Men's Hoops Set to Host Olivet and Central Michigan

Men's Basketball vs. Olivet College & Central Michigan
Date	Sunday, Dec. 27 \| 2 p.m. ET	Tuesday, Dec. 29 \| 7 p.m. ET
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Game Program	EMU Notes \| Game Program
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	N/A	ESPN3
Radio	N/A	WEMU (89.1FM) \| TuneIn Radio \| Podcast
Twitter	@EMU_MBB \| @EMUAthletics	@EMU_MBB \| @EMUAthletics
Attendance Information	No general public attendance will be allowed	No general public attendance will be allowed

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team begins a three-game homestand after a 18-day break when the Eagles host Division III opponent Olivet College Sunday, Dec. 27, and Mid-American Conference in-state rival Central Michigan, Tuesday, Dec. 29 inside the Convocation Center. Tipoff against the Comets is slated for 2 p.m., while the game against the Chippewas will begin at 7 p.m.
   The Eagles (1-2, 0-1 MAC) marked their first tally in the win column in this young season, taking care of business against Adrian College, Dec. 9, 95-35. Olivet (0-1 0-0 MIAA) played its first game of the 2020-21 campaign and fell 127-66 at Central Michigan, Dec. 20. However, the Chippewas (4-4, 0-1 MAC) opened the MAC schedule with a 76-61 loss at Western Michigan, Dec. 18, but rolled past the Comets, 127-66, Dec. 20.
   The game against Olivet will not be broadcast on ESPN3 or on WEMU (89.1 FM). Tuesday's game against CMU will air on ESPN3 with Ryan Wooley providing the play-by-play and Matt Dery serving as the analyst. WEMU will also air the game against the Chippewas with Tom Helmer on the call. As always, fans can follow along on EMUEagles.com/livestats or on Twitter by following @EMU_MBB.

AMONG THE LEADERS: Eastern Michigan leads the Mid-American Conference in four statistical categories: steals per game (12.0), turnovers forced (19.0), turnover margin (+6.0), and blocks per game (4.7). The Eagles' 12.0 swipes per contest also ranks third in the NCAA.
   Individually, redshirt senior Ty Groce leads the conference and is seventh among Division I student-athletes with 3.0 blocks per game. The Ypsilanti, Mich. native also ranks second in the MAC in total blocks (9); which is also good for 88th in the nation. Junior Bryce McBride is tied for first in the MAC and eighth in the country in steals per game (3.0). The Jackson, Tenn. native also ranks seventh in the league with 3.7 assists per contest.

HISTORIC WIN: Eastern posted a historic 95-35 victory over Adrian, Dec. 9, inside the Convocation Center. The 60-point scoring margin tied for the most in men's basketball history for the Convo.
   The Eagles also scored 64 points in the first half, which ranks second in the Convocation Center record book for men's basketball. Additionally, the scoring margin at halftime was +45 points with the Eagles leading 64-19, which ranks first as a half-only record in the Convocation Center for men's basketball.

GETTIN' BUCKETS: In EMU's 95-35 victory over Adrian, Dec. 9, six Eagles scored in double figures. The Green and White was led by junior Bryce McBride, who scored a career-high 25 points, while sophomore Chris James reached a career-best 19 points. Redshirt senior Ty Groce added 15 points, while redshirt junior Miles Gibson, and seniors Yeikson Montero and Darion Spottsville totaled 13, 11, and 10, respectively.
   The last time the Eagles had six players reach double-digits was when EMU defeated Goshen, 101-49, Nov. 12, 2019.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE: Redshirt junior Miles Gibson and senior Yeikson Montero both posted double-doubles in a 95-35 victory over Adrian, Dec. 9. Gibson tallied career-highs in both points (13) and rebounds (13), while Montero added 11 points and 12 rebounds. That was the first time during the 2020-21 season an Eagle, let alone two, recorded a double-double in a game.
   Then-redshirt junior Ty Groce (22 pts., 12 rebs.) and former Eagle Boubacar Toure (20 pts., 13 rebs.) were the last pair in the Green and White to reach this feat, Feb. 11, 2020. Groce and Toure are the first EMU players to each notch a double-double and score 20-plus points in the same game since 2017 when James Thompson IV and Elijah Minnie reached 20+ points and double-digit rebounds against Oakland, Dec. 6, 2017.

5, 15, 25...35?: Increasing your scoring total 10 points per game is a tall task, unless you're junior Bryce McBride. The JUCO transfer scored five points in his Division I debut at No. 13/12 MSU, Nov. 25, then followed that with his first double-figure scoring performance with 15 points against UT, Dec. 4. Most recently against Adrian, Dec. 9, McBride continued to elevate, scoring 25 points.

