Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, March 10
Cleveland, Ohio
12 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Akron
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
EMU Takes on No. 1-Seeded Zips in Quarterfinals at Quicken Loan Arena
3/8/2016 11:47:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game time is slated for noon in Cleveland, Ohio
| MAC Tournament Quarterfinals: Men's Basketball vs. Akron | |
| Date | Thursday, March 10 | Noon |
| Venue | Cleveland, Ohio | Quicken Loans Arena (20,562) |
| Game Notes | EMU Game Notes |
| Live Stats | EMUEagles.com |
| Watch | Time Warner Cable Sports/Buckeye Cable Sports | ESPN 3 |
| Listen | 89.1 FM WEMU |
| @EMUHoops | @EMUAthletics | |
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- After defeating the University of Toledo, 69-60, Monday, March 7, in the first round of the 2016 VisitMyrtleBeach.com Mid-American Conference Championship Men's Basketball Tournament, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team will travel to Cleveland, Ohio for a quarterfinal matchup with the top-seeded University of Akron, Thursday, March 10, at Quicken Loans Arena, the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Eastern Michigan and Akron (23-7, 13-5 MAC) game will tip-off the men's side of the MAC Tournament's quarterfinal round. The contest between the No. 8-seeded Eagles and No. 1-seeded Zips in slated for noon from "The Q".
FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eastern Michigan versus Akron matchup will have both audio and video on Wednesday. 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.
In addition to the audio broadcast of the quarterfinal matchup, the game will be broadcast on the Time Warner Cable SportsChannel along with the Buckeye Cable Sports Network. For those who prefer to watch the game on their computer or mobile device, it will be streamed live on ESPN3 as well as the WatchESPN app.
ALL-TIME VERSUS AKRON: The Eagles trail in the series with Akron by a slim four-game margin, at a tally of 24-20. Last season, Rob Murphy led Eastern Michigan to its first win over the Zips since the 2010-11 campaign. The Green and White knocked off Akron, 78-75, at the Convocation Center. However, earlier this season, the Zips used hot shooting from beyond the arc to sink the Eagles, 92-88, at James A. Rhodes Arena, Jan. 19.
In that game, Willie Mangum IV led the Green and White in scoring, connecting on 8-of-12 shots, including three triples for 22 points, while four other Eagles cracked double-digits. Ty Toney poured in 16 on 6-of-12 shooting, while Tim Bond added 13, Raven Lee posted 11 and Brandon Nazione notched 10. James Thompson IV grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Eastern Michigan shot 51.7 percent (30-of-58), while shooting at a 52.9 percent (9-of-17) mark from beyond the arc.
LIKELY LOOK FOR THE ZIPS...
| # | Name | Pos. | Cl. | Ht. | Wt. | ppg | rpg | apg | Hometown-Previous School |
| 2 | Kwan Cheatham Jr. | F | Jr.-Jr. | 6-10 | 235 | 7.7 | 5.0 | 1.6 | Cincinnati, Ohio-Winton Woods |
| 14 | Noah Robotham | G | So.-So. | 6-1 | 165 | 10.1 | 2.8 | 4.0 | Las Vegas, Nev.-Bishop Gorman |
| 21 | Reggie McAdams | G/F | Sr.-Sr. | 6-6 | 215 | 11.1 | 3.7 | 0.8 | Elida, Ohio-Elida |
| 23 | Isaiah Johnson | C | Jr.-Jr. | 6-10 | 295 | 13.1 | 7.3 | 1.6 | Cincinnati, Ohio-Walnut Hills |
| 55 | Antino Jackson | G | So.-So. | 5-11 | 155 | 11.8 | 3.2 | 3.5 | Houston, Texas-Cypress Springs |
ROCKET SCIENTISTS: With the Eagles' 69-60 victory over Toledo Monday night, March 7, EMU was able to defeat the Rockets three times in one season for the first time since the 1997-98 season. That season, Eastern Michigan went on to win the MAC Tournament Championship, earning a berth into the 1998 NCAA Tournament.
CLEVELAND BOUND: For the fourth consecutive season, Head Coach Rob Murphy and his squad will head to Cleveland, Ohio to compete as one of the final eight teams in the 2016 Mid-American Conference Tournament. Since 2011-12, when the Eagles were knocked out of the first round, EMU has advanced until at least the quarterfinal round each of the last four seasons, including a run to the semifinal round during the 2013-14 campaign. That was the first time Eastern had made the semifinals since the 1997-98 season.
