Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Men's Basketball Gears Up for the 2020-21 Season
11/18/2020 9:34:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Eagles will begin the 122nd year of EMU basketball
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – After nearly eight months without collegiate athletic events, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team looks to begin the 2020-21 season. Head Coach Rob Murphy will be at the helm of the program for his 10th season after a 2019-20 campaign that ended after the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
In 10 seasons, Murphy holds a 160-143 overall record (76-82 MAC), which ranks second in the Division I era of EMU hoops behind Ben Braun (185 wins). Eastern posted a 16-16 overall record last season and went undefeated in the Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic taking the Rose Hall Division trophy back to Ypsilanti, winning an in-season tournament for the first time since 2014. The Green and White posted its best 10-game opening stretch to a season in the Murphy era going 9-1 before dropping a non-conference affair at Michigan State, Dec. 21. The hot-start matched the 1996-97 squad who reached the MAC championship game, ultimately losing to Miami.
Remaining on staff is Associate Head Coach Kevin Mondro, who enters his 10th season at EMU and fourth as second in command, alongside fourth-year assistant coach Matt Cline. Joining the staff for the 2020-21 season is assistant coach Tony Harvey. Harvey returns to Ypsilanti after a three-year stint with the University of Illinois-Chicago as an assistant.
This year, the Green and White welcome four transfers and one walk-on to Ypsilanti, many of whom will look to make an immediate impact on the court. The roster also features seven returning letterwinners, including last season's leading scorer, redshirt senior Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln).
GUARDS
The Eagles welcome back four returning guards to their 2020-21 roster, highlighted by seniors Yeikson Montero (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-Redemption Christian Academy (Pensacola State)), Noah Morgan (Mount Vernon, N.Y.-Mount Vernon (Northwest Florida State)), and Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)).
In 2019, Montero appeared in all 32 games, making 29 starts for the Green and White. The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native averaged 9.4 points per game and tallied 15 double-figure scoring efforts leading EMU in scoring five times. Montero's 1.8 steals per game co-led the team and was tied for third in the MAC. The 6-foot-5 guard notched a career-high 26 points, including five triples, against Toledo, Feb. 1.
Playing at guard as well as forward, Morgan saw action in all 32 games with 18 starts. He averaged 10.0 points per game and recorded at least one steal in 23 games last season. The Mount Vernon, N.Y. product dropped a career-high 30 points at Kent State, March 9, which was the first time an Eagle reached the 30-point plateau since Raven Lee's 50 points at Central Michigan, Feb. 28, 2017.
Spottsville, the primary floor general for the Eagles last season, started 29 games for the Green and White and led the team with 77 assists (2.4 apg). The Phoenix, Ariz. native dished out at least two assists in 24 games in 2019-20 and posted a career-high seven dimes at Detroit Mercy, Dec. 7.
Sophomore Chris James (Long Beach, Calif.-St. John Bosco) returns after playing in 27 games last season, while redshirt junior Miles Gibson (Richmond, Va.-Milwood (Northwest Kansas Tech)) will look to earn time on the court after earning a redshirt.
Eastern welcomes two transfers to its 2020-21 roster in sophomore Drew Lowder (Jackson, Mich.-Ann Arbor Pioneer (Holy Cross)) and junior Bryce McBride (Jackson, Tenn.-Southside (Dyersburg State C.C.)). Lowder averaged 14.1 points per game with a 43.6 field-goal percentage (65-of-149) last season for the Crusaders, while McBride was named an NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention and shot 52.8 percent from the field.
The Eagles also added walk-on freshman Andrew Wells (East Lansing, Mich.-East Lansing (International Sports Academy)) to their 2020-21 roster.
FORWARDS
EMU will see two starters from the 2019-20 squad return for the 2020-21 campaign in Groce and senior Thomas Binelli (Bologna, Italy-Bergen Catholic (Monroe College)). The two veterans will lead the charge for the forwards.
Groce, Eastern's leading scorer last season, started all 32 games and averaged 11.5 points per game. He co-led the team with 56 steals and finished eighth in the MAC with 26 total blocks. The Ypsilanti, Mich. native recorded his first career double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds at Central Michigan, Feb. 11.
EMU's sharpshooter, Binelli appeared in 25 games and led the Eagles with 57 three-pointers, shooting at 31.3 percent. The Bologna, Italy native led the team in threes-made 13 times in 2019-20, and scored a career-high 26 points against Northern Illinois, Feb. 25.
Returners redshirt junior Derek Ballard Jr. (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield-Lathrup) and redshirt freshman Luis Pacheco (Queens, N.Y.-Crestwood Prep) should both make an impact in the paint for the Eagles this year. Ballard Jr. saw game time in 18 games in 2019-20, while Pacheco earned a redshirt.
The Green and White added two forward transfers to the 2020-21 roster over the summer in redshirt senior James Love III (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-American Heritage (Kansas State)) and senior Axel Okongo (Saacy-sur-Marne, France-Thetford Prep Academy (Missouri)). Love missed the majority of the 2019-20 season with KSU due to injury, while Okongo appeared in eight games for the Tigers, averaging 3.8 minutes per game off the bench.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU men's basketball, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team's official Twitter at Twitter.com/EMU_MBB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/EMUMBB, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/emumbb.
