Eagles Look For Revenge on Broncos Tuesday Night

Men's Basketball vs. Western Michigan
Date	Saturday, Feb. 23 \| 7 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center (8,784)
Game Notes	EMU Game Notes \| WMU Game Notes
Live Stats	EMUEagles.com
Watch	ESPN 3
Listen	89.1 FM WEMU
Twitter	@EMUHoops \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- After getting back on track with a 91-85 Mid-American Conference West Division victory Saturday, Feb. 20, versus the University of Toledo, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team returns to the hardwood Tuesday night, Feb. 23, for a rematch with in-state rival Western Michigan University at the Convocation Center. The Broncos (11-16, 5-9 MAC) got the best of the Eagles (14-13, 6-8 MAC) earlier this season. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.

Eastern Michigan has won three of its last four games, in addition to winning its last four home games. Most recently, however, the Eagles defeated the Rockets of Toledo, 91-85, using hot shooting from all over the floor, including a program record 68 percent three-point percentage in the victory.

WMU enters Tuesday's contest on the heels of an in-state rivalry win as the Broncos knocked off Central Michigan University, 92-85, Saturday, Feb. 20. In that game, WMU shot 56.5 percent from the floor and turned the ball over just six times in the win.

FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eastern Michigan versus Western Michigan 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 WESTERN MICHIGAN: The Eagles trail in the series with WMU, as Eastern looks at a tally of 59-46 in favor of the Broncos. Recent history shows that the Green and White typically split the season series with Western Michigan. In the last 13 meetings, EMU is 6-7 versus the Broncos.

Most recently, Western Michigan got the best of Eastern, taking down the Eagles, 94-86, at University Arena in Kalamazoo. Despite trailing 41-24 at halftime, the Green and White turned up the heat offensively, scoring 62 points in the second half but eventually fell. Ty Toney led the Green and White with 23 points, while Tim Bond and James Thompson IV each added 17.

LIKELY LOOK FOR THE BRONCOS...

#	Name	Pos.	Cl.	Ht.	Wt.	ppg	rpg	apg	Hometown-Previous School
0	Bryce Moore	G	Fr.-Fr.	6-2	190	5.2	2.1	1.5	Indianapolis, Ind.-Park Tudor
1	Tucker Haymond	G	Jr.-Jr.	6-6	220	16.0	5.4	2.1	Seattle, Wash.-Garfield
10	Thomas Wilder	G	So.-So.	6-3	185	18.7	4.1	3.1	Montgomery, Ill.-Quakerdale Prep
34	Anthony Avery Jr.	F	Sr.-Sr.	6-7	205	7.6	6.0	0.7	Chicago, Ill.-St. Rita of Cascia
42	Drake Lamont	F	So.-So.	6-10	240	7.8	4.8	1.3	Plantation, Fla.-American Heritage

EAGLES REBOUND STRONG WITH WIN OVER TOLEDO: The EMU men's basketball team responded after its 22-point loss at Ohio by defeating Toledo, 91-85, Saturday, Feb. 20. The Eagles were hot in that game, shooting 68 percent from the floor and 68.8 percent from downtown. Brandon Nazione led the way for the Green and White, posting 21 points, while Willie Mangum IV, Raven Lee and Ty Toney contributed 19, 18 and 17 points, respectively. In addition, Tim Bond stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, eight rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a pair of steals in the victory.

ANOTHER RECORD SETTING OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCE: In the Eagles' MAC opener versus Central Michigan, the Green and White set a record for three-point field goal percentage, connecting on long balls at a 65 percent clip, marking the best in EMU single game history. Eastern decided that just was not good enough. The Eagles out-shot that total in their win over Toledo, Feb. 20, finishing 11-of-16 from behind the line, knocking down 68.8 percent of their attempts from downtown. In addition, EMU posted its second-best field goal percentage in a game, going 34-of-50 for 68 percent, from the floor.

FIGHTING FOR A HOME GAME: Although it is mathematically possible, it is unlikely that the Green and White could nab one of the top-four seeds for the 2016 Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, the Eagles are still vying for a home game in the first round of the tournament. Currently holding a 6-8 record, EMU is just one game back of Northern Illinois, Central Michigan and Toledo, who hold the six, seven and eight seeds. For the entire MAC Tournament outlook, turn to page 13 of these notes.

