Men's Basketball Set to Open Season Against Siena Heights

Men's Basketball vs Siena Heights
Date	Friday, Nov. 8 \| 9:45 a.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center (8,754)
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Live Stats
Watch	ESPN3
Twitter	@EMUHOOPS \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team begins its 2019-20 season Friday, Nov. 8, with a morning contest against familiar foe Siena Heights University. Part of EMU's annual Education Day inside the Convocation Center, the game is the first leg of a doubleheader with the women's squad, and will tip off at 9:45 a.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Tom Helmer on play-by-play and Greg Steiner 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 72-49 record in season openers over its 121 seasons of basketball, including a 7-1 record in opening games during the Rob Murphy era. The Eagles beat Rochester College, 77-67, to open last year's campaign. Then redshirt junior Boubacar Toure started off his EMU career with his first double-double, tallying 15 points and a team-leading 15 boards.

ALL-TIME VS. SIENA HEIGHTS: The Eagles have a 4-0 all-time record against the Siena Heights Saints, having last played the Adrian, Mich.-based team during the 2018-19 season, earning a 90-27 victory. In 2016-17, former-Eagle James Thompson IV had 23 points in 21 minutes, helping EMU roll past the Saints, 11755. The initial two wins came in 2015-16 (79-34), and in 2012-13 (87-49). Eastern has shot better-than .500 in three of the four games against the Saints, and have averaged 93.3 points per game in the series.

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 seven of the last eight seasons, with a 7-0 record in those games. During this stretch, the Eagles have outscored their opponent, 514-383, averaging 73.4 points per game, and holding opponents to 54.7. This years home opener is Education Day at the Convocation Center, where young children are able to attend both a men's and women's basketball game instead of spending Friday couped up in the classroom. School included in the festivities are: Hutchinson Leadership Academy, Lincoln-King Academy, Lanigan Elementary, Barton Elementary, YCS High School, David Ellis Academy, Nichols Elementary/Middle, Henderson Academy, Washington Parks-Academy, Pathways to Success, Art & Technology Academy of Pontiac, Dossin Elementary and Middle Schools, Washtenaw County Children Services, YCS Middle, Charles Wright Academy, Bagley School of Jourrnalism and Tech., Childs Elementary, West Village Academy, and Madison-Carver Academy.

LAST TIME VS. SHU: The last meeting between EMU and SHU resulted in an 18-point victory for the Eagles, 90-72, on Dec. 12, 2018. The Green and White used their size advantage in the matchup and tallied 50 points in the paint, while shooting 48.5 percent (33-68) from the floor, and outrebounding the Saints, 45-31. Eastern Michigan had six players reach double-digits in points, including returner and then redshirt sophomore Ty Groce, who scored 10 points to go with his four assists, five rebounds, and a block. The team also saw a season-high that night as they recorded 13 steals to top the year.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: EMU has won 102 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 195-125 record on the home court.

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
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, totalling 22 rebounds and 19 points, in 2018-19.

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.

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 Southwest Florida State, where he spent one season, averaging 8.9 points per game on 48 percent shooting from the floor and 41 perecent 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.

ON THE HORIZON: The Eagles look ahead to Goshen College at home on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. Eastern Michigan has only played the Maple Leafs on one other occasion, Nov. 11, 2018, resulting in a 97-74 win. Then-redshirt junior Boubacar Toure was one of four Eagles with double-digit points with 10, while also snagging seven rebounds. The Green and White were able to hold Goshen to a 38.7 shooting percentage, while hitting 56.7 percent from the field, while scoring 60 points in the paint and getting 49 points off the bench.

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Players Mentioned

Chris Barnes

Thomas Binelli

Miles Gibson

Ty Groce

Jalen King

Yeikson Montero

Noah Morgan

Darion Spottsville

James Thompson IV

Boubacar Toure

Eastern Michigan Athletics