Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 14
Convocation Center
2:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Akron
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Chloe Smith
Eastern Welcomes the Zips to the Convo for Saturday's Doubleheader
2/12/2015 3:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Eagles look to get first win versus Akron in the Rob Murphy era
| Game Notes | Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Coming off of its highest offensive output of the 2015 Mid-American Conference campaign in an 83-69 victory over Miami University, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team will look to make it two wins in a row when the University of Akron comes to town Saturday, Feb. 14, for a Valentine's Day battle with the Zips (17-7, 8-3 MAC). The Eagles (15-9, 4-7 MAC) are looking to continue their success at home Saturday afternoon when they take the court with a 13-1 home record this year. EMU will look to make it two MAC wins in a row for the second time this year, previously defeating Ohio University and Western Michigan University in back-to-back contests.
In addition, the contest is part of Eastern Michigan's "Cheer Your Heart Out" doubleheader at the Convocation Center. The "Cheer Your Heart Out" event is to help raise awareness and fight heart disease. Fifty percent of all ticket sales will be donated to the American Heart Association. EMU's women's squad will take the floor at noon on Saturday, while the men are tentatively scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. tip.
FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eastern Michigan versus Akron contest can be found on 89.1 FM WEMU and Eagle All-Access. Fans can dial into 89.1 FM or listen over the internet to the smooth sounds of veteran play-by-play voice, Chad Bush. Joining Bush on the call will be analyst Assistant Athletic Media Relations Director Sean Hostetter along with executive producer and Assistant Athletic Director Greg Steiner.
For those who prefer to watch the game, it will be broadcast on Eastern's live webstreaming service Eagle All-Access. 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 2:20 p.m. on Tuesday.
ALL-TIME VERSUS AKRON: Eastern trails in the all-time series with Akron, 23-19, losing its last five contests versus the Zips. You have to go back to the 2010-11 season to mark when the Green and White last defeated UA. The Eagles defeated Akron, 60-56, at the Convo, Feb. 2, 2011
Last year, Eastern Michigan was on the wrong end of a pair of decisions versus the Zips. EMU first dropped a 78-68 decision at the Convocation Center before traveling to Akron, Ohio and falling by four, 52-48, at James A. Rhodes Arena. In the second contest, EMU held the lead from the beginning of the contest, until Akron finally took the lead with 2:42 left and never relinquished it.
A LOOK AT THE ZIPS: Akron comes into Saturday's game as one of the hottest squads in the Mid-American Conference right now. The Zips have won five of their last six games, including two road wins and a nine-point, 61-52, over their arch-rival Kent State. UA doesn't have any explosive scorers; in fact, Pat Forsythe leads the team in scoring at 10.8, but Akron has four players averaging eight-or-more points per game. In addition, the Zips are very efficient from the floor, shooting 42.4 percent on the season. They've been even better in MAC play, shooting 43.7 percent. In conference games only, Deji Ibitayo has added a spark off the bench, posting 10.2 points per game, while freshman point guard Noah Robotham is dishing out 3.7 assists and scoring 9.5 points per game.
WHEN THEY'RE HOT, THEY'RE HOT: Its safe to say that the Eagles have three dynamic scorers in Raven Lee, Mike Talley and Karrington Ward. In fact, when any two of these three can score 15-or-more points in a single game, the Eagles have been quite successful. In games when at least two of these three student-athletes score 15-or-more points, the Green and White is 7-2. Lee has been involved in all nine games. When the Detroit, Mich. native teams up with Talley the Eagles are 3-1, with Ward, they're 3-1 and when all three score at least 15, Eastern Michigan is 1-0 on the year.
THE RETURN OF WARD: Before the Eagles' 83-69 win over Miami, Feb. 10, EMU's Karrington Ward had scored in double-figures just one time in seven games. Prior to that stretch, Ward had been averaging 14 points per game. In addition, Ward hadn't recorded a double-double since the Green and White's loss to Ball State, Jan. 7. However, the Lockport, Ill. native had a coming out party in Eastern's return to the Convocation Center versus the RedHawks. Ward went off for 22 points and 10 rebounds. His scoring effort was due in large part to his hot shooting. He went 6-for-9 from the floor, including a blistering 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. Ward had not connected on more than two three-pointers in a single game all season prior to Eastern's home victory.
MIXING THINGS UP: Head Coach Rob Murphy has yet to find his go-to starting lineup this season. At the beginning of the year, it looked as though Ethan Alvano, Raven Lee, Anali Okoloji, Karrington Ward and Mike Samuels had their starting positions locked down. However, that lineup changed 11 games into the season. Only Lee and Ward have remained permanent fixtures, while Mike Talley has taken over the starting role at point guard, Brandon Nazione has moved between a pair of spots and Tim Bond has received a start. Overall on the season, Murphy has used 10 different starting groups.
