EMU Travels to Oxford, Ohio Saturday to Challenge Miami

Men's Basketball at Miami
Date	Saturday, Jan. 25 \| 2 p.m.
Venue	Oxford, Ohio \| Millett Hall
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Radio	WEMU 89.1
Twitter	@EMUHoops \| @EMUAthletics

OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team concludes a two-game road stretch, as the Eagles challenge Mid-American Conference East Division foe Miami University Saturday, Jan. 15. Game action is set for 2 p.m. inside Miami's Millett Hall.
   EMU (10-9, 0-6 MAC) continues to search for its first MAC victory of the season, as the Green and White have dropped six-straight conference matchups. The Eagles' second-half rally came short, as it fell to MAC cross-divisional opponent Bowling Green, 62-59, Jan. 21, inside BGSU's Stroh Center. Miami (8-11, 1-5 MAC) enters Saturday's game on a two-game losing streak after capturing its first conference win over Kent State, 77-74, Jan. 14. Most recently, the RedHawks fell to Akron, 81-60, Jan. 21, in Oxford, Ohio.
   Fans can watch the action on ESPN+ with Miami's Steve Baker and Randy Hollowell or listen to WEMU (89.1 FM) where Chad Bush will have the call. As always, fans can follow along on EMUEagles.com or on Twitter by following @EMUHoops.

AMONG THE LEADING LEADERS: Eastern Michigan leads both the nation and the Mid-American Conference in steals per game (11.2). EMU also ranks third among Division I teams in total steals with 212. The Eagles are forcing 18.4 turnovers per game, which leads the league and ranks ninth in the nation. EMU has attempted 431 free throws which leads the conference and ranks 34th in the in the nation. Eastern's scoring defense of 62.8 points per game ranks second in the conference behind Ball State (61.6 ppg).
   Individually, redshirt senior Boubacar Toure ranks second in the MAC with a 64.8 field goal percentage (79-of-122) and ranks third (49th nationally) with 3.2 offensive rebounds per game. The Dakar, Senegal native also ranks third in the conference with 26 blocks, and fourth with 166 total rebounds. Redshirt junior Ty Groce is leading the team with 40 steals, which ranks second in the MAC and 29th in the nation. The Ypsilanti, Mich. native also is tied-for-second in the league with 2.1 steals per contest.

NAIL-BITERS: Eastern Michigan has seen nail-biters slip from its fingers in the last four-of-five games, at Ohio (Jan. 7), at Northern Illinois (Jan. 11), versus Ohio (Jan. 18), and at Bowling Green (Jan. 21). EMU lost all four games with a margin of six-or-less points. Before MAC play, the Eagles boasted a 5-0 record in games decided by six-or-fewer.

SUITS AND SNEAKERS: Eastern Michigan men's basketball coaches and staff will participate in Coaches vs. Cancer: Suits and Sneakers at Miami, Jan. 25. This initiative, which started in 1993, is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Coaches and their staff across the nation wear sneakers with their suite during game to raise awareness, helping to save lives by fundraising and encouraging people to educate themselves about cancer prevention, screening, and early detection.
   This year's Coaches vs. Cancer Suite and Sneakers games will support childhood cancer research, service, and awareness, as well as promote cancer prevention efforts targeting children.

WE WANT MOR(GAN): Junior Noah Morgan has come alive as he has scored in double-figures in four-straight games (16 at Northern Illinois, Jan. 11; 14 vs. Ball State, Jan. 14; 23 vs. Ohio, Jan. 18; 16 at Bowling Green, Jan. 21). His 23 points against Ohio set a career-high and was his 10th double-digit scoring performance of the 2019-20 season. The junior has led the Eagles in scoring in 6-of-19 games, including leading the Green and White in the last three-of-four contests.
   Morgan leads the team averaging 13.8 points per game in MAC play, while averaging a team-best 11.4 points per contest for the season. He is shooting 41 percent (27-of-65) from the field in league play and is pulling down 4.3 rebounds per game.

TOURE IN MACTION: Boubacar Toure has started strong offensively and defensively in the Mid-American Conference portion of the 2019-20 campaign. The redshirt senior is averaging a double-double with 10.5 points and 10.8 rebounds in the six games so far in league play. Toure is one-of-two student-athletes in the MAC who are averaging a double-double in conference play. Toledo's Willie Jackson leads the league with 13.3 rebounds per game to go along with 13.3 points a game.
   Toure is shooting 61 percent from the floor (29-47) and has recorded nine blocks. The Dakar, Senegal native notched three double-doubles in MAC play and nearly missed another one at Ohio, Jan. 11. Toure's 10.8 rebounds per game ranks second in the conference, along with his 1.7 blocks per contest is good for second.