BLOCK PARTY: Eastern Michigan ranks second in the Mid-American Conference averaging 4.7 blocks per game (14 total) through the first three games this season. The Eagles totaled a season-high eight blocks in a 95-35 win over Adrian, Dec. 9.
   Redshirt senior Ty Groce leads the MAC averaging 3.0 blocks per game, which is also good for seventh in the NCAA. The Ypsilanti, Mich. native recorded a career-high four blocks against the Bulldogs, Dec. 9.

THE CHARITY STRIPE GIVES BACK: The Eagles are taking it to the rack this season, using their athleticism to put opponents in difficult situations. The squad is capitalizing on those opportunities as they have improved in free throw shooting, boasting a 73.8 percent (48-of-68), compared to 65.1 percent (56-of-86) at this point last season.

WELL, WELL, WELLS: Freshman walk-on Andrew Wells made his collegiate debut Wednesday, Dec. 9 against Adrian. The East Lansing, Mich. native played 15 minutes in the contest, scoring his first basket with 1:15 left in the game with a pull-up jumper. Wells added three rebounds and a steal to his statline.

PROTECTING THE BALL: Eastern Michigan started the 2020-21 season protecting the rock as they have only committed 39 turnovers in the first three games of the season. Their 39 TOs ranks second in the MAC for fewest turnovers.
   EMU committed just nine turnovers in a 83-76 loss to No. 13 Michigan State, Nov. 25. Out of the seven EMU student-athletes who played at MSU, four of them committed one turnover or less.

KEEPING IT 100: Keeping his free throw percentage at 100, redshirt junior Miles Gibson has made 6-of-6 from the charity stripe this season, tying for first with two others in the MAC. Last season, former Eagle Chris Barnes was the last conference player to remain perfect from the line (16-of-16), not missing his first free throw until Northeastern, Dec. 17, 2019.

.500 OR BETTER: Three Eagles are shooting 50 percent-or-better from the field to start the 2020-21 season. EMU is led by senior Darion Spottsville who is hitting 64.3 percent on 9-of-14 shooting, as well as scoring in double-figures twice so far this year. His field-goal percentage ranks third in the Mid-American Conference.
   Redshirt senior Ty Groce and sophomore Chris James are also shooting over 50 percent with a 52.8 clip (19-of-36) and 50.0 percent efficiency (6-of-12), respectively. Groce has scored in double-figures in every game so far this season, while James notched a career-high 19 points, on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting, against Adrian, Dec. 9.

STEAL MACHINES: Eastern Michigan is known for their tenacious defense and giving opponents fits and the 2020-21 season is no different. The Eagles are averaging 12.0 steals per game, which leads the Mid-American Conference and ranks third in the NCAA.
   Junior Bryce McBride leads the team with nine steals (3.0 spg), while senior Yeikson Montero and redshirt senior Ty Groce have tallied eight and six, respectively. McBride's 3.0 steals per game lead the MAC and ranks eighth in the nation. The Jackson, Tenn. native and Montero tallied a team-high six steals in a 95-35 victory over Adrian, Dec. 9, which ranks tied for sixth for a single-game in the EMU record books.

TYrant: Redshirt senior Ty Groce has played a great deal of center so far this season for the first time in his career, emerging as a tyrant protecting the rim. Groce ranks first in the Mid-American Conference in total blocks (9.0) and blocks per game (3.0), which are tied for 88th and seventh in the nation, respectively.

CRASHIN' THE BOARDS: With the loss of former Eagle Boubacar Toure to graduation last season, Eastern Michigan has had to look for players to step into the rebounding role. This season, multiple Eagles have stepped up with three players averaging five-or-more rebounds per game. Senior Yeikson Montero leads the team averaging 8.3 boards per game, while redshirt junior Miles Gibson and redshirt senior Ty Groce are grabbing 7.0 and 5.0, respectively.
   Montero has led the Green and White in rebounding twice this year, including one game with 10-plus boards. The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native's 8.3 rebounds per game ranks fifth in the Mid-American Conference. Gibson has also led the team once in rebounds with a career-high 13 boards coming in the 95-35 victory over Adrian, Dec. 9.

100th CAREER GAME: The Friday, Dec. 4, game against Toledo marked redshirt senior Ty Groce's 100th career game in a Eastern Michigan uniform. Against the Rockets, he registered a team-leading 21 points, as well as six rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and two assists.
   Over his career, the Ypsilanti, Mich. native is averaging 7.0 points per game and is leading the team in scoring (16.7 ppg). Groce is shooting a 41.5 career field goal percentage (242-of-583) and is inching his way into the EMU record books in career steals (119). The forward needs six more swipes to rank 10th in program history.

