Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Accepts CIT Bid, Will Host Opening-Round Game March 14
3/11/2018 7:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Men's basketball team to host Niagara Wednesday, March 14, at the Convocation Center
Purchase Tickets.
More Information.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — For the eighth time in program history, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team is headed to the postseason. The Eagles have accepted a bid to play in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) and will host Niagara University Wednesday, March 14. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
Tickets for the game are available through the EMU Ticket Office by calling 734.487.3669 or visiting EMUEagles.com/tickets. Tickets for the game are $20 for courtside floor seats, $10 for reserved seats and $5 for general admission. Postseason tournaments are not included as part of season ticket packages and no complimentary tickets are available. Courtside season ticket holders will receive first right to purchase their seats from the 2017-18 season.
Eastern Michigan students will receive complimentary admission thanks to the generosity of EMU Athletics donors. Fans that would like to support the complimentary student ticket initiative may do so by donating to EMU men's basketball in increments of $5. Any fan, regardless of attendance, is encouraged to participate.
It marks the second appearance in the CIT and the first since the 2013-14 campaign for Eastern Michigan, when the Eagles defeated Norfolk State University at home, 58-54, before coming up short at Columbia University, 69-56. It is also the first postseason opportunity for EMU in three years, when the Green and White took part in the 2015 College Basketball Invitational (CBI).
Eastern Michigan enters the contest with a 21-12 overall record and 11-7 in Mid-American Conference play. The Eagles closed the regular season with a six-game winning streak and have won 10 of their last 13 games. Eastern was 13-3 inside the Convocation Center this year and has posted a 69-18 (.793) record over the past five seasons on its home floor.
EMU has three players scoring in double figures led by third team All-MAC honoree Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Lincoln Park-Robert Morris) with 16.8 points on 45.1 percent shooting from the floor (196-of-435) and 33.3 percent from downtown with a team-high 71 made three-point field goals (71-of-213). Minnie leads the squad at the free throw line, shooting 84.3 percent (91-of-108), while ranking second in rebounds (6.2 rebs/g, 205 total) and steals (61). He also adds 39 assists to the stat sheet.
MAC All-Tournament Team honoree Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King Jr.-Eastern Kentucky) averages 15.2 and leads the squad in assists (150), while First Team All-MAC selection James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) follows with 14.7 points per game. Thompson leads the Eagles in field goal percentage (.682, 191-of-280) and rebounds (364). Of his 11.0 rebounds per game, Thompson secured 233 defensive boards and 131 offensive rebounds. He is first in blocked shots (60) and adds 26 steals.
MAC Defensive Player of the Year Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) scores 9.3 points per night on average. while shooting 41.9 percent from the floor (185-of-442) with 31 made triples. Bond shoots 46.6 percent from the floor (118-of-253) and 35.8 percent from long range (29-of-81) with an EMU single-season record 82 steals.
Defensively, EMU limits opponents to 66.8 points a night on 40.6 percent shooting from the field and 35.7 percent from downtown. The Eagles caused 483 turnovers (14.6 tpg), while collecting 290 steals (8.8 stl/g) and 207 blocked shots (6.2 blk/g).
The Purple Eagles of Niagara are 19-13 on the season, including a 12-4 conference record to earn a No. 3 seed in the 2018 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament. Niagara's 19 overall wins, 12 MAAC wins, and nine home wins are the most in five seasons. The Purple Eagles' 10 road victories lead the MAAC and tied a school record in the modern-era set in the 2008-09 season. The Purple Eagles lead the MAAC in points per game (83.8), total blocks (141), blocks per game (4.4), total rebounds (1,245), free throws made (578), and in fewest turnovers per game (11.3).
The Purple Eagles are making their first postseason appearance since the 2013 National Invitational Tournament (NIT) where they lost to No. 2 seed Maryland. Niagara, which has appeared in three NCAA Tournaments and 14 NITs, will play in the CIT for the first time in program history.
Wednesday's matchup is just the second all-time meeting between the two programs and the first since the 1970-71 campaign. That year, Niagara posted a 91-63 decision in Buffalo, N.Y. over Kennedy McIntosh and the then-Hurons , Dec. 12, 1970.