GIBBS MAKES DEBUT: Freshman Marcus Gibbs made his EMU debut against Ohio, Jan. 18, in nine minutes of play. The Detroit native pulled down his first career rebounds in a 60-58 loss against the Bobcats. Gibbs saw more game action at Bowling Green, Jan. 21, and scored his first collegiate points at the charity stripe to push the Eagles away by one before eventually falling to the Falcons by three (62-59). The freshman finished the evening in Bowling Green, Ohio with four points.

CRASHIN' THE BOARDS: Boubacar Toure has pulled down 10+ rebounds in nine games this season and has led the team in rebounding 14-of-19 games this year. The redshirt senior leads the team averaging 8.7 boards per game (166 total), including 5.6 defensive and 3.2 offensive rebounds per contest. In MAC play, Toure is averaging 10.8 boards to go along with 10.5 points per game.

DOUBLE-DIGIT DEDICATION: Junior Noah Morgan leads Eastern Michigan in scoring with 11.4 points per game, while redshirt junior Ty Groce is right behind him averaging 11.3 points per game, respectively. Groce is the only Eagle to reach double-digits in 12 game this year, while Morgan and junior Yeikson Montero have each tallied double figures in 11 games, respectively. Groce posted a career-high 23 points against Valpo, Dec. 3, while Montero scored a career-best 18 points at Ohio, Jan. 7. Morgan tallied a career-best 23 points against Ohio, Jan. 18.
   In MAC play, two Eagles are averaging in double-figures in Morgan (13.8) and redshirt senior Boubacar Toure (10.5). Montero and Groce are tallying 9.5 and 9.3 points per game, respectively, in the first six games of conference play.

FINDERS KEEPERS: The Eagles lead both the nation and Mid-American Conference with 11.2 steals per game. In-state foe Central Michigan is second in the league with 9.3. The Green and White have stolen the ball 212 times this season, including 10+ swipes in 11 games this season. The Eagles notched a season-high 22 steals against Goshen, Nov. 11, which leads the MAC for single-game performances, and 18 swipes versus Concordia, Dec. 30. The 15 steals against UMBC in the Jamaica Classic, Nov. 22, are tied for the most in Classic history.
   Redshirt junior Ty Groce leads the team with 2.1 steals per game (20 this season), which is tied-for-second in the MAC, followed closely by junior Yeikson Montero's 1.9 steals per game. Eight players have double-digit steals on the season, which includes EMU's primary starting-five: Groce (40), Montero (36), junior Noah Morgan (32), redshirt senior Boubacar Toure (25), junior Darion Spottsville (21), freshman Chris James (16), junior Chris Barnes (14), and junior Jalen King (10), respectively. Eastern Michigan is the only school in the MAC that has eight players with steals in double figures with Central Michigan and Kent State close behind with seven players each, respectively.

BLOCK PARTY: Eastern Michigan ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference with 61 blocks this season. Reshirt senior Boubacar Toure leads the team with 26 swats and is averaging 1.4 blocks per game, which is good for fourth in the conference. The Dakar, Senegal tied a career-high in blocks (4) against Detroit Mercy, Dec. 7. Junior Jalen King and redshirt junior Ty Groce also have tallied double-digit blocks this season with 14 and 12, respectively.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE: Despite a 62-59 loss at Bowling Green, Jan. 21, redshirt senior Boubacar Toure posted his sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and 13 rebounds. The Dakar, Senegal native has pulled down double-figure rebounds in nine games this year, including four of the last six games. The redshirt senior has led the Eagles on the boards in 14-of-19 games in the 2019-20 campaign. Toure has tallied 14 double-doubles in his EMU career.

versaTYle: Redshirt junior Ty Groce has proven to be a versatile player on the floor. He ranks second on the team with 214 points (11.3 ppg). The Ypsilanti, Mich. native has hit double-digits in 12 games during the 2019-20 campaign, and in five of the last eight games (10 at UC Irvine, Nov. 30; 23 vs. Valpo, Dec. 3; 16 at Detroit Mercy, Dec. 7; 10 vs. Northeastern, Dec. 17; 12 at UNLV, Dec. 28; 11 vs. Concordia, Dec. 30; 13 vs. Akron, Jan. 4; 12 at Ohio, Jan. 7; 17 vs. Ohio, Jan. 18).
   Groce has led the Green and White in scoring in eight games this season, including a career-high 23 points versus Valpo, Dec. 3. The guard also posted a career-best in rebounds (11) against UMBC, Nov. 22, in the Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic, dished out a career-high in assists (5) versus Concordia, Dec. 30, and tied his career-best in blocks (3) at North Texas, Nov. 16.
   In conference, the redshirt junior is recording 9.3 points per game to go along with 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals a contest.

