EMU Set to Take On Miami Tuesday Night

Men's Basketball vs. Miami
Date	Tuesay, Feb. 2 \| 7 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center (8,784)
Game Notes	EMU Notes \| Miami Notes
Live Stats	EMUEagles.com
Watch	ESPN 3
Listen	89.1 FM WEMU
Twitter	@EMUHoops \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Riding a five-game losing streak for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team returns back to the Convocation Center Tuesday, Feb. 2, to square off with Miami University for a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional matchup. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Ypsilanti.

The Eagles (10-11, 2-6 MAC) are coming off of a 94-86 setback at Western Michigan University Saturday afternoon, Jan. 30. Despite trailing by 17 points at the half, the Green and White's offense came out scorching in the second stanza, scoring 62 points, which ranks as the most in a single half versus an NCAA Division I opponent all-time for EMU.

The RedHawks (7-14, 1-7 MAC) come into the Tuesday night contest after picking up their first MAC win of the 2016 campaign. Miami knocked off the MAC West leading Northern Illinois Huskies, Jan. 30. MU used a balanced scoring attack that included four double-figure scorers and drilling a season-best 10 three-pointers to grab the victory, 72-59.

FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eastern Michigan versus Miami matchup will have both audio and video on Tuesday. 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.

Following the addition of its own brand new mobile television unit, all EMU men's and women's basketball games will be streamed live on ESPN3. Ryan Wooley will provide the play-by-play coverage for the ESPN3 broadcast, while EMU Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations Greg Steiner will be alongside Wooley for analysis.

ALL-TIME VERSUS MIAMI: The Eagles trail in the series with Miami, as Eastern looks at a tally of 48-24 in favor of the RedHawks. Recent history shows that the Green and White has the RedHawks' number, winning four of the last six contests between the two institutions.

Last season, EMU took two of the three games in which MU and Eastern Michigan were pitted against each other. The first was a one-point, 82-81, overtime loss in Oxford before the Eagles took care of Miami at the Convocation Center, 83-69. The final game between the two squads was a first round game in the MAC Tournament. Raven Lee connected on a triple with 14 seconds left in regulation to tie the game before EMU held on to win, 62-61, in overtime.

LIKELY LOOK FOR THE REDHAWKS...

#	Name	Pos.	Cl.	Ht.	Wt.	ppg	rpg	apg	Hometown-Previous School
0	Geovanie McKnight	G	Sr.-Sr.	6-3	181	13.0	3.7	2.5	Middletown, Ohio-Middletown
1	Zach McCormick	G	So.-So.	6-2	177	3.7	1.3	0.7	Cincinnati, Ohio-Turpin
2	Rod Mills	F	So.-So.	6-7	208	5.8	2.2	0.3	Cincinnati, Ohio-St. Xavier
24	Chris Bryant	F	Sr.-Sr.	6-8	217	4.5	3.6	0.2	Tallahassee, Fla.-Rickards
33	Eric Washington	G	Sr.-Sr.	5-10	178	14.9	3.3	4.2	Columbia,S.C.-Presbyterian

SECOND HALF RALLY FALLS SHORT: The Eagles struggled to get the offense going in the first half of their game with WMU, Jan. 30, shooting 25 percent (8-of-32) from the floor through the first 20 minutes. The second half was much more friendly to EMU. The Eagles scored 62 points, connecting on 20-of-33 (60.6 percent) of their field goal attempts. However, the Green and White spotted the Broncos a 17-point, 41-24, halftime lead, which was too much to overcome on its way to its fifth-straight loss this season.

THE TALE OF TWO HALVES: When you look inside the numbers, the Eagles have tended to turn it up in the second half of games this season. In the first half of games this season, the Eagles are shooting just 42.2 percent from the field and scoring 34.9 points in the first 20 minutes of games. Conversely, the offense picks up in the second half, scoring 42.9 points and shooting at a 46.1 percent clip. In addition, nerves at the charity stripe in the second half seem to fade, as EMU is shooting 74.9 percent from the free throw line in the second half, while connecting on just 66.3 percent of free throws in the first 20 minutes.

YOUNG BLOOD: It will not come as a shock to see James Thompson IV as one of the top freshmen in EMU laurels. Posting 13 double-doubles this season, the Baton Rouge, La. native has already made his mark in the Eastern Michigan record books. The 13 double-doubles are seventh-most recorded all-time in EMU history, while his 327 points place him fifth in the most points scored by a freshman. In addition, Thompson has 232 rebounds this season, which puts him 11 rebounds shy of the top-20 mark in a single season in EMU history. On his current rebounding pace of 11.1 per game, at the end of the 2015-16 regular season, Thompson would accumulate 343 prior to the MAC Tournament. That rebounding number would tie the 6-foot-10 center with Kareem Carpenter (1994-95) for the fourth-most in a single season in Eastern Michigan history.

