Men's Hoops Returns Home Tuesday with Bowling Green

Men's Basketball vs. Bowling Green
Date	Tuesday, Jan. 22 \| 7 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center (8,754)
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN3
Listen	WEMU 89.1 FM
Twitter	@EMU WBB \| @EMUAthletics
Tickets	Order Tickets Online or call 734.487.3669

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team looks to rebound from a hard-fought road loss with a matchup against Bowling Green State University in the friendly confines of the Convocation Center Tuesday, Jan. 22. The cross-division Mid-American Conference showdown will tip at 7 p.m.
   The Eagles fell on the road to No. 16 University at Buffalo, Jan. 18, by a 77-65 final. Meanwhile, Bowing Green improved to a program-best 5-0 in MAC play with a 79-48 drubbing of Western Michigan at home.
   The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Ryan Wooley on play-by-play, and Greg Steiner providing analysis. Eastern fans can also listen to Chad Bush and Matt Dery on WEMU 89.1. Additional coverage can be found by following @EMUHoops on Twitter, and through live stats at EMUEagles.com.

TOUGHEST IN THE MAC: The Eagles' record of 8-10 is a bit misleading for those not paying attention. Eastern has played the fourth-hardest schedule in the country (according to KenPom), including three games against Associated Press Top-25 teams and two against opponents in the top-10.
   Ball State is the next-closest team with the 74th-most difficult schedule in the country.

OVERTIME THRILLERS: Last season, EMU and BGSU played not one, but two overtime thrillers. The Falcons came out on top in both instances, marking the only time in Eastern Michigan history it has lost to the same team in overtime in the same season.

ALL-TIME VS. BOWLING GREEN: Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green have a close history that dates back to 1916, as the two teams have squared off 92 times overall with the Eagles trailing by six games in the all-time series with a record of 43-49.
   The two teams began the series with an Eastern win, 33-15, Jan. 8, 1916. In the Rob Murphy era of Eagles' basketball, the Green and White are 5-5 against BGSU, with EMU's last win coming by a final of 81-53 in the Stroh Center, Jan. 10, 2017.

MORE OVERTIME FUN: As far back as records indicate, Eastern has played its most overtime games in program history against Bowling Green, with a record of 3-5 in those games. The next closest is Ball State, who the Eagles have a 3-3 record against in OT.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE: It has been a while since Eastern has been able to come out on top of Bowling Green at home, dating back to Jan. 29, 2014. EMU came out on top 69-57. Glenn Bryant led the way for the Green and White, scoring 26 points in 26 minutes while also registering a double-double with 10 rebounds.

FOUR SCORERS AND THREE GAMES (SO FAR): For the third time this season, Eastern Michigan had four-or-more players score double-digits in a Mid-American Conference game when a quartet accomplished the feat against Buffalo, Jan. 18. Redshirt senior Paul Jackson (12), senior James Thompson IV (11), redshirt junior Boubacar Toure (11), and redshirt sophomore Ty Groce (10) most recently accomplished the feat.

CHASING DOWN THE REBOUND RECORD: Senior James Thompson IV is the NCAA's active career rebound leader with 1,290 during his three-plus seasons with Eastern. The Baton Rouge, La. native needs 136 boards to pass all-time EMU record holder Kennedy McIntosh. He is also first in the NCAA in active career double-doubles with 66 and trails McIntosh as EMU's all-time leader by 12.

BEING POSITIVE: For the first time since MAC play began, Eastern Michigan has a positve scoring differential on the season. The Eagles are scoring 70.5 points per game while allowing 70.4 points per game, for a point differential of +0.1

FIFTH TIMES A CHARM: After using a different starting lineup for seven consecutive games, Eastern Michigan rolled out the same starters for the fifth straight game against Buffalo, Jan. 18. Redshirt senior Paul Jackson was joined by sophomore Kevin McAdoo, redshirt junior Boubcar Toure, senior James Thompson IV, and redshirt senior Elijah Minnie in the starting five for each #MACtion game of the season.

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 (70.4 ppg), and coming in seventh in defensive field goal percentage (43.8) after leading both categories in 2017-18.

THREE-POINT WOES: Eastern Michigan has had two-fold troubles at the three-point line this season, shooting just 29.3 percent from downtown on offense, while allowing opponents to shoot 34.6 percent. In fact, the Eagles have made (108) three's and have allowed (165) in 2018-19.

STRONG START TO #MACTION: The Eastern Michigan Big Three have come alive since the start of Mid-American Conference play, as redshirt seniors Elijah Minnie and Paul Jackson, as well as senior James Thompson IV have upped their game to another level.
   Minnie is averaging 16.8 points per game while shooting 45.5 percent from downtown. His points per game is seventh in conference play, while his 20 made threes is tops in the league.
Thompson is averaging 12.8 points per game while pulling down 12.0 rebounds per game, and is second in the MAC in shooting percentage with a 72.7 clip.
   Jackson has averaged 14.4 points per game and is making a living setting up his teammates, turning in 5.2 assists per contest.

AND THE AWARD GOES TO…: Redshirt senior Elijah Minnie became the first Eagle this season to be named MAC Co-West Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday, Jan. 14. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native won the award for his offensive explosion that saw him average 23.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per contest, while helping carry EMU to a 2-0 week against Ball State, Jan. 8, and Kent State, Jan. 12.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: Redshirt senior Elijah Minnie's MAC Co-West Player of the Week honor was not the only award given out to a basketball player in Ypsilanti this week, as redshirt senior Danielle Minott of the EMU women's basketball team earned MAC West Player of the Week as well.
   It marked the first time since 2013 that Eastern has held Player of the Week honors on both the men's and women's side. Ray Lee (2012-17) and Janay Morton (2013-16) were named the league's top player Dec. 16.

FREE THROW DEFENSE: For reasons unexplainable, opponents have struggled to consistently make free throws against Eastern this season. In fact, the opponent free throw percentage of 60.9-percent is the second-lowest mark in the NCAA, trailing only Quinnipiac.

LEADING THE LEAGUE: Eastern Michigan sits on top of the MAC in offensive rebounds per game (14.3), thanks in large part to senior James Thompson IV. The forward leads the league in offensive rebounding by more than a full rebound (4.3) this season, while also sitting in second in the league in field goal percentage (65.8) and rebounding (10.4).
   Redshirt junior Boubacar Toure leads the league in field goal percentage at 68.7 percent.

ON THE HORIZON: After three consecutive games against MAC East opponents, Eastern Michigan returns to divisional play Saturday, Jan. 26 as it travles to in-state rival Western Michigan for a 2 p.m. game.

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Players Mentioned

Ty Groce

Paul Jackson

Kevin McAdoo

Elijah Minnie

James Thompson IV

Boubacar Toure

Eastern Michigan Athletics