In 10 seasons, Murphy holds a 160-143 overall record (76-82 MAC), which ranks second in the Division I era of EMU hoops behind Ben Braun (185 wins). Eastern posted a 16-16 overall record last season and went undefeated in the Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic taking the Rose Hall Division trophy back to Ypsilanti, winning an in-season tournament for the first time since 2014. The Green and White posted its best 10-game opening stretch to a season in the Murphy era going 9-1 before dropping a non-conference affair at Michigan State, Dec. 21. The hot-start matched the 1996-97 squad who reached the MAC championship game, ultimately losing to Miami.
Remaining on staff is Associate Head Coach Kevin Mondro, who enters his 10th season at EMU and fourth as second in command, alongside fourth-year assistant coach Matt Cline. Joining the staff for the 2020-21 season is assistant coach Tony Harvey. Harvey returns to Ypsilanti after a three-year stint with the University of Illinois-Chicago as an assistant.
This year, the Green and White welcome four transfers and one walk-on to Ypsilanti, many of whom will look to make an immediate impact on the court. The roster also features seven returning letterwinners, including last season's leading scorer, redshirt senior Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln).
GUARDS
The Eagles welcome back four returning guards to their 2020-21 roster, highlighted by seniors Yeikson Montero (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-Redemption Christian Academy (Pensacola State)), Noah Morgan (Mount Vernon, N.Y.-Mount Vernon (Northwest Florida State)), and Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)).
In 2019, Montero appeared in all 32 games, making 29 starts for the Green and White. The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native averaged 9.4 points per game and tallied 15 double-figure scoring efforts leading EMU in scoring five times. Montero's 1.8 steals per game co-led the team and was tied for third in the MAC. The 6-foot-5 guard notched a career-high 26 points, including five triples, against Toledo, Feb. 1.
Playing at guard as well as forward, Morgan saw action in all 32 games with 18 starts. He averaged 10.0 points per game and recorded at least one steal in 23 games last season. The Mount Vernon, N.Y. product dropped a career-high 30 points at Kent State, March 9, which was the first time an Eagle reached the 30-point plateau since Raven Lee's 50 points at Central Michigan, Feb. 28, 2017.
Spottsville, the primary floor general for the Eagles last season, started 29 games for the Green and White and led the team with 77 assists (2.4 apg). The Phoenix, Ariz. native dished out at least two assists in 24 games in 2019-20 and posted a career-high seven dimes at Detroit Mercy, Dec. 7.
Sophomore Chris James (Long Beach, Calif.-St. John Bosco) returns after playing in 27 games last season, while redshirt junior Miles Gibson (Richmond, Va.-Milwood (Northwest Kansas Tech)) will look to earn time on the court after earning a redshirt.
Eastern welcomes two transfers to its 2020-21 roster in sophomore Drew Lowder (Jackson, Mich.-Ann Arbor Pioneer (Holy Cross)) and junior Bryce McBride (Jackson, Tenn.-Southside (Dyersburg State C.C.)). Lowder averaged 14.1 points per game with a 43.6 field-goal percentage (65-of-149) last season for the Crusaders, while McBride was named an NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention and shot 52.8 percent from the field.
The Eagles also added walk-on freshman Andrew Wells (East Lansing, Mich.-East Lansing (International Sports Academy)) to their 2020-21 roster.
FORWARDS
EMU will see two starters from the 2019-20 squad return for the 2020-21 campaign in Groce and senior Thomas Binelli (Bologna, Italy-Bergen Catholic (Monroe College)). The two veterans will lead the charge for the forwards.
Groce, Eastern's leading scorer last season, started all 32 games and averaged 11.5 points per game. He co-led the team with 56 steals and finished eighth in the MAC with 26 total blocks. The Ypsilanti, Mich. native recorded his first career double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds at Central Michigan, Feb. 11.
EMU's sharpshooter, Binelli appeared in 25 games and led the Eagles with 57 three-pointers, shooting at 31.3 percent. The Bologna, Italy native led the team in threes-made 13 times in 2019-20, and scored a career-high 26 points against Northern Illinois, Feb. 25.
Returners redshirt junior Derek Ballard Jr. (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield-Lathrup) and redshirt freshman Luis Pacheco (Queens, N.Y.-Crestwood Prep) should both make an impact in the paint for the Eagles this year. Ballard Jr. saw game time in 18 games in 2019-20, while Pacheco earned a redshirt.
The Green and White added two forward transfers to the 2020-21 roster over the summer in redshirt senior James Love III (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-American Heritage (Kansas State)) and senior Axel Okongo (Saacy-sur-Marne, France-Thetford Prep Academy (Missouri)). Love missed the majority of the 2019-20 season with KSU due to injury, while Okongo appeared in eight games for the Tigers, averaging 3.8 minutes per game off the bench.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU men's basketball, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team's official Twitter at Twitter.com/EMU_MBB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/EMUMBB, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/emumbb.
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