Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 16
Convocation Center
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Bowling Green
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Eagles Welcome Falcons to Town for Cross-Divisional MAC Contest
1/14/2016 12:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green will square off at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon
| Men's Basketball vs. Bowling Green | |
| Date | Saturday, Jan. 16 | 2 p.m. |
| Venue | Ypsilanti, Mich. | Convocation Center (8,874) |
| Game Notes | EMU Notes | BGSU Notes |
| Live Stats | EMUEagles.com |
| Watch | BCSN | Comcast 900 | TWC Sports Ohio | ESPN3 |
| Listen | 89.1 FM WEMU |
| @EMUHoops | @EMUAthletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Following an impressive 81-69 victory versus the University at Buffalo, Jan. 12, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team remains at home in the early goings of Mid-American Conference play this Saturday, Jan. 16. The Eagles (10-6, 2-1 MAC) look to take down its second-straight MAC East opponent as Bowling Green State University comes to the Convocation Center for a 2 p.m. matchup with Eastern Michigan on Saturday afternoon.
The Falcons (11-5, 2-1 MAC) are coming in hot after their first MAC road win of the 2016 conference campaign. Bowling Green knocked off Ohio Unviersity, 91-75, at the OU Convocation Center Tuesday night and is currently tied for the top spot in the MAC East with the University of Akron.
FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eastern Michigan versus Bowling Green matchup will have both audio and video on Saturday. Fans can dial into 89.1 FM or listen over the internet at WEMU.org to hear the smooth sounds of veteran play-by-play voice, Chad Bush. Joining Bush on the call this season will be analyst Assistant Athletic Media Relations Director, Sean Hostetter. Coverage on 89.1 WEMU will begin 10 minutes prior to the tip of each game this year.
Along with the WEMU broadcast, the contest will be shown live on the Buckeye Cable Sports Network, as well as Comcast 900 in Michigan and Time Warner Cable Sports in Ohio. Although it requires a subscription to the channels to watch on TV, fans can also watch live on ESPN3 or use the WatchESPN app on their mobile devices as the game will be simulcast over the online streaming service. Greg Franke and Tom Cole will be on the call.
ALL-TIME VERSUS BOWLING GREEN: The Eagles trail in the series with Bowling Green by seven games, at a tally of 47-42. EMU has been on the winning end in four of the six meetings between the two squads in the Rob Murphy era, including a MAC Tournament second round, 73-67, victory in Cleveland, Ohio a season ago, March 11, 2015.
In that game, Eastern had three players reach double-figures with Raven Lee leading the way with his game-high 27 points on 8-of-18 shooting, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Mike Talley scored 21 points, while former All-MAC honoree Karrington Ward was the other Eagle in double-figures, finishing with 15 points and pulling in 10 rebounds for his 11th career double-double. The game featured 17 lead changes and 11 ties, with each team's largest lead being only six points.
LIKELY LOOK FOR THE FALCONS...
| # | Name | Pos. | Cl. | Ht. | Wt. | ppg | rpg | apg | Hometown-Previous School |
| 3 | Spencer Parker | F | Sr.-Sr. | 6-6 | 205 | 10.6 | 5.2 | 2.3 | Pasadena, Calif.-Mt. San Antonio |
| 4 | Zack Denny | G | Jr.-Jr. | 6-3 | 160 | 13.5 | 2.2 | 3.4 | Milwaukee, Wis.-Germantown |
| 10 | David Joseph | G | Sr.-Sr. | 6-5 | 200 | 10.9 | 2.3 | 1.4 | Chicago, Ill.-Odessa CC |
| 14 | Wes Alcegaire | G | Jr.-Jr. | 6-3 | 185 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 1.9 | Brampton, Ontario-Bridgton Academy |
| 32 | Rasheed Worrell | F | So.-Fr. | 6-8 | 225 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 0.2 | Greensboro, N.C.-New Garden Friends School |
EAGLES OUTLAST BUFFALO IN FOUL FEST: The Eastern Michigan versus Buffalo matchup, Jan. 12, saw 59 total fouls called, while there were 82 free throws combined between the two teams. The Eagles took advantage of their time at the charity stripe, knocking down 35-of-47 (74.5 percent) attempts. The 35 free throw makes tied for the third-most in a single game at EMU.