MURPHY IN THE MAC TOURNEY: Since taking over the EMU men's basketball program, Rob Murphy has taken his squad to at least the quarterfinal round of the Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament in each of the last four seasons. Overall in his five seasons at the helm, Murphy owns an 8-4 record in MAC Tournament games, while he made his way to the semifinal round of the tournament during the 2013-14 season, which was the farthest an EMU team had gone in the tournament since the 1997-98 campaign. Eastern Michigan holds an all-time record of 30-30 since the MAC Tournament's inception.
AKRON COME TOURNAMENT TIME: Wednesday night's quarterfinal round matchup in the MAC Tournament will be just the fourth time that Eastern and Akron met on the hardwood in the tournament. The Zips have bounced the Eagles from the tournament in each of those matchups. In the lone matchup in which these two squads met in Cleveland, Akron needed double overtime to dispatch the Eagles, 97-89, at Quicken Loans Arena.
EMU AT "THE Q": The EMU men's basketball team has made it to Quicken Loans Arena on seven different occasions since the MAC began hosting its postseason tournament at the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Overall, Eastern Michigan holds a 7-7 record when playing at Quicken Loans Arena, while Rob Murphy owns a 4-3 mark in the city of Cleveland.
THREE EAGLES EARN POSTSEASON MAC AWARDS: The EMU men's basketball team saw three of its own earn MAC postseason accolades following exceptional seasons from each. Tim Bond was named to the conference's first ever MAC All-Defensive Team, while Raven Lee earned All-MAC Honorable Mention accolades. In addition, the Green and White's James Thompson IV earned All-MAC Second Team honors, to go along with his All-Freshman Team nod as well.
THOMPSON NAMED MAC's FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: For the first time since Lorenzo Neely earned the award in the 1987-88 season, Eastern Michigan can announce that it houses the MAC Freshman of the Year. Thompson was named the conference's top freshman following earning All-MAC Second Team and All-MAC Freshman Team accolades. Thompson is just the second Eagle to have won the award.
BOND NAMED FINAL MAC WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK: For the first time in his career, EMU sophomore guard Tim Bond was named the MAC West Player of the Week after an exceptional final week of the regular season. Overall on the week, Bond averaged 15 points, six rebounds, six steals, 3.5 assists, and a block per game. In addition, the sophomore was a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe, while connecting on 52.4 percent of his field goal attempts. In addition to his week long stat line, the 6-foot-7 guard knocked down a three-pointer with just 3.5 seconds on the clock to secure a win on Senior Day, March 1, while he tied Carlos Medlock for the second-most steals in a single season when he swiped the ball from Toledo eight times, March 4.
STUFFING THE STAT SHEET: EMU sophomore Tim Bond has come along and become one of the ultimate stat stuffers this season for the Eagles. Over the last five games, the 6-foot-7 guard is averaging 12.2 points per game with a 49 percent field goal percentage. In addition, Bond is posting five rebounds, 4.4 steals, 3.2 assists and a block per contest. The Baltimore, Md. native has also been getting it done from the free throw line, shooting 84.6 percent from the charity stripe in 13 attempts over the last three games. Bond has posted double-digit scoring performances over the last four contests, tying his career-high of 17 points in the Eagles' Senior Day victory over Northern Illinois when Bond connected on a three pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining to give EMU the win.
WHO'S NEXT?: Should the Eagles continue to advance in the 2016 Mid-American Conference Tournament, they will square off with the winner of the No. 12 Bowling Green versus the No. 4 Central Michigan game which would take place 30 minutes following the culmination Eastern Michigan's noon contest with Akron, March 10.
IN SOME SLIM COMPANY: Following the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, both the EMU men's and women's squads are in some slim company as they are just 1-of-4 institutions in which both the men's and women's program remain in the chase for their respective MAC Tournament titles. The other three institutions which remain still have a chance on both sides are Akron, Buffalo and Ohio.
MAKING THE MOST OF THE CHARITY STRIPE: When the Eagles connected on 14 free throws in their 69-60 victory over Toledo, March 7, they upped their total for the season to 602 free throw makes this year. That number broke the previous single season record of 594, set by Rob Murphy's 2013-14 squad. This season's team was able to break the record in just 32 games, while the 2013-14 roster needed 37 games to get to 594. In addition, the Eagles' 602 free throw makes trails the MAC's single season record by just six set by the 1992-93 Ball State squad. At 837 free throw attempts, the Eagles are first in the Mid-American Conference in that category, while also ranking seventh in the nation. In addition, the Green and White is connecting on free throws at a 71.9 percent clip. That number ranks as the third best all-time in a single season at EMU.
