Kent State Comes to Town for Cross-Divisional Rematch

Men's Basketball vs. Kent State
Date	Saturday, Feb. 13 \| Noon
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center (8,784)
Game Notes	EMU Notes \| KSU Notes
Live Stats	EMUEagles.com
Watch	ESPN 3
Listen	89.1 FM WEMU
Twitter	@EMUHoops \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Riding the high of a 71-56 home victory over Central Michigan University, Feb. 9, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team returns to the court for another rematch as it hosts Kent State University Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Convocation Center. Tipoff is set for Noon in Ypsilanti.

In their last game, the Eagles (12-12, 4-7 MAC) led the game wire-to-wire, not allowing CMU to get into any type of groove on the offensive end. EMU outshot the three-point shooting specialists, while their defense locked down the Chippewas en route to the Green and White's fourth Mid-American Conference victory of the season.

The Golden Flashes (16-8, 7-4 MAC) have lost three of their last four games but most recenty defeated Northern Illinois University, 75-74, at home, Feb. 9, and holds the second best overall record in the MAC.

FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eastern Michigan versus Kent State 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.

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 KENT STATE: Saturday's noon matchup will be the 73rd time that the Eagles and Golden Flashes square off on the hardwood. Eastern Michigan trails the series, 41-31, including dropping a cross-divisional matchup with Kent State, 73-58, earlier this season in Kent, Ohio, Jan. 26.

In their last meeting, freshman James Thompson IV recorded his second-straight double-double, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds. It was his 12th double-double effort of the 2015-16 campaign. Redshirt junior Raven Lee was the leading scorer for EMU, finishing with 15 points on the night to go along with four steals, while junior Willie Mangum IV was the only other Eagle in double figures, going for 12 points. As a team, EMU shot under 30 percent from the floor and the three-point line.

LIKELY LOOK FOR THE GOLDEN FLASHES...

#	Name	Pos.	Cl.	Ht.	Wt.	ppg	rpg	apg	Hometown-Previous School
5	Kellon Thomas	G	Sr.-Jr.	5-11	190	12.0	2.2	2.2	Indianapolis, Ind.-Southport
15	Galal Cancer	G	Sr.-Sr.	6-2	185	4.9	2.5	1.4	Albany, N.Y.-Cornell
21	Khaliq Spicer	F	Sr.-Sr.	6-9	230	7.1	6.0	0.6	Detroit, Mich.-Robichaud
30	Deon Edwin	G	Sr.-Jr.	6-3	210	5.7	3.1	0.8	British V.I.-Laramie County C.C.
35	Jimmy Hall	F	Sr.-Jr.	6-8	235	16.1	7.8	2.3	Brooklyn, N.Y.-Hofstra

EAGLES SWEEP PRESEASON MAC FAVORITE: With their 71-56 victory over Central Michigan, the Eagles swept the team who was selected to win the Mid-American Conference according to the media during the preseason. In those two games with CMU, the Green and White won by an average of 17 points, 85-68, while EMU shot 57.4 percent from the floor in those two contests and connecting on 58.1 percent of its three point shots in the victories.

WEEKDAY WARRIORS: During the 2015-16 season, the Eagles have done their best work in midweek games. In fact, each of Eastern's eight victories versus NCAA Division I institutions have come on days Monday through Friday. The Eagles' last win on a Saturday came back on Dec. 8, when they defeated Rochester College, 86-58. This Saturday, the Green and White look to break their winless weekend streak versus Kent State.

YOUNG BLOOD: It does not come as a shock to see James Thompson IV as one of the top freshmen in EMU laurels. Posting 15 double-doubles this season, the Baton Rouge, La. native has already made his mark in the Eastern Michigan record books. The 15 double-doubles are seventh-most recorded all-time in EMU history, while his 379 points place him second in the most points scored by a freshman, just one point behind teammate Raven Lee. In addition, Thompson has 269 rebounds this year, which puts him 15 rebounds shy of the top-20 mark in a single season in EMU history. On his current rebounding pace of 11.2 per game, at the end of the 2015-16 regular season, Thompson would accumulate 347 prior to the MAC Tournament. That rebounding number would give the 6-foot-10 center the fourth-most rebounds in EMU single season history.