HOME COURT HEROES: Since Rob Murphy took over the reigns of the EMU men's basketball program, the Eagles have been dominant at home. In fact, the Green and White are a stellar 61-16 at the Convocation Center dating back to the 2011-12 season. Since the Convo opened for the 1998-99 season, Eastern Michigan has won 59.3 percent of its contests, going 150-103 during that span.
THE COUNTRY'S BEST: Freshman center James Thompson IV has been dominant on the floor for the Eagles, especially on the offensive end. Due in large part to his 26-straight made field goals, Thompson leads the NCAA in field goal percentage. The Baton Rouge, La. native converts on 71.6 percent of his shot attempts, with Belmont's Evan Bradds in second place with a 70.6 field goal percentage. The next closest freshman in the category is Maryland's Diamond Stone, who connects on 59.7 of his field goal attempts.
THE DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: A season ago, senior Brandon Nazione averaged just 3.6 points per game, while pulling down just 3.5 rebounds per contest. In addition, the Howell, Mich. native converted shots at a 39.6 percent clip. EMU wasn't even half way through the 2015-16 season and Nazione had recorded more field goal makes than a year ago. In addition, he is hitting shots at a 57.0 percent clip, while averaging nearly three times as many points per game (9.9) and twice as many rebounds per contest (6.4).
SPREADING THE WEALTH: Eastern Michigan has received contributions from multiple student-athletes on the offensive end throughout the season. In fact, there has yet to be a game where the Eagles haven't had at least two players score in double-figures. The Green and White have had a game where six score 10-or-more, three games with five double-digit scorers, five with four, two with three and five with two this season.
KING OF THIEVES: The Eagles not only lead the Mid-American Conference in steals per game (10.7), but the Green and White are second in the NCAA in that category, while also ranking fourth in total steals (171).
TIC-TAC-TURNOVER: Although Eastern Michigan averages 13.0 turnovers per game, which ranks 174th in the country, EMU is 11th in the nation in turnover margin at a +4.5 difference. The Green and White force the opposition into 17.5 turnovers per contest which ranks as the seventh-most of any defense in the country.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS: EMU redshirt junior guard Raven Lee continues to make his way up the all-time Eastern Michigan men's basketball scoring chart. Heading into the 2015-16 campaign, Lee had recorded 1,010 career points. The Detroit, Mich. native has accumulated 150 points during this season, totaling 1,160 for his career. That number has moved him ahead of Ryan Prillman (1999-03) for 23rd on the all-time EMU scoring list. Lee now trails Carl Thomas (1987-91) for the 22nd spot by 19 points.
ROAD TESTED: Winning on the road is tough, but the Eagles have already proven they can win away from Ypsilanti this season. With a 3-5 record on the road this season, the Eagles are hoping to grab their best road record under Head Coach Rob Murphy. In his first season at the helm, Murphy's 2011-12 MAC West Champions won five games away from the Convocation Center, the most in his tenure.
A LOOK AHEAD: Following the Saturday afternoon contest with Bowling Green, Jan. 16, the Eagles will continue the Mid-American Conference campaign on the road Tuesday, Jan. 19, as the Green and White will head to the Greater Cleveland area to square off with Akron at James A. Rhodes Arena. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. at the J.A.R.
ONE OF THE BEST IN THE MAC: EMU's Raven Lee has made his stamp not only in the Eastern Michigan history books, but he has one of the best careers of any active player in the Mid-American Conference. Currently, the Detroit, Mich. native is third in scoring (1,160 pts) by any active player in the conference. Just Central Michigan's Chris Fowler (1,447) and Toledo's Nathan Boothe (1,184) rank ahead Eastern's redshirt junior. In addition, Lee is tied for 15th with Toledo's Jonathan Williams in assists (136) by any active player, while his 102 career steals are the sixth-most by any active player in the MAC. Finally, his 112 three point makes are the ninth-most in a career by any active player.
