Eagles Travel to Akron to Battle for Top Spot in the MAC

Men's Basketball at Akron
Date	Friday, Jan. 20 \| 6:30 p.m.
Venue	Akron, Ohio \| James A. Rhodes (5,500)
Game Notes	EMU Game Notes \| Akron Game Notes
Live Stats	G oZips.com
Watch	CBS Sports Network
Listen	89.1 FM WEMU
Twitter	@EMUHoops \| @EMUAthletics

AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- Riding a three-game winning streak, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team returns to the road Friday, Jan. 20, when it heads to Akron, Ohio to square off with the conference leading University of Akron. Gametime is slated for 6:30 p.m. at James A. Rhodes Arena.

The Eagles (12-6, 4-1 MAC) have won its last three, including a pair on the road and most recently, the Green and White defeated Western Michigan, 86-80, at the Convocation Center, Tuesday, Jan. 17. The victory was EMU seventh straight win over the Broncos in Ypsilanti and their eighth home win of the 2016-17 campaign. Since starting MAC play, the Eagles' offense has been cruising, shooting 47 percent from the floor and 77.1 percent from the charity stripe.

The Zips (15-3, 5-0 MAC) are on an eight game winning streak with their last loss coming Dec. 10, when they dropped a 63-43 decision to Gonzaga. In fact, two of Akron's three losses have come at the hands of teams ranked within the top-10 of the Associated Press National Top-25 rankings, having lost to both Gonzaga and Creighton. In its last game, the Zips won a commanding 83-68 contest with Ohio. With, the win over the Bobcats, Akron has won 26 straight games at James A. Rhodes Arena, marking the third-best home winning streak in NCAA Division I basketball.

FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eastern Michigan versus Akron matchup will have both audio and video on Friday evening. 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. Coverage on 89.1 WEMU will begin 10 minutes prior to the tip of each game this year.

In addition to the WEMU radio broadcast, EMU fans can watch the nationally televised contest on CBS Sports Network. Dave Ryan will handle the play-by-play duties for the broadcast, while Steve Wolf will join him for analysis.

ALL-TIME VERSUS THE ZIPS: The Eagles trail the all-time series with Akron by a slim five game margin, 20-25. Eastern dropped a pair of games against the Zips a season ago, including a devastating two-point, 65-63, setback in the quarterfinal round of the 2016 MAC Tournament.

A year ago, the Green and White saw Akron come away with a four-point, 92-88, win inside the J.A.R., Jan. 19. That was a game that saw EMU lead by as many as 10 before falling in Akron.

In the MAC Tournament game, March 10, Eastern led by 12 with under 10 minutes to go in the second half but could not hold off the Zips down the stretch and eventually fell, 65-63.

LIKELY LOOK FOR THE ZIPS...

#	Name	Pos.	Cl.	Ht.	Wt.	ppg	rpg	apg	Hometown-Previous School
0	Jimond Ivey	G	So.-So.	6-4	194	10.6	6.0	2.2	Cleveland, Ohio-Ginn Academy
2	Kwan Cheatam Jr.	F	Sr.-Sr.	6-10	235	11.0	7.3	2.0	Cincinnati, Ohio-Winton Woods
14	Noah Robotham	G	Jr.-Jr.	6-1	165	9.2	1.8	2.5	Las Vegas, Nev.-Bishop Gorman
23	Isaiah Johnson	C	Sr.-Sr.	6-10	290	15.5	7.3	3.4	Cincinnati, Ohio-Walnut Hills
55	Antino Jackson	G	Jr.-Jr.	5-11	160	11.1	2.3	2.6	Houston, Texas-Cypress Springs

LAST TIME OUT: Eastern Michigan continued its dominance of Western Michigan inside the Convocation Center Tuesday night, Jan. 17, as the Eagles knocked off the Broncos, 86-80. It was the Green and White's seventh straight win over Western inside the Convo.

The Eagles had a stellar offensive performance, going 29-of-50 (58 percent) from the field, including an excellent 16-of-23 (69.6 percent) in the second half. EMU controlled the paint throughout the game, finishing with 34 points in the paint, compared to WMU's 24. Additionally, EMU cashed in 15 Western turnovers for 21 points. James Thompson IV had his finest game of the season, going 10-of-12 from the floor, scoring a season-high 26 points and pulling down 11 rebounds, marking his 10th double-double of the season. Additionally, the 26 points was the best mark of his career against an NCAA Division I opponent. Ty Toney also had another solid game, scoring 16 points, while Willie Mangum IV scored 15, including a pair of big three-pointers. Finally, Baylee Steele also finished in double digits, pouring in 11 and snagging five rebounds.

RECONNAISSANCE ON THE ROOS: The Akron Zips are flying high, winners of their last eight, while boasting an overall record of 15-3 and a perfect 5-0 mark in conference play. The preseason favorite in the MAC East Division, Akron is one of the best scoring teams in the conference. The Zips rely heavily on the long ball, connecting on 10.8 three point field goals per game, good for sixth in the nation, while their 39.4 three-point field goal percentage leads the MAC and is 28th in the country. Isaiah "Big Dog" Johnson is Akron's go to threat, scoring 15.5 points per game while connecting on his field goal attempts at an astounding 68.3 percent clip, which is good for seventh-best in the NCAA. Not only is Johnson great scoring the basketball, but he the Zips' leading assist man. The 6-foot-10, 290 lbs. senior center averages 3.4 dimes per contest.

