter.
Eagle All-Access is EMU's internet-based web streaming service. Subscriptions for Eagle All-Access start at just $6.95 and can be purchased at EMUEagles.com/watch. The pregame show and analysis will begin at 11:50 a.m. on Wednesday.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE ROCHESTER: Wednesday's noon contest will be just the seventh time that Eastern Michigan and Rochester have squared off in regular season contests. The Eagles hold an undefeated 6-0 record against the Warriors and will look to remain perfect on a pre-Thanksgiving tipoff.
In the last meeting, EMU welcomed the new year with a 92-54 victory in its non-conference season finale against Rochester, Jan. 4, 2014. The Green and White was led by Karrington Ward with 14 points. Four other Eagles notched double-digit figures as Darell Combs, Raven Lee, Glenn Bryant and Daylen Harrison all added at least 10 points for EMU. Da'Shonte Riley had a career game on the boards after pulling down 14 rebounds for the team. Mike Talley and Lee setup the Eagle offense, each handing out three assists apiece, while Lee grabbed an additional three steals.
THAT'S SO RAVEN: Much like he had been touted out of high school, redshirt-sophomore Raven Lee has not disappointed on the offensive end this season. Through the first five games of the season, Lee has had two 20-plus point scoring games, while knocking down 58.2 percent of his shots, in addition to a 47.8 percent three-point shooting percentage.
FLYING UNDER THE RADAR: Because of the stellar offensive outputs from both Raven Lee (18 ppg) and Karrington Ward (15.2 ppg), many Eagle fans have forgotten about the talented play through the beginning of the season from Anali Okoloji and Mike Talley. Combined, the two seniors are averaging 21 points and 7.6 rebounds, while connecting on 58.6 percent of their shots taken. Talley is hitting 63 percent of his shots, while Okoloji boasts a 54.8 shooting percentage.
POINT PLAY: EMU's two point guards, Ethan Alvano and Mike Talley have been two of the best at protecting the ball this season. The two Eagle floor generals have a combined eight turnovers in the first five games of the season, while they've combined for 40 assists. Their assist-to-turnover ratio is five assists for every one turnover.
STREAKING AT THE CONVO: Eastern Michigan's basketball program has had great success underneath current head coach Rob Murphy in home games at the Convocation Center. The Eagles are 43-12 in games played at the Convo, including a current 13-game winning streak. Eastern has not dropped a game in Ypsilanti since it fell, 56-58, to Ohio, Jan. 25, 2014.
SWEEPING THE SHOWCASE: Eastern Michigan hosted three schools last weekend for the 2014 EMU Showcase. In the tournament, EMU went a perfect 3-0, defeating Youngstown State, 71-62, UNC Greensboro, 70-62, and Longwood, 79-48, on its way to a championship and a perfect 5-0 start to the young 2014-15 season.
MAKING HISTORY: The Eagles have won their first five games of the season, similar to last year. The 5-0 start ties the 2013-14 campaign with the best start in an individual season since the 1996-97 campaign when EMU went 6-0 to start the year. With a victories over Rochester, Nov. 26, and Marygrove, Dec. 1, the Eagles could start the season 7-0, the most prolific start to a season since the 1995-96 campaign. That '95-96 team went on to win the MAC title and had Eastern's most significant win in history, defeating Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, March 14, 1996.
LEE NAMED MAC WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Raven Lee was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday, Nov. 24. It is the second time the Detroit, Mich. native has garnered the award in his career and first of the young 2014-15 campaign.
Lee was an offensive powerhouse in the Eagles' perfect 4-0 week, scoring double-digit points in each game versus four NCAA Division I opponents. Lee averaged 19.8 points per game, while pulling down 2.5 rebounds, dishing out 1.5 assists and grabbing one steal per game on his way to being named the Most Valuable Player of the 2014 EMU Showcase. The redshirt-sophomore shot 58.7 percent from the floor, including an outstanding 55 percent from beyond the arc. In addition to his hot field goal shooting, Lee knocked down 82.4 percent of his free throws, while going 12-for-12 in the first three games of the week combined. The Detroit, Mich. native shot 50 percent-or-better in all four games, while exploding for 20-plus points in a pair of the contests.