STEALING THEIR WAY TO THE TOP: Currently, EMU has 217 steals on the season. That is just 89 shy of the all-time Eastern Michigan single season record. At their current pace (10.3 spg), which would also mark a single season record, the Eagles could surpass the single season steals mark in regular season play. With 10 games until the MAC Tournament, the Green and White are on pace to accumulate 320 steals.

HEADING TO THE CHARITY STRIPE: At 555 free throw attempts, the Eagles lead the Mid-American Conference in that category, while also ranking 23rd in the nation. In addition, the Green and White is connecting on free throws at a 72.1 percent clip. That number ranks third all-time in a single season at EMU. However, the Eagles free throw percentage has been trending upwards since MAC play started, connecting on 78.5 percent of their free throws since beginning the conference slate.

BEST OFFENSE IN THE MAC: Since beginning Mid-American Conference play, the EMU offense has been at the top of the conference in points per game (80.1). In addition, the Eagles are connecting on 78.5 percent of their free throws which leads the conference. A large part of the Green and White's offensive success in MAC games has a lot to do with the Eagles' scoring trio of Raven Lee (14.9 ppg), James Thompson IV (17.4 ppg) and Ty Toney (13.5 ppg). In addition, that trio has shot a combined 80.4 percent (111-of-138) from the free throw line since beginning conference action.

FRESHMAN PHENOM: EMU's James Thompson IV and is making a 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 eighth (15.6 ppg), while he is also leading the conference in rebounds (11.1 rpg) as the only freshman in the top-20 in that category as well. In addition, the Baton Rouge, La. product is tied for fourth in the MAC in blocked shots (1.5 bpg) and first in field goal percentage (69.7 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 second in the nation in field goal percentage, while he ranks 10th in rebounds per game and 10th in total rebounds (232). His 13 double-doubles rank ninth and his 4.5 offensive rebounds per game are good for second nationally.

ONE OF 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 earlier this season, Thompson is second in the NCAA in field goal percentage. The Baton Rouge, La. native converts on 69.7 percent of his shot attempts. Belmont's Evan Bradds leads the category just ahead of Thompson at 71.7 percent. The next closest freshman in the category is Eastern Kentucky's Nick Mayo, who connects on 61.0 percent 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 was not 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 54.9 percent clip, while averaging nearly three times as many points per game (9.2) and twice as many rebounds per contest (6.2).

MAC TOURNAMENT OUTLOOK: With just 10 games left in the grueling Mid-American Conference schedule, its time to look ahead to where the Green and White would find itself if the tournament started today. Currently, the Eagles would own the 11th seed and would square off with Bowling Green in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament.

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, five games with five double-digit scorers, five with four, five with three and five with two this season.

TIC-TAC-TURNOVER: Although Eastern Michigan averages 12.7 turnovers per game, which ranks 157th in the country, EMU is eighth in the nation in turnover margin at a +4.6 difference. The Green and White force the opposition into 17.3 turnovers per contest which ranks as the sixth-most of any defense in the country.

KING OF THIEVES: The Eagles not only lead the Mid-American Conference in steals per game (10.3), but the Green and White are second in the NCAA in that category, while also ranking third in total steals (217).

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 195 points during this season, totaling 1,220 for his career. That number puts him at the No. 19 spot in all time EMU scorers. Lee now trails Earle Higgins (1967-70) for the 18th spot by 15 points.

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 (1,220 pts) by any active player in the conference. Just Central Michigan's Chris Fowler (1,534) and Toledo's Nathan Boothe (1,283) rank ahead of Eastern's redshirt junior.

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 Feb. 2. Let's take a look...

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE RANKINGS as of Feb. 2
Player	Category	Rank	Number
Eastern Michigan	Steals per game	1st	10.3 (second nationally)
Eastern Michigan	Turnovers forces per game	1st	17.3 (sixth nationally)
Eastern Michigan	Total steals	1st	217 (third nationally)
James Thompson IV	Rebounds per game	1st	11.0 (10th nationally)
James Thompson IV	Offensive rebounds per game	1st	4.5 (second nationally)
James Thompson IV	Field goal percentage	1st	69.7 (second nationally)

A LOOK AHEAD: Following the Tuesday evening contest with Miami, Feb. 2, the Eagles will continue the Mid-American Conference campaign on the road Saturday, Feb. 6, as the Green and White will fly to upstate New York to square off with MAC East foe, Buffalo. The tipoff for the Jan. 16 rematch is slated for 3:30 p.m.

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)	83-76 (.523)

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Players Mentioned

Ray Lee

Brandon Nazione

James Thompson IV

Ty Toney

Eastern Michigan Athletics