STEALING THEIR WAY TO THE TOP: Currently, EMU has 235 steals on the season. That is just 71 shy of the all-time Eastern Michigan single season record. At their current pace (9.8 spg), which would also mark a single season record, the Eagles could surpass the single season steals mark in regular season play. With seven games until the MAC Tournament, the Green and White are on pace to accumulate 303 steals.

HEADING TO THE CHARITY STRIPE: At 637 free throw attempts, the Eagles lead the Mid-American Conference in that category, while also ranking 13th in the nation. In addition, the Green and White is connecting on free throws at a 73.0 percent clip. That number ranks as the best all-time in a single season at EMU. However, the Eagles free throw percentage has been trending upwards since MAC play started, connecting on 78.7 percent in conference action.

FRESHMAN PHENOM: EMU's James Thompson IV is making a push to be 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 (15.8 ppg), while he is also leading the conference in rebounds (11.2 rpg) as the only freshman in the top-20 in that category as well. In addition, the Baton Rouge, La. product is third in the MAC in blocked shots (1.6 bpg) and first in field goal percentage (67.3 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 ninth in total rebounds (269). His 15 double-doubles rank ninth and his 4.6 offensive rebounds per game are good for second nationally.

NEED THE DEFENSE FOR THE W: Since beginning Mid-American Conference play, the Eagles have allowed a MAC-worst 78.6 points per game. However, the Green and White has had three games where its held the opposition to under 70 points. In both the EMU win versus Buffalo, Jan. 12, and the victory over Miami, Feb. 2, Eastern Michigan held the opponent to 69 points, fueling the MAC's leading offense to a pair of conference wins. Also, Eastern held Central Michigan to just 56 points in their 71-56 victory, Feb. 9.

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 67.3 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 61.4 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 54.6 percent clip, while averaging nearly three times as many points per game (9.3) and twice as many rebounds per contest (6.5).

MAC TOURNAMENT OUTLOOK: With just eight 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 10th seed and would square off with Ohio on the road in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament.

TIC-TAC-TURNOVER: Although Eastern Michigan averages 13.1 turnovers per game, which ranks 193rd in the country, EMU is 14th in the nation in turnover margin at a +3.6 difference. The Green and White force the opposition into 16.7 turnovers per contest which ranks as the 10th-most of any defense in the country.

KING OF THIEVES: The Eagles not only lead the Mid-American Conference in steals per game (9.8), but the Green and White are fourth in the NCAA in that category, while also ranking third in total steals (235).

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 275 points during this season, totaling 1,285 for his career. That number puts him at the No. 17 spot in all-time EMU scorers. Lee now trails Jeff Zatkoff (1979-82) for the 16th spot by 16 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 (1,285 pts) by any active player in the conference. Just Central Michigan's Chris Fowler (1,578) and Toledo's Nathan Boothe (1,336) 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. 10. Let's take a look...

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE RANKINGS as of Feb. 10
Player	Category	Rank	Number
Eastern Michigan	Steals per game	1st	9.8 (fourth nationally)
Eastern Michigan	Turnovers forces per game	1st	16.7 (10th nationally)
Eastern Michigan	Total steals	1st	235 (third nationally)
James Thompson IV	Rebounds per game	1st	11.2 (10th nationally)
James Thompson IV	Offensive rebounds per game	1st	4.6 (second nationally)
James Thompson IV	Field goal percentage	1st	67.3 (second nationally)

A LOOK AHEAD: Following the Saturday afternoon contest with Kent State, Feb. 13, the Eagles will continue the Mid-American Conference campaign on the road Tuesday, Feb. 16, as the Green and White will travel to the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio to square off with MAC East foe, Ohio University. The tipoff for the cross-divisional contest is slated for 7 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 84 wins which is tied for the fourth-most by an EMU coach.

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.	Rob Murphy	2011-Present	18.3/yr (Four-year total)	85-77 (.525)
5.	Jim Boyce	1979-86	14/yr	84-96 (.467)

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ray Lee

Willie Mangum IV

Brandon Nazione

James Thompson IV

Eastern Michigan Athletics