In its 10th season, the CIT was created to provide an opportunity to participate in the postseason for deserving programs not selected to play in the NCAA Tournament or the NIT. The field is selected by a 14-member committee made of current Division I Athletic Directors and Conference Commissioners.
For the sixth consecutive year, CBS Sports Network is the home of the CIT. This season, CBS Sports Network will televise seven tournament games, including the semifinals and championship game. All remaining CIT games will be streamed live through CBS Sports Digital's subscription OTT service, SportsLive, and WatchCIT.com.
The four first round games will be televised live on CBS Sports Network on Monday, March 12, at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. The games will be the only college basketball games played on the day after Selection Sunday. CBS Sports Network will also televise the CIT semifinals Wednesday, March 28, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., and the CIT Championship on Friday, March 30, at 7 p.m.
The 2018 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament
All Times EST
THE CLASSICS
MONDAY, March 12
Winners will play Wofford (21-12), Northern Colorado (22-12), Portland State (20-13) and Sam Houston State (19-14). Dates and times TBD.
Hugh Durham Classic - 12 Noon EST on CBS Sports Network
Central Michigan (19-14) @ Fort Wayne (18-14)
Lou Henson Classic - 2:00 PM EST on CBS Sports Network
Abilene Christian (16-15) @ Drake (16-16)
Jim Phelan Classic- 6:00 PM EST on CBS Sports Network
North Carolina A&T (20-14) @ Liberty (20-14)
Riley Wallace Classic 10:00 PM EST on CBS Sports Network
Hartford (19-13) @ San Diego (18-13)
WEDNESDAY MARCH 14
Saint Francis PA (18-12) @ UIC (17-15)
Niagara (19-13) @ Eastern Michigan (21-12)
UTSA (19-14) @ Lamar (19-13)
THURSDAY MARCH 15
UL Monroe (16-15) @ Austin Peay (18-14)
QUARTERFINALS
March 22-25
SEMIFINALS
March 28
7:00 PM EST on CBS Sports Network
9:00 PM EST on CBS Sports Network
CHAMPIONSHIP
March 30
7:00 PM EST on CBS Sports Network
More Information.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — For the eighth time in program history, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team is headed to the postseason. The Eagles have accepted a bid to play in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) and will host Niagara University Wednesday, March 14. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
Tickets for the game are available through the EMU Ticket Office by calling 734.487.3669 or visiting EMUEagles.com/tickets. Tickets for the game are $20 for courtside floor seats, $10 for reserved seats and $5 for general admission. Postseason tournaments are not included as part of season ticket packages and no complimentary tickets are available. Courtside season ticket holders will receive first right to purchase their seats from the 2017-18 season.
Eastern Michigan students will receive complimentary admission thanks to the generosity of EMU Athletics donors. Fans that would like to support the complimentary student ticket initiative may do so by donating to EMU men's basketball in increments of $5. Any fan, regardless of attendance, is encouraged to participate.
It marks the second appearance in the CIT and the first since the 2013-14 campaign for Eastern Michigan, when the Eagles defeated Norfolk State University at home, 58-54, before coming up short at Columbia University, 69-56. It is also the first postseason opportunity for EMU in three years, when the Green and White took part in the 2015 College Basketball Invitational (CBI).
Eastern Michigan enters the contest with a 21-12 overall record and 11-7 in Mid-American Conference play. The Eagles closed the regular season with a six-game winning streak and have won 10 of their last 13 games. Eastern was 13-3 inside the Convocation Center this year and has posted a 69-18 (.793) record over the past five seasons on its home floor.
EMU has three players scoring in double figures led by third team All-MAC honoree Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Lincoln Park-Robert Morris) with 16.8 points on 45.1 percent shooting from the floor (196-of-435) and 33.3 percent from downtown with a team-high 71 made three-point field goals (71-of-213). Minnie leads the squad at the free throw line, shooting 84.3 percent (91-of-108), while ranking second in rebounds (6.2 rebs/g, 205 total) and steals (61). He also adds 39 assists to the stat sheet.
MAC All-Tournament Team honoree Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King Jr.-Eastern Kentucky) averages 15.2 and leads the squad in assists (150), while First Team All-MAC selection James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) follows with 14.7 points per game. Thompson leads the Eagles in field goal percentage (.682, 191-of-280) and rebounds (364). Of his 11.0 rebounds per game, Thompson secured 233 defensive boards and 131 offensive rebounds. He is first in blocked shots (60) and adds 26 steals.