PRESSURE LEADS TO TURNOVERS: The Eastern Michigan defense is forcing opponents to turn the ball over 18.4 times a game, which leads the MAC and ranks ninth among Division I teams. EMU also holds a +2.8 turnover margin (18.4-15.6), which is good for second in the league and 42nd in the NCAA. Eastern holds a 6-5 mark (11 games) when it forces more opponents turnovers.
   In addition, the EMU's defensive pressure has forced 20+ opponent turnovers in seven games this season. The Eagles are protecting the ball well as they have posted 10 games with 15 or less turnovers and two with less than 10.

SHUT 'EM DOWN: The Green and White ranks second in the MAC and 41st in the nation holding their opponents to 62.8 points per game. Ball State leads the conference in scoring defense (61.6 ppg). The Eagles have held eight opponents to under 55 points in 2019. This fierce defense has outscored the opposition by double-digits in five games this season.
   EMU has topped three opponents by 30+ points in the non-conference portion of its 2019-20 schedule (Siena Heights, Nov. 8; Goshen, Nov. 12; Concordia; Dec. 30). Eastern's largest victory margin was against Goshen when the Eagles won by 52 points (101-49). The 52-point margin is tied for fourth in the Rob Murphy era. The highest victory margin under Murphy is 62 points when the Eagles defeated Siena Heights, 117-55, Dec. 11, 2016, inside the Convocation Center. This victory margin (+62) and points scored (117) ranks first in the EMU record books.

DISHING DIMES: Five Eagles have tallied 25-or-more assists this season in juniors Noah Morgan (33) and Darion Spottsville (32), redshirt junior Ty Groce (31), junior Yeikson Montero (26), and redshirt junior Chris Barnes (25). Morgan leads the team with 1.7 helpers per game, while Spottsville, Groce and Montero are dishing out 1.7, 1.6, 1.4, and 1.3, respectively.
   Morgan posted five assists in back-to-back contests (vs. Siena Heights, Nov. 8; vs. Goshen, Nov. 12) to start the 2019-20 season and has also led the Eagles in assists five times this season. Spottsville registered seven of the team's 12 assists in the game against Concordia, Dec. 20, while Groce notched a career-high five helpers. Groce has led the Eagles in assists six times during the 2019-20 campaign, while Spottsville has notched a team-best in assists five times.

.500 OR BETTER: The Eagles have two players that are shooting 50 percent-or-better from the field. The Green and White are led by redshirt senior Boubacar Toure, hitting at 64.8 percent on 79-of-122 shooting, which ranks second among MAC players. Toure has shot over 70 percent from the field (min. seven attempts) in eight games this season. His season-high of 80.0 percent (8-of-10) was hit at Bowling Green, Jan. 21. The Dakar, Senegal native is followed by junior Jalen King at 50.0 percent (14-of-28). King drained five field-goals (on seven attempts) in the season-opener against Siena Heights, Nov. 8.

CHARITY STRIPE: The Eagles have found their way to the charity stripe 431 times so far this season, which ranks 34th in the nation and second in the MAC. EMU is averaging 22.7 free throw attempts per game, which ranks second in the league behind Central Michigan (22.9). Through 19 games in 2018, the Eagles attempted 320 free throws, which is 111 less from their current total. In fact, the Green and White have had more free-throw attempts than its opponent in 14 games this year.
   Converting those opportunities into points, junior Chris Barnes leads the team from the charity stripe, shooting 81.5 percent on 22-of-27, Barnes is followed by classmate Yeikson Montero and redshirt junior Ty Groce who hit 74 (37-50) and 72 (59-82) percent from the free-throw line, respectively.