EMU SETS SIGHTS ON THE MICHIGAN MAC TROPHY: Eastern has not yet won the Michigan MAC Trophy under Head Coach Rob Murphy. In fact, EMU has yet to secure the Michigan MAC Trophy since its inception. However, with a win over Western Michigan Tuesday, the Green and White could take home the honor for the first time. So far this season, the team has posted a pair of wins over Central Michigan, while Western downed the Eagles, Jan. 30.

THOMPSON NAMED MAC WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK: EMU freshman James Thompson IV was named MAC West Player of the Week for the period ending, Feb. 14, by the MAC office. Thompson averaged 19.5 points and 17 rebounds over the two-game span. The Baton Rouge, La. native was remarkably consistent, notching very similar stat lines. Against Central Michigan, his final stat line stood at 19 points and 15 rebounds, while against Kent State, he finished with 20 points and grabbed a career-best 19 total rebounds. Overall, he shot 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from the floor, playing nearly 40 minutes in each game. Of his 34 total rebounds, 17 of them came on the offensive end, providing solid second-chance opportunities. The freshman also picked up his 15th and 16th double-doubles of the season, which leads the MAC.

BECOMING LEGENDARY: Although he is just a freshman at Eastern Michigan, James Thompson IV has already begun what could be a legendary career at EMU. The Baton Rouge, La. native broke his teammate, Raven Lee's, freshman record of points scored by putting up 20 in the Eagles' victory over Kent State, Feb. 13. To this point, Thompson has racked up 412 points, distancing himself from Lee's former record of 380.

TALK ABOUT EFFICIENCY: EMU redshirt junior Raven Lee has been the poster boy for offensive efficiency coming off of the bench this season. The Detroit, Mich. native is averaging the second most points on the team (14.8 ppg), but is playing just 23.5 minutes per contest. The 6-foot-3 combo guard is posting a point every 96 seconds.

YOUNG BLOOD: It does not come as a shock to see James Thompson IV as one of the top freshmen in EMU laurels. Posting 16 double-doubles this season, the Baton Rouge, La. native has already made his mark in the Eastern Michigan record books. The 16 double-doubles are seventh-most recorded all-time in EMU history. In addition, Thompson has 294 rebounds this year, which puts him 10th in a single season in EMU history. On his current rebounding pace of 10.9 per game, at the end of the 2015-16 regular season, Thompson would accumulate 337 prior to the MAC Tournament. That rebounding number would give the 6-foot-10 center the fifth-most rebounds in EMU single season history.

HEADING TO THE CHARITY STRIPE: At 704 free throw attempts, the Eagles lead the Mid-American Conference in that category, while also ranking 19th in the nation. In addition, the Green and White is connecting on free throws at a 72.6 percent clip. That number ranks as the second 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 77 percent in conference action.

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 87 wins which is the fourth 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)	87-78 (.527)
5.	Jim Boyce	1979-86	14/yr	84-96 (.467)

STEALING THEIR WAY TO THE TOP: Currently, EMU has 253 steals on the season. That is just 53 shy of the all-time Eastern Michigan single season record. At their current pace (9.4 spg), which would mark a single season record, the Eagles are set to amass 290 steals, which would put them at third all-time.

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 55.3 percent clip, while averaging nearly three times as many points per game (9.7) and twice as many rebounds per contest (6.4).

KING OF THIEVES: The Eagles not only lead the Mid-American Conference in steals per game (9.4), but the Green and White are fifth in the NCAA in that category, while also ranking eighth in total steals (253).

TIC-TAC-TURNOVER: Although Eastern Michigan averages 12.9 turnovers per game, which ranks 190th in the country, EMU is 16th in the nation in turnover margin at a +3.3 difference. The Green and White force the opposition into 16.2 turnovers per contest which ranks as the 12th-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 310 points during this season, totaling 1,320 for his career. That number puts him at the No. 16 spot in all-time EMU scorers. Lee now trails Marlow McClain (1979-83) for the 15th 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 (1,320 pts) by any active player in the conference. Just Central Michigan's Chris Fowler (1,631) and Toledo's Nathan Boothe (1,387) rank ahead of Eastern's redshirt junior.

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Players Mentioned

Tim Bond

Ray Lee

Willie Mangum IV

Brandon Nazione

James Thompson IV

Ty Toney

Eastern Michigan Athletics