Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, November 16
Denton, Texas
3 p.m. CT
Eastern Michigan University
at
North Texas
Men's Hoops Heads to Texas for Rodeo With Mean Green
11/15/2019 3:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EMU and the University of North Texas will meet for the first time
| Men's Basketball at North Texas | |
| Date | Friday, Nov. 16 | 4 p.m. (3 p.m. CT) |
| Venue | Denton, Texas | UNT Coliseum (9,797) |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes |
| Television | CUSA.tv (subscription-based) |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| Radio | WEMU 89.1 FM |
| @EMUHoops | @EMUAthletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- After three consecutive home games, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team hits the road for the first time in the 2019-20 season when it treks to Denton, Texas, for a game against the University of North Texas, Saturday, Nov. 16. The first matchup between the Eagles and Mean Green, EMU looks to begin the season 4-0 for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m. (3 p.m. CT)
The game will be aired on WEMU (89.1 FM) with veteran broadcaster Chad Bush on the call.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE BOUBACAR TROUBLE: Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure is off to a hot start for the Green and White, averaging 13 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest in EMU's first three games. Toure has notched two double-doubles this season, doing so most recently against Michigan-Dearborn, Nov. 14, where he recorded a team-best 14 boards and tied for the team-lead in points, with 15. Toure has 16-career double-doubles, the most by any current Eagle, and leads the Mid-American Conference in field goal percentage (73.9%), and rebounding (10.7 rpg).
LAST TIME IN TEXAS: Saturday marks the fourth consecutive season that EMU has traveled to the Lone Star State. Most recently, the Eagles battled TCU, falling 87-69, in Fort Worth, Nov. 26, 2018. Eastern is 0-5 in the State of Texas during the Rob Murphy era, dating back to the 2011-12 season.
FIRST TIME FOES: Eastern and UNT will face off for the first time in their respective histories, Saturday, Nov. 16. A member of Conference USA, the Mean Green are off to a 1-2 start in the 2019-20 season.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: EMU has won 106 of 140 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 197-125 record on the home court.
SPREADING THE WEALTH: Through three games, Eastern has had no fewer than eight players record points in a game. Nine Eagles scored against Siena Heights, Nov. 8, before 10 notched points versus Goshen, Nov. 12. Most recently, eight found the box score against UMD, Nov. 14.
DOUBLE-DIGITS ALL AROUND: Five-or-more Eagles have contributed double-digit scoring efforts in each of the team's first three games, while six are averaging double digit scoring for the season.
Five EMU hoopsters registered double-digit points en route to a 72-59 win over Michigan-Dearborn in the squad's last game, Nov. 14.
"PUT ME IN, COACH": Eastern's bench scoring has outmatched that of its opponent in each of its first three contests, giving EMU a 48-point bench advantage in 2019, 114-66. In the Eagles' most recent contest against Michigan-Dearborn, Nov. 14, the Green and White tallied 28 points from its non-starting five, an effort that outmatched the opponent by seven. Additionally, freshman Chris James tied for the team lead in points scored, coming off the bench to score 15 points against UMD.
FRESHMEN CONTRIBUTIONS: Freshmen guards Chris James and Shamar Dillard have had no trouble adjusting to the college game. While the pair of newcomers have accounted for just 18 percent of the team's total minutes this season (110-of-600), they have accounted for 22 percent of the squad's total points (56-of-266). Additionally, James is one of just four Eagles to record double-digit scoring in each contest thus far, while Dillard has led the team in three pointers once, against Goshen, Nov. 12.
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. Through three games, Toure is averaging 13 points, and 10.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 73.9 percent from the floor, a career-best mark.
JAMES…CHRIS JAMES: Freshman guard Chris James is off to a great start in his freshman season. The Long Beach, Calif. native is averaging 13.3 points per game, the most by any freshman in the MAC, and has recorded double-digit points in each contest for the Eagles thus far.
OFFENSE FIRING EARLY: Through three games, EMU is averaging 88.7 points per game, the best through the first three games of a season in the nine-year Rob Murphy era. Eastern's points per game average currently ranks fourth in the MAC.