LEE TAKES THE LEAD: As one of the most prolific scorers in Eastern Michigan history, its no surprise that Raven Lee is who the Eagles often turn to when in need of points, especially come tournament time. A year ago in the MAC Tournament, the Detroit, Mich. native averaged 20.7 points per game. So far this season, Lee has racked up 19 points in one game of MAC Tournament 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 91 wins which is the fourth-most by an EMU coach. Murphy is now 38 wins shy of James D. Dutcher for the third-most in school history.
CLEVELAND BOUND: For the fourth consecutive season, Head Coach Rob Murphy and his squad will head to Cleveland, Ohio to compete as one of the final eight teams in the 2016 Mid-American Conference Tournament. Since 2011-12, when the Eagles were knocked out of the first round, EMU has advanced until at least the quarterfinal round each of the last four seasons, including a run to the semifinal round during the 2013-14 campaign. That was the first time Eastern had made the semifinals since the 1997-98 season.
MURPHY IN THE MAC TOURNEY: Since taking over the EMU men's basketball program, Rob Murphy has taken his squad to at least the quarterfinal round of the Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament in each of the last four seasons. Overall in his five seasons at the helm, Murphy owns an 8-4 record in MAC Tournament games, while he made his way to the semifinal round of the tournament during the 2013-14 season, which was the farthest an EMU team had gone in the tournament since the 1997-98 campaign. Eastern Michigan holds an all-time record of 30-30 since the MAC Tournament's inception.
AKRON COME TOURNAMENT TIME: Wednesday night's quarterfinal round matchup in the MAC Tournament will be just the fourth time that Eastern and Akron met on the hardwood in the tournament. The Zips have bounced the Eagles from the tournament in each of those matchups. In the lone matchup in which these two squads met in Cleveland, Akron needed double overtime to dispatch the Eagles, 97-89, at Quicken Loans Arena.
EMU AT "THE Q": The EMU men's basketball team has made it to Quicken Loans Arena on seven different occasions since the MAC began hosting its postseason tournament at the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Overall, Eastern Michigan holds a 7-7 record when playing at Quicken Loans Arena, while Rob Murphy owns a 4-3 mark in the city of Cleveland.
THREE EAGLES EARN POSTSEASON MAC AWARDS: The EMU men's basketball team saw three of its own earn MAC postseason accolades following exceptional seasons from each. Tim Bond was named to the conference's first ever MAC All-Defensive Team, while Raven Lee earned All-MAC Honorable Mention accolades. In addition, the Green and White's James Thompson IV earned All-MAC Second Team honors, to go along with his All-Freshman Team nod as well.
THOMPSON NAMED MAC's FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: For the first time since Lorenzo Neely earned the award in the 1987-88 season, Eastern Michigan can announce that it houses the MAC Freshman of the Year. Thompson was named the conference's top freshman following earning All-MAC Second Team and All-MAC Freshman Team accolades. Thompson is just the second Eagle to have won the award.
BOND NAMED FINAL MAC WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK: For the first time in his career, EMU sophomore guard Tim Bond was named the MAC West Player of the Week after an exceptional final week of the regular season. Overall on the week, Bond averaged 15 points, six rebounds, six steals, 3.5 assists, and a block per game. In addition, the sophomore was a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe, while connecting on 52.4 percent of his field goal attempts. In addition to his week long stat line, the 6-foot-7 guard knocked down a three-pointer with just 3.5 seconds on the clock to secure a win on Senior Day, March 1, while he tied Carlos Medlock for the second-most steals in a single season when he swiped the ball from Toledo eight times, March 4.
STUFFING THE STAT SHEET: EMU sophomore Tim Bond has come along and become one of the ultimate stat stuffers this season for the Eagles. Over the last five games, the 6-foot-7 guard is averaging 12.2 points per game with a 49 percent field goal percentage. In addition, Bond is posting five rebounds, 4.4 steals, 3.2 assists and a block per contest. The Baltimore, Md. native has also been getting it done from the free throw line, shooting 84.6 percent from the charity stripe in 13 attempts over the last three games. Bond has posted double-digit scoring performances over the last four contests, tying his career-high of 17 points in the Eagles' Senior Day victory over Northern Illinois when Bond connected on a three pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining to give EMU the win.