ACTIVE CAREER SCORING LEADERS IN THE MAC
1. Chris Fowler, Central Michigan - 1,447
2. Nathan Boothe, Toledo - 1,184
3. Raven Lee, Eastern Michigan - 1,160
4. John Simons, Central Michigan - 1,125
5. Eric Washington, Miami - 1,077
6. Geovanie McKnight, Miami - 1,003
7. Connor Tava, Western Michigan - 956
8. Xavier Pollard, Kent State - 926
9. Spencer Parker, Bowling Green - 902
10. Braylon Rayson, Central Michigan - 873
A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE LEADERS: Eastern Michigan has positioned itself near the top of multiple statistical categories in the Mid-American Conference as of Jan. 14. Let's take a look...
| MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE RANKINGS as of Jan. 14 | |||
| Player | Category | Rank | Number |
| Eastern Michigan | Steals per game | 1st | 10.7 (second nationally) |
| Eastern Michigan | Turnover Margin | 1st | +4.5 (11th nationally) |
| Eastern Michigan | Turnovers forces per game | 1st | 17.5 (seventh nationally) |
| Eastern Michigan | Total steals | 1st | 171 (fourth nationally) |
| James Thompson IV | Double doubles | 1st | 9 (11th nationally) |
| James Thompson IV | Blocks per game | 2nd | 1.8 (64th nationally) |
| James Thompson IV | Rebounds per game | 1st | 11.0 (ninth nationally) |
| James Thompson IV | Offensive rebounds per game | 1st | 4.6 (third nationally) |
| James Thompson IV | Field goal percentage | 1st | 71.6 (first nationally) |
| Tim Bond | Steal per game | 1st | 1.9 (55th nationally |
FRESHMAN PHENOM: EMU's James Thompson IV and is making an early push to be considered the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year. Thompson is the only freshman in the conference who ranks in the top-20 in scoring, being seventh (15.2 ppg), while he is also leading the conference in rebounds (11.0 rpg) as the only freshman in the top-20 in that category as well. In addition, the Baton Rouge, La. product is second in the MAC in blocked shots (1.8 bpg) and first in field goal percentage (71.6 percent). On top of those gaudy numbers, he is the only student-athlete in the MAC to average a double-double. Not only is Thompson making waves in the Mid-American Conference, but his statistics have shown up in the national rankings as well. Currently, Thompson is leading the nation in field goal percentage, while he ranks 10th in rebounds per game and eighth in total rebounds (176). His nine double-doubles rank 11th and his 4.6 offensive rebounds per game are good for third nationally.
GOTTA GUARD THE LONG LINE: After 16 games this season, the Eagles may have found an Achilles heel in their defense. Although teams are shooting just 32.4 percent overall from beyond the arc this season, the Green and White is 10-6, due in large part to a few teams' hot shooting from three-point land. In Eastern's losses, the Eagles' opponents have shot 45.9 percent overall and 40.8 percent from the long line.
THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG: Head Coach Rob Murphy is in his fifth season at the helm of the Eastern Michigan men's basketball program. Since taking over prior to the 2011-12 season, Murphy has amassed 83 wins which is good for the fifth-most by an EMU coach. Murphy is just one win shy of tying Jim Boyce for the fourth-most in school history. Ben Braun set the mark in his 10-plus years, recording 185 as EMU's head man.
ALL-TIME COACHING RECORDS
| Rank | Coach | Years | Wins/yr. | Record |
| 1. | Ben Braun | 1986-96 | 16.8/yr | 185-132 (.570) |
| 2. | Elton J. Rynearson | 1917-21; 1925-32 1935-40; 1944-46 | 8.8/yr | 160-129 (.554) |
| 3. | James D. Dutcher | 1966-72 | 21.2/yr | 127-49 (.770) |
| 4. | Jim Boyce | 1979-86 | 14/yr | 84-96 (.467) |
| 5. | Rob Murphy | 2011-Present | 18.3/yr (Four-year total) | 83-71 (.539) |
Players Mentioned
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