DOUBLE VISION: As many have gathered from his appearance on the #SCTop10, Karrington Ward has been recognized as one of the most dynamic players in the Mid-American Conference. The Lockport, Ill. native has proven that by posting back-to-back-to-back double-doubles. Ward went for 22 points and 12 rebounds against Oakland, Nov. 17, before leading the Eagles in scoring and rebounding against Youngstown State, Nov. 21, with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Then, the senior recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds versus UNC Greensboro on Saturday, Nov. 22, giving him his third consecutive double-double. Last season, Ward had just three double-doubles the entire year.
OKAY MR. OKOLOJI: Eagle newcomer Anali Okoloji has made an immediate impact for the Green and White since transferring to EMU as a graduate student from George Mason. The Brooklyn, N.Y. native has come to play in his final year of eligibility and is currently starting for Rob Murphy's squad at the No. 4-spot. Okoloji made his presence known in the first game of the EMU Showcase by filling up the net on five occasions, while recording 16 points and six rebounds, both of which are career-highs for him, against Youngstown State, Nov. 21.
THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER: Despite not having a clear-cut go-to guy in the middle the "three-headed monster of Olalekan Ajayi, Jerome Hunter and Mike Samuels have been productive for EMU. The trio has combined for seven points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
HAMMERING THE HORIZON: With the Eagles' victory over Youngstown State, Nov. 21, the Green and White notched its fifth-straight win over a Horizon League-based team. That streak dates back to last season, Nov. 18, 2013, when Eastern welcomed Cleveland State into the Convocation Center. The Eagles knocked off the Vikings, 81-69, beginning an impressive streak over another strong mid-major conference in the NCAA.
OFFENSIVE AJAYI: EMU junior center Olalekan Ajayi is not known for his "offensive prowess" but in just his first 59 minutes of the season, Ajayi has scored as many points as he did in the 2013-14 season (13), including converting on seven free throws, which is just two shot of last season's total.
FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eastern Michigan versus Rochester contest can be found exclusively on Eagle All-Access. Video and audio will be provided so fans can enjoy listening to the smooth sounds of EMU Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations, Greg Steiner. Joining Steiner on the call will be analyst and Assistant Athletic Media Relations Director Sean Hostetter.
Eagle All-Access is EMU's internet-based web streaming service. Subscriptions for Eagle All-Access start at just $6.95 and can be purchased at EMUEagles.com/watch. The pregame show and analysis will begin at 11:50 a.m. on Wednesday.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE ROCHESTER: Wednesday's noon contest will be just the seventh time that Eastern Michigan and Rochester have squared off in regular season contests. The Eagles hold an undefeated 6-0 record against the Warriors and will look to remain perfect on a pre-Thanksgiving tipoff.
In the last meeting, EMU welcomed the new year with a 92-54 victory in its non-conference season finale against Rochester, Jan. 4, 2014. The Green and White was led by Karrington Ward with 14 points. Four other Eagles notched double-digit figures as Darell Combs, Raven Lee, Glenn Bryant and Daylen Harrison all added at least 10 points for EMU. Da'Shonte Riley had a career game on the boards after pulling down 14 rebounds for the team. Mike Talley and Lee setup the Eagle offense, each handing out three assists apiece, while Lee grabbed an additional three steals.
THAT'S SO RAVEN: Much like he had been touted out of high school, redshirt-sophomore Raven Lee has not disappointed on the offensive end this season. Through the first five games of the season, Lee has had two 20-plus point scoring games, while knocking down 58.2 percent of his shots, in addition to a 47.8 percent three-point shooting percentage.
FLYING UNDER THE RADAR: Because of the stellar offensive outputs from both Raven Lee (18 ppg) and Karrington Ward (15.2 ppg), many Eagle fans have forgotten about the talented play through the beginning of the season from Anali Okoloji and Mike Talley. Combined, the two seniors are averaging 21 points and 7.6 rebounds, while connecting on 58.6 percent of their shots taken. Talley is hitting 63 percent of his shots, while Okoloji boasts a 54.8 shooting percentage.