LEE LIKES THE MAC: Since Mid-American Conference play began, Raven Lee is averaging 17 points per game. In addition to his gaudy MAC season scoring numbers, Lee has been on fire as of late. The Detroit, Mich. native has scored in double-figures all of the last eight games, while posting 19.1 per contest. The redshirt-sophomore is shooting at a 40.4 percent clip, while knocking down 37.5 percent of his three-point attempts and 84.6 percent of his free throw opportunities.
TALLEY TURNS IT ON: Although he has scored over 1,000 points in his career, Mike Talley had never been the go-to scorer and quietly averaged 10-or-more points per game. The senior has lit up the stat sheet as of late, averaging 17.2 points per game to go along with five assists, 1.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals in the last five games. In those contests, the Detroit, Mich. native is shooting at a 50.9 percent clip, while knocking down 6-of-17 three-point attempts. In addition, the redshirt-senior guard has knocked down 24-of-32 free throw attempts, good for an 75.0 percent mark.
WHERE WE STAND: Although we're past the midway point of the 2015 Mid-American Conference season and we've learned, well, not a lot. There are three teams tied for first-place at 8-3, while a pair sit at 7-4, one is 6-5, one is 5-6, three are 4-7, one is 3-8 and one holds a 2-9 record to this point. Eastern is one-of-three teams with a 4-7 record and currently holds the No. 8 seed if the 2015 MAC Tournament were to begin today.
ROAD WOES: Eastern Michigan has not seen its best play on the road this season. The Eagles are just 2-8 away from Ypsilanti, averaging just 61.4 points per game, while allowing the opponent 69.2 points per contest. The Green and White is a team that holds the opposition to a 36.6 field goal percentage. However, away from the EMU Convocation Center, Eastern allows teams to shoot 41.2 percent in shot opportunities.
TIC-TAC-TURNOVER: Eastern Michigan is forcing the competition into 15.2 turnovers per game this season. The Eagles have forced their opponents into 20-or-more turnovers on five separate occasions, including when the Green and White forced both Longwood and Miami into 24. The Eagles hold a +3.4 in turnover margin, which ranks as the best in the MAC and 19th nationally. Eastern has been forced into more turnovers than the opposition on just four occasions this season.
In addition, the contest is part of Eastern Michigan's "Cheer Your Heart Out" doubleheader at the Convocation Center. The "Cheer Your Heart Out" event is to help raise awareness and fight heart disease. Fifty percent of all ticket sales will be donated to the American Heart Association. EMU's women's squad will take the floor at noon on Saturday, while the men are tentatively scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. tip.
FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eastern Michigan versus Akron contest can be found on 89.1 FM WEMU and Eagle All-Access. Fans can dial into 89.1 FM or listen over the internet to the smooth sounds of veteran play-by-play voice, Chad Bush. Joining Bush on the call will be analyst Assistant Athletic Media Relations Director Sean Hostetter along with executive producer and Assistant Athletic Director Greg Steiner.
For those who prefer to watch the game, it will be broadcast on Eastern's live webstreaming service Eagle All-Access. 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 2:20 p.m. on Tuesday.
ALL-TIME VERSUS AKRON: Eastern trails in the all-time series with Akron, 23-19, losing its last five contests versus the Zips. You have to go back to the 2010-11 season to mark when the Green and White last defeated UA. The Eagles defeated Akron, 60-56, at the Convo, Feb. 2, 2011
Last year, Eastern Michigan was on the wrong end of a pair of decisions versus the Zips. EMU first dropped a 78-68 decision at the Convocation Center before traveling to Akron, Ohio and falling by four, 52-48, at James A. Rhodes Arena. In the second contest, EMU held the lead from the beginning of the contest, until Akron finally took the lead with 2:42 left and never relinquished it.
LIKELY LOOK FOR THE ZIPS...
| # | Name | Pos. | Cl. | Ht. | Wt. | ppg | rpg | apg | Hometown-Previous School |
| 2 | Kwan Cheatham, Jr. | F | So. | 6-9 | 230 | 8.3 | 4.7 | 1.6 | Cincinnati, Ohio-Winton Woods |
| 3 | Nyles Evans | G | Sr. | 5-11 | 160 | 5.6 | 2.5 | 1.7 | North Canton, Ohio-Brevard C.C. |
| 14 | Noah Robotham | G | Fr. | 6-1 | 165 | 9.7 | 2.6 | 3.3 | Las Vegas, Nev.-Bishop Gorman |
| 21 | Reggie McAdams | F | Jr. | 6-7 | 208 | 6.3 | 1.8 | 0.6 | Elida, Ohio-Elida |
| 34 | Pat Forsythe | C | Jr. | 6-11 | 245 | 10.8 | 5.3 | 1.0 | Brunswick, Ohio-West Virginia |
A LOOK AT THE ZIPS: Akron comes into Saturday's game as one of the hottest squads in the Mid-American Conference right now. The Zips have won five of their last six games, including two road wins and a nine-point, 61-52, over their arch-rival Kent State. UA doesn't have any explosive scorers; in fact, Pat Forsythe leads the team in scoring at 10.8, but Akron has four players averaging eight-or-more points per game. In addition, the Zips are very efficient from the floor, shooting 42.4 percent on the season. They've been even better in MAC play, shooting 43.7 percent. In conference games only, Deji Ibitayo has added a spark off the bench, posting 10.2 points per game, while freshman point guard Noah Robotham is dishing out 3.7 assists and scoring 9.5 points per game.