MAC Defensive Player of the Year Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) scores 9.3 points per night on average. while shooting 41.9 percent from the floor (185-of-442) with 31 made triples. Bond shoots 46.6 percent from the floor (118-of-253) and 35.8 percent from long range (29-of-81) with an EMU single-season record 82 steals.
Defensively, EMU limits opponents to 66.8 points a night on 40.6 percent shooting from the field and 35.7 percent from downtown. The Eagles caused 483 turnovers (14.6 tpg), while collecting 290 steals (8.8 stl/g) and 207 blocked shots (6.2 blk/g).
The Purple Eagles of Niagara are 19-13 on the season, including a 12-4 conference record to earn a No. 3 seed in the 2018 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament. Niagara's 19 overall wins, 12 MAAC wins, and nine home wins are the most in five seasons. The Purple Eagles' 10 road victories lead the MAAC and tied a school record in the modern-era set in the 2008-09 season. The Purple Eagles lead the MAAC in points per game (83.8), total blocks (141), blocks per game (4.4), total rebounds (1,245), free throws made (578), and in fewest turnovers per game (11.3).
The Purple Eagles are making their first postseason appearance since the 2013 National Invitational Tournament (NIT) where they lost to No. 2 seed Maryland. Niagara, which has appeared in three NCAA Tournaments and 14 NITs, will play in the CIT for the first time in program history.
Wednesday's matchup is just the second all-time meeting between the two programs and the first since the 1970-71 campaign. That year, Niagara posted a 91-63 decision in Buffalo, N.Y. over Kennedy McIntosh and the then-Hurons , Dec. 12, 1970.
In its 10th season, the CIT was created to provide an opportunity to participate in the postseason for deserving programs not selected to play in the NCAA Tournament or the NIT. The field is selected by a 14-member committee made of current Division I Athletic Directors and Conference Commissioners.
For the sixth consecutive year, CBS Sports Network is the home of the CIT. This season, CBS Sports Network will televise seven tournament games, including the semifinals and championship game. All remaining CIT games will be streamed live through CBS Sports Digital's subscription OTT service, SportsLive, and WatchCIT.com.
The four first round games will be televised live on CBS Sports Network on Monday, March 12, at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. The games will be the only college basketball games played on the day after Selection Sunday. CBS Sports Network will also televise the CIT semifinals Wednesday, March 28, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., and the CIT Championship on Friday, March 30, at 7 p.m.
The 2018 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament
All Times EST
THE CLASSICS
MONDAY, March 12
Winners will play Wofford (21-12), Northern Colorado (22-12), Portland State (20-13) and Sam Houston State (19-14). Dates and times TBD.
Hugh Durham Classic - 12 Noon EST on CBS Sports Network
Central Michigan (19-14) @ Fort Wayne (18-14)
Lou Henson Classic - 2:00 PM EST on CBS Sports Network
Abilene Christian (16-15) @ Drake (16-16)
Jim Phelan Classic- 6:00 PM EST on CBS Sports Network
North Carolina A&T (20-14) @ Liberty (20-14)
Riley Wallace Classic 10:00 PM EST on CBS Sports Network
Hartford (19-13) @ San Diego (18-13)
WEDNESDAY MARCH 14
Saint Francis PA (18-12) @ UIC (17-15)
Niagara (19-13) @ Eastern Michigan (21-12)
UTSA (19-14) @ Lamar (19-13)
THURSDAY MARCH 15
UL Monroe (16-15) @ Austin Peay (18-14)
QUARTERFINALS
March 22-25
SEMIFINALS
March 28
7:00 PM EST on CBS Sports Network
9:00 PM EST on CBS Sports Network
CHAMPIONSHIP
March 30
7:00 PM EST on CBS Sports Network
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F/C
/ Men's Basketball2025-26 Field of 68 Men's Basketball Preview: Eastern Michigan Eagles
Tuesday, October 21
Men's Basketball Alumni Game All Call
Tuesday, October 21
2025 E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
Saturday, October 11
E-Club Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Cinematic Recap
Saturday, October 11