POINT PLAY: EMU's two point guards, Ethan Alvano and Mike Talley have been two of the best at protecting the ball this season. The two Eagle floor generals have a combined eight turnovers in the first five games of the season, while they've combined for 40 assists. Their assist-to-turnover ratio is five assists for every one turnover.
STREAKING AT THE CONVO: Eastern Michigan's basketball program has had great success underneath current head coach Rob Murphy in home games at the Convocation Center. The Eagles are 43-12 in games played at the Convo, including a current 13-game winning streak. Eastern has not dropped a game in Ypsilanti since it fell, 56-58, to Ohio, Jan. 25, 2014.
SWEEPING THE SHOWCASE: Eastern Michigan hosted three schools last weekend for the 2014 EMU Showcase. In the tournament, EMU went a perfect 3-0, defeating Youngstown State, 71-62, UNC Greensboro, 70-62, and Longwood, 79-48, on its way to a championship and a perfect 5-0 start to the young 2014-15 season.
MAKING HISTORY: The Eagles have won their first five games of the season, similar to last year. The 5-0 start ties the 2013-14 campaign with the best start in an individual season since the 1996-97 campaign when EMU went 6-0 to start the year. With a victories over Rochester, Nov. 26, and Marygrove, Dec. 1, the Eagles could start the season 7-0, the most prolific start to a season since the 1995-96 campaign. That '95-96 team went on to win the MAC title and had Eastern's most significant win in history, defeating Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, March 14, 1996.
LEE NAMED MAC WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Raven Lee was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday, Nov. 24. It is the second time the Detroit, Mich. native has garnered the award in his career and first of the young 2014-15 campaign.
Lee was an offensive powerhouse in the Eagles' perfect 4-0 week, scoring double-digit points in each game versus four NCAA Division I opponents. Lee averaged 19.8 points per game, while pulling down 2.5 rebounds, dishing out 1.5 assists and grabbing one steal per game on his way to being named the Most Valuable Player of the 2014 EMU Showcase. The redshirt-sophomore shot 58.7 percent from the floor, including an outstanding 55 percent from beyond the arc. In addition to his hot field goal shooting, Lee knocked down 82.4 percent of his free throws, while going 12-for-12 in the first three games of the week combined. The Detroit, Mich. native shot 50 percent-or-better in all four games, while exploding for 20-plus points in a pair of the contests.
DOUBLE VISION: As many have gathered from his appearance on the #SCTop10, Karrington Ward has been recognized as one of the most dynamic players in the Mid-American Conference. The Lockport, Ill. native has proven that by posting back-to-back-to-back double-doubles. Ward went for 22 points and 12 rebounds against Oakland, Nov. 17, before leading the Eagles in scoring and rebounding against Youngstown State, Nov. 21, with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Then, the senior recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds versus UNC Greensboro on Saturday, Nov. 22, giving him his third consecutive double-double. Last season, Ward had just three double-doubles the entire year.
OKAY MR. OKOLOJI: Eagle newcomer Anali Okoloji has made an immediate impact for the Green and White since transferring to EMU as a graduate student from George Mason. The Brooklyn, N.Y. native has come to play in his final year of eligibility and is currently starting for Rob Murphy's squad at the No. 4-spot. Okoloji made his presence known in the first game of the EMU Showcase by filling up the net on five occasions, while recording 16 points and six rebounds, both of which are career-highs for him, against Youngstown State, Nov. 21.
THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER: Despite not having a clear-cut go-to guy in the middle the "three-headed monster of Olalekan Ajayi, Jerome Hunter and Mike Samuels have been productive for EMU. The trio has combined for seven points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
HAMMERING THE HORIZON: With the Eagles' victory over Youngstown State, Nov. 21, the Green and White notched its fifth-straight win over a Horizon League-based team. That streak dates back to last season, Nov. 18, 2013, when Eastern welcomed Cleveland State into the Convocation Center. The Eagles knocked off the Vikings, 81-69, beginning an impressive streak over another strong mid-major conference in the NCAA.
OFFENSIVE AJAYI: EMU junior center Olalekan Ajayi is not known for his "offensive prowess" but in just his first 59 minutes of the season, Ajayi has scored as many points as he did in the 2013-14 season (13), including converting on seven free throws, which is just two shot of last season's total.
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