TOURE TAKEOFF: Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure is shooting a team leading 64.8 percent (79-of-122) from the field this year, which ranks second in the MAC. He is averaging 3.2 offensive boards a game (60), which is good for third in the Mid-American Conference. The Dakar, Senegal native has notched nine double-figure scoring performances as well as pulling down 10+ boards in nine games this season. Toure leads the team with six double-doubles with his most recent performance (17 pts., 13 rebs.) at Bowling Green, Jan. 21.
   The redshirt senior has been efficient while shooting, but also anchors the Eagles' 2-3 zone, having tied his career-high in blocks (4) at Detroit Mercy, Dec. 7. The redshirt senior center is tied-for-third in the league with 1.4 blocks per game (26 total) and has totaled 25 steals.

LAST TIME OUT: A second-half rally was not enough for Eastern Michigan, as the Eagles dropped a nail-biter at Bowling Green State University, 62-59, Jan. 21, at BGSU's Stroh Center.
   The Eagles (10-9, 0-6 MAC) trailed by 49-41 with 10:20 to play in the second half, but responded with a 16-7 run over the next eight minutes to give EMU the one-point lead at 55-54. Junior Noah Morgan drained three of the four EMU baskets to tie up the contest at 51-all with 5:51 left to play. BGSU (13-5, 5-1 MAC) didn't give up as junior Trey Diggs knocked down a three-pointer to push the Falcons up by three. Freshman Marcus Gibbs propelled the Eagles to lead with 2:59 left in the game by scoring his first EMU career points at the charity stripe, but the Falcons closed on an 8-4 run to seal the three-point victory.
   Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure notched his sixth double-double of the season and 14th of his career, as he finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds to go along with three blocks. Toure went 8-of-10 from the field in 34 minutes of play. Morgan also reach double-figures for the 11th-time this year with 16 points and pulled down five rebounds and notched two steals.
   EMU posted a strong offensive performance as the Eagles shot nearly 45 percent (22-of-49) from the field compared to BGSU's 36.5 percent (23-of-63) efficiency. However, Eastern Michigan struggled from the three-point line, ending the game with a 12.5 clip (2-of-16), while the Falcons shot 28.6 percent (8-of-28) from deep. The Eagles held the rebounding advantage (38-36) and tallied nine steals while forcing 12 Falcon turnovers. EMU outscored Bowling Green in the following categories: points in the paint (34-20) and bench points (11-3).

ALL-TIME VS. MIAMI: Saturday's game marks the 77th meeting between Eastern Michigan and Miami. EMU trails The Redhawks, 50-26, in the all-time series, which dates back to the 1975-76 season. Miami earned the victory (59-48) during the 2018-19 season, which snapped a five-game winning streak for the Eagles. The Green and White hold a 7-3 advantage over the last 10 games and have won five of the last six contests over Miami. Games in Oxford, Ohio have not been favorable to Eastern Michigan, as the Eagles have only won seven times on the road. EMU is 7-4 against MU in the Rob Murphy era.

SCOUTING MIAMI: Led by third-year head coach Jack Owens, Miami enters Saturday's game coming off a 81-60 loss to Akron, Jan. 21. The RedHawks hold a 8-11 overall record and are 1-5 in the Mid-American Conference. Miami earned its first MAC victory over Kent State, 77-74, Jan. 14.
   MU is led by Nike Sibande and Dalonte Brown, who are averaging 14.1 and 12.2 points per game, respectively. Brown also leads the team pulling down 6.1 rebounds per game, while Isaiah Coleman-Lands has drained a team-best 33 three-pointers.
   Miami is averaging 74.7 points per game and are shooting 35.7 percent (511-1170) from the field, while holding opponents to 73.1 points per game. The RedHawks are dishing out 12.7 assists per game and forcing 12.6 opponent turnovers.

ALL-TIME VS. MAC: The Green and White hold a 337-428 program mark against Mid-American Conference teams. Eastern has played Central Michigan the most (195 times), while facing Western Michigan 111 times and Toledo 105 times. Since the 1974-75 season when Eastern started competing in the MAC, EMU has won four regular-season titles and four MAC Tournament titles (1988, 1991, 1996, 1998), which led to four NCAA Tournament appearances. Under Rob Murphy, the Eagles hold a 70-76 MAC record and clinched a MAC West title in 2012.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan will take a week off and will take on the Toledo Rockets Saturday, Feb. 1 inside the Convocation Center. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. The EMU coaching staff will be wearing puzzle piece pins to support and spread awareness for Autism Speaks.

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Players Mentioned

Chris Barnes

Marcus Gibbs

Ty Groce

Chris James

Jalen King

Yeikson Montero

Noah Morgan

Darion Spottsville

Boubacar Toure

Eastern Michigan Athletics