EMU Hoops Set to Play Goshen College

Men's Basketball vs. Goshen College
Date	Tuesday, Nov. 12 \| 7 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center (8,754)
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Live Stats
Watch	ESPN +
Twitter	@EMUHoops \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team looks to remain undefeated on the year when it takes on Goshen College, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m., inside the Convocation Center. The Maple Leafs have started the season at 2-3, as they will attempt to even the head-to-head series.
   The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Ryan Wooley on play-by-play and Chad Bush providing analysis. Additional coverage can be found through live stats via EMUEagles.com or by following @EMUHoops on Twitter.

STARTING WITH A WIN: Eastern Michigan has compiled a 73-49 record in season openers over its 122 seasons of basketball, including an 8-1 record in opening games during the Rob Murphy era.
   The Eagles beat Siena Heights, 93-51, to start the 2019-20 season, Nov. 8. Junior Ty Groce was one of six players to reach double-digits in points, as he matched his career-high and led the team with 15. Additionally, redshirt senior Boubacar Toure contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds en route to his first double-double of the season and the ninth of his EMU career.

LAST TIME VS GOSHEN COLLEGE: 2019-20 marks the second consecutive season that Eastern takes on Goshen College. The Eagles came out victorious, 97-74, in the first meeting, Nov. 11, 2018. Elijah Minnie led the team in scoring with 17 points while, EMU outshot GC, 56.7 to 38.2 percent from the field, and 40 to 29.3 from downtown. The Green and White dominated in the paint, outscoring the Maple Leafs, 60 to 26. Then-redshirt junior Boubacar Toure was one of three players with 10 points, also chipping in seven rebounds and a block.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: EMU has won 103 of 137 games at home, during the Rob Murphy era, and have racked up the wins inside the Convocation Center, since opening the doors during the 1998-99 campaign, boasting a 196-125 record on the home court.

SHOWING SOME INTERNATIONAL LOVE: Eastern is showing some international love with two new players joining the team from overseas; juniors Yeikson Montero, from the Dominican Republic, and Thomas Binelli from Italy.
   Montero, originally from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, joins the Eagles by way of Pensacola State. He averaged 13.9 points per game during his two year run with the Pirates, including a 16.8 average during his final season.
   Binelli, from Bologna, Italy, joins EMU from Monroe College. During his two years with the Mustangs, he averaged 11.3 points per game and 4.7 rebounds.

OPENING IN YPSI: EMU has started the season at home in eight of the last nine seasons, with a 8-0 record in those games. During this stretch, the Eagles have outscored their opponent, 514-383.

MAC PRESEASON POLL: EMU was picked to finish sixth in the west division of the Mid-American Conference, announced by the league office, Oct. 31. The early favorites in the west is Toledo, who received 11 first place votes, while Bowling Green was the top pick to win it all in the MAC Tournament.

East Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Bowling Green (9 first place votes) - 69 points
2. Buffalo (3) - 58
3. Kent State - 43
4. Miami - 37
5. Akron - 33
6. Ohio - 12

West Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Toledo (11 first place votes) - 69 points
2. Northern Illinois - 52
3. Ball State (1) - 51
4. Central Michigan - 41
5. Western Michigan - 23
6. Eastern Michigan - 16

2020 Tournament Predicted Champion: Bowling Green (6), Toledo (2), Buffalo (10), Kent State (1), Miami (1), Northern Illinois (1)

Preseason All-MAC East Division Team
Justin Turner, Bowling Green, R-Jr., Guard
Dylan Frye, Bowling Green, Sr., Guard
Phillip Whittington, Kent State, Jr., Forward
Nike Sibande, Miami, Jr., Guard
Jayvon Graves, Buffalo, Jr., Guard

Preseason All-MAC West Division Team
Eugene German, Northern Illinois, Sr., Guard
Tahjai Teague, Ball State, R-Sr., Forward
Marreon Jackson, Toledo, Jr., Guard
Luke Knapke, Toledo, Sr., Center
Michael Flowers, Western Michigan, Jr., Guard
Dave DiLeo, Central Michigan, Sr., Forward

EAGLES ABROAD: Eastern Michigan will travel abroad this season as a part of the Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic. While there, they will play game against UMBC and North Carolina A&T. This is not the first time in the Rob Murphy era that the Eagles have traveled overseas. During the 2016-17 season, EMU flew to the Bahamas and played three exhibition games against Bahamian National Teams.