ANOTHER GOLIATH TO SLAY: EMU has done some of its best work in buildings that it has been historically unsuccessful in this season. Earlier this year, the Eagles defeated Detroit, 87-61, Nov. 30, at venerable Calihan Hall. The win on Dick Vitale Court was the first win in the building since the 1988 campaign. As for their 53-49 win over Ohio, Jan. 14, the Eagles picked up their first victory over the Bobcats inside the OU Convocation Center since the 2002-03 season. Now EMU will travel to James A. Rhodes Arena in search of its first win at the J.A.R. since the 2009-10 season when EMU defeated the Zips, 62-59, at the J.A.R., Feb. 1, 2010.

SECOND HALF STARS: It has become quite evident that the Eagles have grown into a second half team during the 2016-17 campaign. Versus NCAA Division I opponents, the Green and White averages 76.1 points per game. Slow offensive starts have resulted in just 34.3 points scored in first halves this year. Additionally, the Eagles have shot just 41.7 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes of games. On the flip side, Eastern Michigan is averaging 41.9 points per second half in games versus Division I opponents. On top of that, EMU is boasting an inflated 47.8 shooting percentage in the final 20 minutes of games.

A NICE OMEN: The Eastern Michigan men's basketball team is leading the MAC West Division at 4-1 through the first five conference games of the year. The last time EMU started MAC play with a 4-1 record was during the 2011-12 campaign. That season was Rob Murphy's first as the head coach at Eastern when he guided the Eagles to its only MAC West Division title in program history.

THOMPSON TEARS INTO WESTERN: Following his worst performance in MAC play versus Ohio, Jan. 14, when he went for just 11 points and six rebounds, EMU sophomore James Thompson IV rebounded with his best performance of the conference season. The Baton Rouge, La. native posted a season-best 26 points, as well as his career-best point total versus an NCAA Division I opponent. Additionally, Thompson pulled down 11 rebounds, tying his best total on the boards since MAC play began.

HOME COOKIN': Since the EMU Convocation Center opened in 1998, the Eastern Michigan men's basketball program has had success playing in Ypsilanti. Overall, the team is 166-105 in home games played at the Convocation Center. Since Head Coach Rob Murphy took over prior to the 2011-12 campaign, the Eagles have enjoyed an extremely high winning percentage, winning 80 percent of its games played in the Convo. Since the 2011-12 campaign, the Green and White boasts a record of 76-19 in home contests.

DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE: Eastern Michigan held Ohio to just 49 points in the four-point victory in Athens, Jan. 14. That number is the second-lowest total EMU held an opponent to this season and the lowest number that an NCAA Division I opponent has scored on Eastern this year. The last time an NCAA Division I team scored less than 50 points on the Eagles was during the 2014-15 campaign. The Green and White again held Ohio below that total, allowing just 40 points in a 76-40 blowout at the Convocation Center, Jan. 27. The last time this feat was accomplished away from the Convo was that same season when Eastern Michigan defeated Michigan, 45-42, at the Crisler Center, Dec. 9. In addition, the Bobcats' 30.4 shooting percentage is the lowest mark that the Green and White have held an opponent to this season.

TIMMY B, FOR THREE!: Eastern Michigan junior guard Tim Bond connected on a corner three-point shot with just 9.4 seconds left on the clock in the second half of EMU's victory over Ohio, Jan. 14, sealing the Eagles' win. That was not the first time that Bond has connected on a triple considered to be the game winner. In EMU's 75-71 win on Senior Day last year, March 1, Bond knocked down a three ball with just three seconds on the clock, which sealed the Green and White's win over Northern Illinois.

HE'S BAAAACK: After being injured during the Eagles' setback at Vermont, Dec. 17, the Eagles' senior guard Ty Toney sat out for three games before returning to action once Mid-American Conference play began. In the first two games of conference action, Toney combined both contests for just 17 minutes played. Since those two contests, the Atlanta, Ga. native has been on a tear, scoring at least 16 points in three-straight games. In addition, Toney is averaging 34 minutes, 16.3 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.3 steals per game, while shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc.

RETURN OF THE MAC: With MAC play ramping up, so has Eastern Michigan's defensive play. Since beginning conference play, EMU has only allowed 64.4 points per game, which leads the league. Additionally, the Eagles' opponents are shooting just 37.6 percent from the floor and just 31.3 percent from beyond the arc. Eastern is posting 9.4 steals per game over the conference season, which is tied for the league lead as well.

STEALING THEIR WAY TO THE TOP: Currently, EMU has 197 steals on the season. That is 114 shy of the all-time Eastern Michigan single season record. At their current pace (10.9 spg), which would also mark a single season record, the Eagles would shatter the single season steals mark before the end of the regular season. With 13 games until the end of the regular campaign, the Green and White are on pace to accumulate 338 steals in regular season action. The current EMU record, set by the 2015-16 squad, is 321.

THE MAGIC NUMBER: Eastern Michigan's offense has been dominant this season, averaging 82.1 points per game, good for third in the MAC. On the flip side, Eastern has had its woes defensively in multiple games, despite giving up just 71.1 points per contest. It seems as though 75 has been the magic number for both the Eagles and their oppositon. In 12 of EMU's 12 wins, the Green and White has scored at least 75 points. However, in each of the Eagles' losses, the opponent has scored at least 75 points.

ON THE HORIZON: Following their nationally televised Friday evening contest with Akron, the Eagles continue Mid-American Conference action at home, Tuesday, Jan. 24. Eastern Michigan will host Ball State at the Convocation Center for a late night, 9 p.m. contest, which will be broadcast on the American Sports Network.

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Players Mentioned

Tim Bond

Willie Mangum IV

Baylee Steele

James Thompson IV

Ty Toney

Eastern Michigan Athletics