SETTLING IN: Junior college transfer Bryce McBride from Dyersburg Community College (Tenn.) is settling in well in Ypsilanti, averaging 15.0 points per game on 13-of-29 (44.8) shooting from the field, and is 5-of-13 (38.5) from beyond the arc, while averaging 28.7 minutes a game. The newcomer leads the team in assists and steals with 11 and nine, respectively. The junior's 11 steals is good for first in the MAC and t-28th in the nation.
   McBride is currently fifth in the Mid-American Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.2), and seventh in assists per game (3.7). The Jackson, Tenn. native tallied four assists in the game against Adrian, Dec. 9, tying his career-high.

COMBINED WINS: Eastern Michigan men's basketball has tallied 204 victories in the Convocation Center since it opened for the 1998-99 season. The Eagles notched their 200th win in the Convo with a 66-62 win over Buffalo, Feb. 4, 2020.
   The Convocation Center's dedication game was on Dec. 9, 1998 with a men's basketball game against the University of Michigan in front of a crowd of 7,647 - the largest attendance since its opening. The EMU men's and women's basketball programs have a combined 394 victories inside the Convo - the women's program has accumulated 190 wins since 1998-99.
   On the anniversary of the Convo dedication, Dec. 9, 2020, Eastern put up the largest margin of victory (+60) for a men's squad inside the building, trouncing Adrian College, 95-35.

EXECUTING OFF TURNOVERS: Eastern Michigan's defense is picking up speed as the season continues, tallying 21 steals against Adrian, Dec. 9, and scoring 33 points off the Bulldogs 29 turnovers. Those 21 steals against the AC ranks third for a team single-game in the Eastern record books.
   Over their first three games of the season, the Eagles have forced their opponents to turn the ball over 19 times on average, which leads the MAC and is 14th in the country.
   Eastern Michigan's defense was in full force despite the 83-67 loss to No. 13/12 Michigan State, Nov. 25. The Eagles also capitalized off 18 Spartan turnovers by scoring 29 points off those takeaways.

SHARING THE WEALTH: Despite not having a full team at Michigan State, Nov. 25, six of the seven Eagles who played scored five-plus points in a 83-67 loss to the Spartans. Senior Yeikson Montero led EMU with 16 points, shooting 7-of-11 from the field, while redshirt senior Ty Groce and classmate Darion Spottsville added 14 and 12, respectively. Making their EMU debuts, redshirt junior Miles Gibson notched 11 points, and sophomore Drew Lowder and junior Bryce McBride tallied 9 and 5, respectively.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: EMU has won 110-of-144 games at home during the Rob Murphy era, and started last season 6-0 at the Convocation Center. Under coach Murphy, the Eagles have opened the season 6-0 at home in six of his first nine seasons as head coach. EMU posted a 7-0 start in the Convo in three seasons (2014-15; 2016-17; 2017-18).

MAKING THEIR DEBUT: Three Eagles suited up for the first time in the Green and White at Michigan State, Nov. 25 - redshirt junior Miles Gibson, junior Bryce McBride, and sophomore Drew Lowder.
   Gibson played 31 minutes and recorded a double-figure scoring performance with 11 points. The Richmond, Va. native grabbed four rebounds and added a steal. McBride was the team's assist leader at MSU with four helpers, while he posted five points with three boards and two steals. Lowder tallied nine points to go along with three dimes, two steals, and two rebounds.
   Senior Axel Okongo and redshirt senior James Love III made their EMU debut against Toledo, Dec. 4. Okongo scored two points, while Love III dished out an assist.

LAST TIME OUT: Eastern Michigan trounced Adrian College to earn its first victory of the 2020-21 season as it defeated the Bulldogs 95-35, Dec. 9, inside the Convocation Center.
   Two Eagles registered double-doubles with redshirt junior Miles Gibson (13 points, 13 rebounds) and senior Yeikson Montero (11 points, 12 rebounds). For EMU, this is the first time two Eagles have earned double-doubles since then-redshirt junior Ty Groce (22 points, 13 rebounds) and former Eagle Boubacar Toure (20 points, 13 rebounds) did so against Central Michigan, Feb. 11, 2020.
   Junior Bryce McBride paced the Eagles with career-highs in points (25), made field goals (7), made free-throws (9), and steals (6). Sophomore Chris James also had himself a night, as he recorded a career-best in points (19), made free-throws (7), and shot perfectly from the hardwood (5-for-5). On the defensive end, the California native impeded two Bulldogs' shots to pick up his first-ever blocks. Senior Darion Spottsville scored in double-figures as well, putting up 10 points, three rebounds, and three helpers.

