EMU Hoops Returns to Action Wednesday Against UC Irvine

Men's Basketball vs. UC Irvine
Date	Wednesday, Dec. 19 \| 7 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center (8,754)
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Twitter	@EMUHoops \| @EMUAthletics
Tickets	Order Tickets Online or call 734.487.3669

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team continues its three-game homestand with a showdown against UC Irvine Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m.
   The Eagles are 5-5 on the season after rolling to a 105-53 victory over Central State, Dec. 8. The Anteaters have won three straight and are 10-2 on the season, most recently taking down the University of Denver, 86-52, Dec. 15.
   The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Ryan Wooley on play-by-play and Greg Steiner providing analysis. Fans can also catch the action on 89.1 WEMU with Chad Bush and Matt Dery on the call. Additional coverage can be found by following @EMUHoops on Twitter, and through live stats at EMUEagles.com.

UPS-AND-DOWNS: Redshirt senior Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Lincoln Park (Robert Morris)) has battled through some ups-and-downs in 2018-19, but has come alive in the last two games, scoring 24 points at Northeastern, Dec. 1, and leading the team with 16 against Central State, Dec. 8.
   The Pittsburgh, Pa. native shot 36 percent from the floor and knocked down seven shots from beyond the three-point line in the two games, while also grabbing nine rebounds.

EVERYBODY'S A WINNER! (ALMOST): In Eastern's 105-53 drubbing of Central State, 14-of-15 players that saw the court scored, including career-highs for sophomores Bud Jones (Anderson, S.C.-TL Hanna) (8) and Jalen King (Pasco, Wash.-Kings Academy) (6), and redshirt freshman Jorden Peterson (Detroit, Mich.-CMA) (5).

PARRIS PASSING THE ROCK: Since moving into the point guard role against TCU, Nov. 26, junior Damari Parris (Bowie, Md.-Evelyn Mack Academy (Trinity Valley C.C.) has dished out 22 assists while committing just three turnovers against the Horned Frogs, Northeastern (Dec. 1), and Central State. The Bowie, Md. native had just seven assists through the first seven games.

ANOTHER NEW LOOK FIVE: After toying with the lineup over the last three games, Eastern settled on a new look that gives the Eagles five starting lineups used in the first 10 games. Senior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) returned to the starting lineup while redshirt senior Elijah Minnie came off the bench. Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln), Damari Parris, Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King Jr. (Eastern Kentucky)), and Boubacar Toure (Dakar, Senegal-Phase One Academy (Grand Canyon) rounded out the rest of the starters against Central State, Dec. 8.

SWIPER NO SWIPING: The Eagles are having a "down" season compared to previous years in the defense category, currently ranking fifth in the Mid-American Conference in scoring defense (71.1 ppg), and coming in ninth in defensive field goal percentage (43.5) after leading both categories in 2017-18.
   In fact, after leading the league in steals by nearly 50 a season ago, Eastern is currently third in the MAC in swipes, and just had its third game of 10-or-more steals in a game.

TURNOVER CITY: Though not having as many steals this season, Eastern is still forcing opponents into plenty of turnovers. Central State's 22 turnovers was a season-high, while it also marked the fifth time an EMU opponent has committed 15-or-more turnovers.

SHARING THE SUGAR: The Eagles' offense was clicking on all cylinders against Central State, Dec. 8, finishing the game with 26 assists on 43 made shots. It marked the most assists for an EMU squad since Dec. 11, 2016 when it also had 26 against Siena Heights.

THREE-POINT WOES: Eastern Michigan has had two-fold troubles at the three-point line this season, shooting just 28.6 percent from downtown on offense, while allowing opponents to shoot 36.0 percent. In fact, the Eagles have made nearly half as many three's (56) as they have allowed (103) so far in 2018-19.

THREE-POINT TROUBLES, CONT.: Eastern Michigan has yet to make double-digit three pointers in a game this season, yet has allowed opponents to make eight-or-more long-range shots in eight games this year. Only two, Duke and Boston, have not.

ALL-TIME VS UC IRVINE: Wednesday will be the first meeting of Eastern and UC Irvine since Dec. 18, 1981. The Eagles fell to the Anteaters, 76-59, in Missoula, Mont. Eastern had two double-digit scorers in the contest, Johnnie Bailey (14) and Anthony White (13). UC Irvine's All-American Kevin Magee dropped 29 points on Eastern in the loss.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: Eastern Michigan has won 97 of its 124 home games during the Rob Murphy era of Eagles' basketball. EMU has racked up a solid home-court advantage inside the friendly confines of the Convocation Center since the doors opened during the 1998-99 campaign, winning 62.6 percent of the contests played in the building, piling up a 190-119 all-time mark.

CHASING DOWN THE REBOUND RECORD: Senior James Thompson IV is the NCAA's active career rebound leader with 1,193 during his three-plus seasons with Eastern. The Baton Rouge, La. native needs 233 boards to pass all-time EMU record holder Kennedy McIntosh. He is also second in the NCAA in active career double-doubles with 61 and trails McIntosh as EMU's all-time leader by 17.

ON THE HORIZON: The Eagles will finish their three-game homestand playing Siena Heights University, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018. Coach Rob Murphy is a perfect 26-0 against non-division I opponents during his time at Eastern, including a 4-0 record so far this season.

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Players Mentioned

Ty Groce

Paul Jackson

Bud Jones

Jalen King

Elijah Minnie

Damari Parris

Jorden Peterson

James Thompson IV

Boubacar Toure

Eastern Michigan Athletics