BACK FOR MORE: The Eagles welcome back key returners in redshirt senior Boubacar Toure, and juniors Ty Groce and Jalen King, who are ready to lead a team of new faces. Last season, Toure totaled 243 rebounds, averaging 7.8 per contest, which was good for sixth in the MAC. With the departure of former Eagle James Thompson IV, EMU looks for those numbers to increase this season. Groce, the Ypsilanti native, made appearances in all 31 games last season, starting in 11, shooting 43.2 percent from the floor, and, a team leading 75.6 percent from the charity stripe. King looks to take a step forward this season and make a bigger impact on the team, having worked hard over the summer on his defense and finishing touch. The Pasco, Wash. native averaged 6.2 minutes per game in 19 appearances, totaling 22 rebounds and 19 points, in 2018-19.

CLOSE CONNECTIONS: The deep connection between Eastern Michigan men's basketball and Goshen lies with the Maple Leafs' third-year head coach Jon Tropf. Tropf graduated from EMU in 2012 with a bachelors in history. During his undergraduate career, he spent four years as a men's basketball manager, including three as the head manager, one of which was served under head coach Rob Murphy.

WHAT WAS LOST: After losing 1,674 points (75%) and 670 rebounds (89%) of production from the 2018-19 team, EMU is in search of new offensive leaders this season. The top returner in each category from last year's squad is redshirt senior Boubacar Toure (266 points, 243 rebounds), a likely candidate to be a production leader this season.

SHORT CHANGE: EMU had 10-or-fewer assists in 16 game last year and held a record of 4-12 in those contests. Through one game this season, the Eagles appear to have remedied a solution, as the team combined to dish 20 dimes against Siena Heights, Nov. 8.

SPREADING THE WEALTH: Six Eagles reached double-digits in points against Siena Heights, Nov. 8. This is a repeat of the last contest against the Saints, which EMU won, 90-72, Dec. 22, 2018. Leading the charge for the Green and White this time around is redshirt junior Ty Groce, who matched a career-high with 15 points. Following the lead, freshman Chris James tallied 14 points off the bench, while redshirt senior Boubacar Toure scored 13 and pulled down a team high 10 rebounds for his ninth career double-double. Juniors Noah Morgan, Yeikson Montero, Jalen King all hit double figures, with Morgan and Montero adding 11 points, and King putting up 10.

"PUT ME IN, COACH": In its first game of the 2019-20 season, Eastern Michigan had nine out of ten players make a fieldgoal and five players combined for 41 bench points, whereas Siena Heights had a total 25. True freshman Chris James led off the pine with 14 points, shooting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Junior Jalen King hit a new career-high in points with 10, in relief of redshirt senior Boubacar Toure.

FRESHMAN SPOTLIGHT: In addition to freshman Chris James tallying 13 points in his first appearance for the Green and White, fellow rook Shamar Dillard finished with nine points, five boards, a pair of assists, and made all four of his attempts from the charity stripe.

WHAT WAS LOST: After losing 1,674 points (75%) and 670 rebounds (89%) of production from the 2018-19 team, EMU is in search of new offensive leaders this season. The top returner in each category from last year's squad is redshirt senior Boubacar Toure (266 points, 243 rebounds), a likely candidate to be a production leader this season.

RELOADING: Head Coach Rob Murphy would rather reload than rebuild. Eastern welcomes in 10 new players in 2019-20, six of which are from junior colleges, including juniors Yeikson Montero, Noah Morgan, Thomas Binelli, Darion Spottsville, Miles Gibson, and redshirt junior Chris Barnes.
   Morgan joins the Eagles from Northwest Florida State, where he spent one season, averaging 8.9 points per game on 48 percent shooting from the floor and 41 percent from downtown. Spottsville arrives to Ypsilanti from South Mountain Community College where he put up 11.1 points per game, and averaged a conference leading 2.5 steals per game. Gibson, while at Northwest Kansas Tech, put up 15.6 points per contest in his two-year career, including a 19.2 points per game average during his second season. Barnes scored 65 points and pulled down 44 rebounds while playing at Tulsa.

BOUBACAR BOOST: With 10 new faces, the Green and White will look to redshirt senior Boubacar Toure this season, for guidance. The Dakar, Senegal native finished the 2018-19 season with 243 rebounds, averaging out to 8.9 per contest, which was good for sixth in the MAC. The redshirt senior also ended the year with 42 blocks, landing fourth in the conference.

ON THE HORIZON: The Eagles will wrap up their season-opening three game home-stand against Michigan-Dearborn, Thursday, Nov. 14. EMU won the only previous meeting between the two, 97-73, Nov. 12, 2017. In the contest, the Green and White shot 57.1 percent from the floor and overmatched the Wolverines with 52 points in the paint. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN3.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Chris Barnes

Thomas Binelli

Shamar Dillard

Miles Gibson

Ty Groce

Chris James

Jalen King

Elijah Minnie

Yeikson Montero

Noah Morgan

Darion Spottsville

James Thompson IV

Boubacar Toure

Eastern Michigan Athletics