SCOUTING OLIVET: Led by second-year head coach Sam Hargraves, Olivet enters Sunday's game coming off a 127-66 loss at Central Michigan, Dec. 20. The game against the Chippewas was Olivet's first game of the 2020-21 season.
   The Comets are led by Derrick Johnson, who is averaging 26.0 points per game and has drained a team-high five triples. Eddie Thigpen is also averaging double-digits with 14.0 points per game. Johnson is grabbing a team-best 6.0 rebounds per game, while Britton Angell has notched 3.0 steals a contest.
   Olivet is averaging 66.0 points per game and shooting 31.9 percent from the field. On the defensive side, OC is giving up 127.0 points per game and forcing 13.0 opponent turnovers.

ALL-TIME VS. OLIVET: Sunday's game will be the 19th meeting between Eastern Michigan and Olivet with the series dating back to the 1910-11 season. EMU holds the series advantage at 14-4 and has not played the Comets in 86 years (since the 1933-34 season). The Green and White posted a 32-23 victory over OC in the last game played in the series on Feb. 10, 1934.
   EMU posted a six-game winning streak to begin the series in 1911 and holds a 8-2 mark over the last 10 games.

ALL-TIME VS. MIAA: The Green and White holds a 188-105 program mark against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) teams. Eastern has played Adrian the most at 57 times, while facing Alma and Albion 56 and 53 times, respectively.
   The Eagles have played seven of the nine MIAA programs, with the best records against Adrian (45-12), Albion (38-15), and St. Mary's (32-13). EMU will add another MIAA team to its opponents list when it faces Calvin College for the first time in program history, Jan. 14.

SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Led by ninth-year head coach Keno Davis, Central Michigan enters Tuesday's game coming off a 127-66 victory over Olivet, Dec. 20. CMU holds a 4-4 overall record and a 0-1 mark in Mid-American Conference play.
   Central Michigan is led by Travon Broadway Jr., who is averaging 15.0 points per game. Caleb Huffman is also averaging double-figures with 13.0 points per game, while Meikkel Murray and Devontae Lane are adding 11.4 and 10.5, respectively. Murray is grabbing a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game, and Lane has dished out 23 assists.
   The Chippewas are averaging 82.9 points per game and shooting 36.0 percent from beyond the arc. On the defensive side, the Maroon and Gold are holding opponents to 74.4 points per game and forcing 16.5 turnovers. CMU's 10.3 steals per game ranks second behind Eastern's 12.0.

LAST TIME VS. CMU: Eastern Michigan trailed by double-digits with less than five minutes left in regulation when the Eagles rallied to earn a 67-63 Senior Day win over Central Michigan, Feb. 29, 2020.
   Former Eagle BoubacarToure concluded his final regular-season home game with 13 points and a team-high 14 rebounds for his 20th double-double as an Eagle, while setting a career-high with five blocks. Then-junior Yeikson Montero paced EMU with 17 points, matching a career-high with five triples, while tying for the team lead with three steals. Then-redshirt junior Ty Groce also reached double-digits in points, ending the afternoon with 14 points, while adding six boards, three steals, and a trio of assists.
   Meanwhile, then-junior Thomas Binelli totaled seven points, seven rebounds, and a couple helpers, while then-junior Darion Spottsville showed three points, three helpers, and one rebound. In total, 11 Eagles notched at least one point, while 10 made a minimum of one field goal.
   EMU finished the afternoon with a 40.7 (22-of-54) field-goal percentage, while CMU (13-16, 6-10 MAC) went 40.4 percent (23-of-57) from the floor. The Eagles also bested the Chippewas in the paint, 34-22, and tallied more blocks (6-to-1), fast-break points (6-to-0), and steals (10-to-6).

ALL-TIME VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Tuesday's game will be the 198th meeting between Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan. EMU has met CMU the most out of any school in the Mid-American Conference with the series dating back to 1906 (115 years). The Chippewas hold the all-time series advantage with a 102-95 mark. EMU notched both wins of the 2019-20 season series with the most recent victory coming on Feb. 29, 2020, when the Eagles topped the Chippewas, 67-63.
   The Green and White is 8-2 against CMU over the last 10 games, and boasts a 12-7 record in the Rob Murphy era. The Eagles have won three of the last four games in the Convo and hold a 60-48 overall record against the Chippewas in Ypsilanti.

ALL-TIME VS. THE MAC: The Green and White holds a 346-438 program mark against Mid-American Conference teams. Eastern has played Central Michigan the most (197 times), while facing Western Michigan 113 times and Toledo 108 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 76-83 MAC record and clinched a MAC West title in 2012.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan will begin the New Year with a Mid-American Conference matchup against Kent State Saturday, Jan. 2 inside the Convocation Center. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. and will be the backend of a doubleheader with the EMU women's basketball team.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Chris Barnes

Thomas Binelli

Miles Gibson

Ty Groce

Chris James

James Love III

Drew Lowder

Bryce McBride

Elijah Minnie

Yeikson Montero

Axel Okongo

Darion Spottsville

James Thompson IV

Boubacar Toure

Andrew Wells

Eastern Michigan Athletics