WHO'S NEXT?: Should the Eagles continue to advance in the 2016 Mid-American Conference Tournament, they will square off with the winner of the No. 12 Bowling Green versus the No. 4 Central Michigan game which would take place 30 minutes following the culmination Eastern Michigan's noon contest with Akron, March 10.
IN SOME SLIM COMPANY: Following the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, both the EMU men's and women's squads are in some slim company as they are just 1-of-4 institutions in which both the men's and women's program remain in the chase for their respective MAC Tournament titles. The other three institutions which remain still have a chance on both sides are Akron, Buffalo and Ohio.
MAKING THE MOST OF THE CHARITY STRIPE: When the Eagles connected on 14 free throws in their 69-60 victory over Toledo, March 7, they upped their total for the season to 602 free throw makes this year. That number broke the previous single season record of 594, set by Rob Murphy's 2013-14 squad. This season's team was able to break the record in just 32 games, while the 2013-14 roster needed 37 games to get to 594. In addition, the Eagles' 602 free throw makes trails the MAC's single season record by just six set by the 1992-93 Ball State squad. At 837 free throw attempts, the Eagles are first in the Mid-American Conference in that category, while also ranking seventh in the nation. In addition, the Green and White is connecting on free throws at a 71.9 percent clip. That number ranks as the third best all-time in a single season at EMU.
LEE TAKES THE LEAD: As one of the most prolific scorers in Eastern Michigan history, its no surprise that Raven Lee is who the Eagles often turn to when in need of points, especially come tournament time. A year ago in the MAC Tournament, the Detroit, Mich. native averaged 20.7 points per game. So far this season, Lee has racked up 19 points in one game of MAC Tournament 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 91 wins which is the fourth-most by an EMU coach. Murphy is now 38 wins shy of James D. Dutcher for the third-most in school history.
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) | 91-77 (.535) |
| 5. | Jim Boyce | 1979-86 | 14/yr | 84-96 (.467) |
KING OF THIEVES: EMU sophomore Tim Bond is leading the Eagles in steals this season with 66. That number ranks second on the EMU all-time single season steals list, jumping Eastern Michigan great Brian Tolbert. Bond leads the Mid-American Conference in overall steals, while his average of 2.1 per game also ranks as the best in the MAC. Bond has recorded three-or-more steals in seven games this season, while picking the opponent's pocket at least twice in 20 games. On the year, the sophomore has recorded a steal in all but two games. Versus Toledo, March 4, Bond swiped the ball on eight occasions which ties for the second most in a game in EMU history. In addition to his ability to intercept on the defensive end, the 6-foot-7 guard has become a prolific shot blocker for the Eagles. Bond averages 0.7 blocked shots per game snf has two-or-more blocks in four games this year
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 475 points, distancing himself from Lee's former record of 380.
YOUNG BLOOD: It does not come as a shock to see James Thompson IV as one of the top freshmen in EMU laurels. Posting 18 double-doubles this season, the Baton Rouge, La. native has already made his mark in the Eastern Michigan record books. The 18 double-doubles are seventh-most in EMU history. In addition, Thompson has 340 rebounds this year, which puts him tied for fifth in a single season in EMU history.
TOP THIEVES IN HISTORY: Currently, EMU has 309 steals on the season. That is a new Eastern Michigan single season record. The Eagles current pace of 9.7 steals per game is also a school record. Twice this season, Eastern picked the opponent's pocket on 17 occasions. That mark ranks tied for the third-most in EMU single game history.
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 385 points during this season, totaling 1,395 for his career. That number puts him at the No. 15 spot in all-time EMU scorers. Lee now trails Markus Austin (2001-05) for the 14th spot by 30 points.
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, ranking ninth (14.8 ppg), while he also leads the conference in rebounds (10.6 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 (1.5 bpg) and first in field goal percentage (64.6 percent). On top of those gaudy numbers, he is 1-of-2 student-athletes 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 ninth in the nation in field goal percentage, while he ranks 16th in rebounds per game and 12th in total rebounds (340). His 18 double-doubles rank 14th and his 4.5 offensive rebounds per game are good for third nationally.
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 before Nazione recorded more field goal makes than a year ago. In addition, he is hitting shots at a 54.5 percent clip, while averaging nearly three times as many points per game (9.8) and twice as many rebounds per contest (6.3).
THEIVES GUILD: The Eagles not only lead the Mid-American Conference in steals per game (9.7), but the Green and White is fourth in the NCAA in that category, while also ranking third in total steals (309).
Players Mentioned
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