ON THE HORIZON: Following its trip to the Lone Star State, the Eagles will trek outside the United States, to Montego Bay, Jamaica, for the Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic, Nov. 22-24. While abroad, EMU will play two contests against UMBC, Nov. 22, and North Carolina A&T. Nov. 24. Each game will be broadcast live on the CBS Sports Network. For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU hoops, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team on social media, at @EMUHoops.
The game will be aired on WEMU (89.1 FM) with veteran broadcaster Chad Bush on the call.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE BOUBACAR TROUBLE: Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure is off to a hot start for the Green and White, averaging 13 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest in EMU's first three games. Toure has notched two double-doubles this season, doing so most recently against Michigan-Dearborn, Nov. 14, where he recorded a team-best 14 boards and tied for the team-lead in points, with 15. Toure has 16-career double-doubles, the most by any current Eagle, and leads the Mid-American Conference in field goal percentage (73.9%), and rebounding (10.7 rpg).
LAST TIME IN TEXAS: Saturday marks the fourth consecutive season that EMU has traveled to the Lone Star State. Most recently, the Eagles battled TCU, falling 87-69, in Fort Worth, Nov. 26, 2018. Eastern is 0-5 in the State of Texas during the Rob Murphy era, dating back to the 2011-12 season.
FIRST TIME FOES: Eastern and UNT will face off for the first time in their respective histories, Saturday, Nov. 16. A member of Conference USA, the Mean Green are off to a 1-2 start in the 2019-20 season.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: EMU has won 106 of 140 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 197-125 record on the home court.
SPREADING THE WEALTH: Through three games, Eastern has had no fewer than eight players record points in a game. Nine Eagles scored against Siena Heights, Nov. 8, before 10 notched points versus Goshen, Nov. 12. Most recently, eight found the box score against UMD, Nov. 14.
DOUBLE-DIGITS ALL AROUND: Five-or-more Eagles have contributed double-digit scoring efforts in each of the team's first three games, while six are averaging double digit scoring for the season.
Five EMU hoopsters registered double-digit points en route to a 72-59 win over Michigan-Dearborn in the squad's last game, Nov. 14.
"PUT ME IN, COACH": Eastern's bench scoring has outmatched that of its opponent in each of its first three contests, giving EMU a 48-point bench advantage in 2019, 114-66. In the Eagles' most recent contest against Michigan-Dearborn, Nov. 14, the Green and White tallied 28 points from its non-starting five, an effort that outmatched the opponent by seven. Additionally, freshman Chris James tied for the team lead in points scored, coming off the bench to score 15 points against UMD.
FRESHMEN CONTRIBUTIONS: Freshmen guards Chris James and Shamar Dillard have had no trouble adjusting to the college game. While the pair of newcomers have accounted for just 18 percent of the team's total minutes this season (110-of-600), they have accounted for 22 percent of the squad's total points (56-of-266). Additionally, James is one of just four Eagles to record double-digit scoring in each contest thus far, while Dillard has led the team in three pointers once, against Goshen, Nov. 12.
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. Through three games, Toure is averaging 13 points, and 10.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 73.9 percent from the floor, a career-best mark.
JAMES…CHRIS JAMES: Freshman guard Chris James is off to a great start in his freshman season. The Long Beach, Calif. native is averaging 13.3 points per game, the most by any freshman in the MAC, and has recorded double-digit points in each contest for the Eagles thus far.
OFFENSE FIRING EARLY: Through three games, EMU is averaging 88.7 points per game, the best through the first three games of a season in the nine-year Rob Murphy era. Eastern's points per game average currently ranks fourth in the MAC.
ON THE HORIZON: Following its trip to the Lone Star State, the Eagles will trek outside the United States, to Montego Bay, Jamaica, for the Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic, Nov. 22-24. While abroad, EMU will play two contests against UMBC, Nov. 22, and North Carolina A&T. Nov. 24. Each game will be broadcast live on the CBS Sports Network. For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU hoops, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team on social media, at @EMUHoops.
Players Mentioned
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