WHEN THEY'RE HOT, THEY'RE HOT: Its safe to say that the Eagles have three dynamic scorers in Raven Lee, Mike Talley and Karrington Ward. In fact, when any two of these three can score 15-or-more points in a single game, the Eagles have been quite successful. In games when at least two of these three student-athletes score 15-or-more points, the Green and White is 7-2. Lee has been involved in all nine games. When the Detroit, Mich. native teams up with Talley the Eagles are 3-1, with Ward, they're 3-1 and when all three score at least 15, Eastern Michigan is 1-0 on the year.
THE RETURN OF WARD: Before the Eagles' 83-69 win over Miami, Feb. 10, EMU's Karrington Ward had scored in double-figures just one time in seven games. Prior to that stretch, Ward had been averaging 14 points per game. In addition, Ward hadn't recorded a double-double since the Green and White's loss to Ball State, Jan. 7. However, the Lockport, Ill. native had a coming out party in Eastern's return to the Convocation Center versus the RedHawks. Ward went off for 22 points and 10 rebounds. His scoring effort was due in large part to his hot shooting. He went 6-for-9 from the floor, including a blistering 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. Ward had not connected on more than two three-pointers in a single game all season prior to Eastern's home victory.
MIXING THINGS UP: Head Coach Rob Murphy has yet to find his go-to starting lineup this season. At the beginning of the year, it looked as though Ethan Alvano, Raven Lee, Anali Okoloji, Karrington Ward and Mike Samuels had their starting positions locked down. However, that lineup changed 11 games into the season. Only Lee and Ward have remained permanent fixtures, while Mike Talley has taken over the starting role at point guard, Brandon Nazione has moved between a pair of spots and Tim Bond has received a start. Overall on the season, Murphy has used 10 different starting groups.
LEE LIKES THE MAC: Since Mid-American Conference play began, Raven Lee is averaging 17 points per game. In addition to his gaudy MAC season scoring numbers, Lee has been on fire as of late. The Detroit, Mich. native has scored in double-figures all of the last eight games, while posting 19.1 per contest. The redshirt-sophomore is shooting at a 40.4 percent clip, while knocking down 37.5 percent of his three-point attempts and 84.6 percent of his free throw opportunities.
TALLEY TURNS IT ON: Although he has scored over 1,000 points in his career, Mike Talley had never been the go-to scorer and quietly averaged 10-or-more points per game. The senior has lit up the stat sheet as of late, averaging 17.2 points per game to go along with five assists, 1.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals in the last five games. In those contests, the Detroit, Mich. native is shooting at a 50.9 percent clip, while knocking down 6-of-17 three-point attempts. In addition, the redshirt-senior guard has knocked down 24-of-32 free throw attempts, good for an 75.0 percent mark.
WHERE WE STAND: Although we're past the midway point of the 2015 Mid-American Conference season and we've learned, well, not a lot. There are three teams tied for first-place at 8-3, while a pair sit at 7-4, one is 6-5, one is 5-6, three are 4-7, one is 3-8 and one holds a 2-9 record to this point. Eastern is one-of-three teams with a 4-7 record and currently holds the No. 8 seed if the 2015 MAC Tournament were to begin today.
ROAD WOES: Eastern Michigan has not seen its best play on the road this season. The Eagles are just 2-8 away from Ypsilanti, averaging just 61.4 points per game, while allowing the opponent 69.2 points per contest. The Green and White is a team that holds the opposition to a 36.6 field goal percentage. However, away from the EMU Convocation Center, Eastern allows teams to shoot 41.2 percent in shot opportunities.
TIC-TAC-TURNOVER: Eastern Michigan is forcing the competition into 15.2 turnovers per game this season. The Eagles have forced their opponents into 20-or-more turnovers on five separate occasions, including when the Green and White forced both Longwood and Miami into 24. The Eagles hold a +3.4 in turnover margin, which ranks as the best in the MAC and 19th nationally. Eastern has been forced into more turnovers than the opposition on just four occasions this season.
Players Mentioned
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