Men's Hoops Set to Host Central Michigan Saturday

Men's Basketball vs. Central Michigan
Date	Saturday, Feb. 29 \| Noon
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN3
Radio	WEMU 89.1
Twitter	@EMUHoops \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team will conclude a two-game homestand, as the Eagles host in-state rival Central Michigan University Saturday, Feb. 29, in a Mid-American Conference West Division showdown. Tipoff is slated for noon inside the Convocation Center for the home regular-season finale.
   Eastern Michigan (15-13, 5-10 MAC) was dealt a heartbreak loss to Northern Illinois, 73-71, Feb. 25. The Eagles led the entire game until the final seconds when NIU's Eugene German launched a deep three to seal the two-point victory for the Huskies. Central Michigan (13-14, 6-8 MAC) is on a six-game losing streak after dropping a 93-81 loss to MAC West foe Toledo, Feb. 25, in Mount Pleasant. The Chippewas will play at Miami Thursday, Feb. 27, in a make-up game from earlier this season.
   Fans can watch the action on ESPN3 with EMU's Tom Helmer and Alex Jewell or listen to WEMU (89.1 FM) where Chad Bush and Matt Dery will have the call. Fans can also follow along on EMUEagles.com or on Twitter by following @EMUHoops.

AMONG THE LEADERS: Eastern Michigan is tied for second in the nation and leads the Mid-American Conference in steals per game (10.1). SFA is first in the NCAA with 10.5 swipes per game with EMU, St. Johns (N.Y.), and Nicholls State following with 10.1, respectively. EMU also ranks first among Division I teams in total steals with 284. The Eagles are forcing 17.1 turnovers per game, which leads the league and ranks 15th in the nation. EMU has attempted 635 free throws which leads the conference and ranks 25th in the nation. Eastern's scoring defense of 62.6 points per game is good for second in the conference, with Ball State's 62.4 leading the way, respectively.
   Individually, redshirt senior Boubacar Toure leads the MAC with a 66.7 field goal percentage (132-of-198) and ranks second (32nd nationally) with 3.4 offensive rebounds per game. The Dakar, Senegal native is also fifth in the conference in rebounds per contest with 9.1. Redshirt junior Ty Groce is leading the team with 51 steals, which ranks second in the league and 53rd in the nation. Groce's 1.8 steals per game ranks third in the MAC and 66th among Division I student-athletes.

IF THE MAC TOURNAMENT STARTED TODAY: Eastern Michigan would be seeded 10th and play at No. 7 seed Central Michigan in the First Round of the MAC Tournament Monday, March 9. The Eagles downed the Chippewas, 73-70, in Mount Pleasant, Feb. 11, and will play CMU in the home regular-season finale, Feb. 29.

THANK YOU, BOUBACAR: Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure will play in the Green and White for the final time in the Convocation Center, Feb. 29. Toure joined Eastern Michigan after a two-year stint at Grand Canyon and made an immediate impact after arriving in Ypsilanti. In his 59 career games as an Eagle, the Dakar, Senegal native has tallied 575 points and pulled down 498 rebounds.
   He ranks first in EMU program history with a 65.9 field-goal percentage (240-of-364). Toure has recorded 19 double-doubles in his career and has led the Green and White in rebounding 30 times in an EMU uniform. Toure will graduate in the spring with a master's degree in sport management and plans to continue playing basketball at the professional level.

300th GAME: Eastern Michigan Head Coach Rob Murphy will coach his 300th career game when the Eagles host Central Michigan inside the Convocation Center, Feb. 29. Over the last nine years, Murphy has recorded a 159-140 record and helped guide the Green and White to a 2012 Mid-American Conference West Title.

NAIL-BITERS: Close games are no stranger to EMU, as it has seen contests down to the wire in 10 of the last 14 games. In all 10 games, the outcome has been decided with a margin of six-or-less points. Of those 10 games, six of them have been a three points or less scoring margin.
   Overall, 43 of the MAC's 83 (51.8 percent) conference games played this year have been decided by six-or-fewer points. Of those 43 games, over half (51.1 percent; 22 games) has been decided by three points or less.

HOT SPARK FROM BINELLI: Junior Thomas Binelli sparked the offense from downtown with a career-high 26 points, including six triples in the 73-71 loss to Northern Illinois, Feb. 25. The forward went 7-of-14 from the field to go along with five rebounds and a steal in 36 minutes against the Huskies. Binelli is the first Eagle to knock down least six triples in a game since Feb. 28, 2017 when former EMU great Raven (Ray) Lee drained 10 from deep at Central Michigan.
   The Bologna, Italy native has tallied nine double-figure scoring performance and has led the Green and White in three-pointers 11 times this season. Binelli has tallied 50 triples this year and has made at least three 3's in nine contests during the 2019-20 campaign. The junior ranks 10th in the MAC with 2.4 triples per game, and is 29th with a 33.6 3-point field goal percentage (50-of-149).

SHARING THE WEALTH: Eastern Michigan has had four Eagles score in double-figures in three of the last five games (Central Michigan, Feb. 11; Western Michigan, Feb. 15; Northern Illinois, Feb. 25). Despite the 73-71 heartbreaking loss to NIU, the Green and White still had four players produce offensively in double-digits. Junior Thomas Binelli paced all Eagles with a career-high 26 points, while redshirt junior Ty Groce tallied 12 points. Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure and junior Darion Spottsville added 11 and 10, respectively.
   In the 69-51 victory over WMU, Toure led the way with 17 points. Freshman Chris James and junior Noah Morgan each added 15, while Spottsville tallied 10, respectively. Against the Chippewas, Groce led the way with 22 points, while Toure totaled 20. Binelli and Morgan also scored double-figures with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
   EMU has had nine games this season where four-or-more Eagles score in double-figures, and five in MAC play (at Northern Illinois, Jan. 11; at Miami, Jan. 25; at Central Michigan, Feb. 11; vs. Western Michigan, Feb. 15; Northern Illinois, Feb. 25). In those eight games, Eastern Michigan holds a 6-3 record.

TURNING THE PAGE: Eastern's new game plan is working as the Eagles have won five of the last eight matchups. Over that span, EMU has a +4.8 scoring margin and held opponents to 60 points per game. In addition, the Eagles are shooting 47.4 percent (188-of-397) from the field, compared to its 38 percent clip during the first seven games of league play.
   On the defensive end, the Green and White are forcing 15.1 turnovers and holding their opponents to a 39.2 field goal percentage - eight percent less than the Eagles. The opposition is also struggling to convert beyond the arc, as teams are shooting 31.8 percent compared to the 36.0 clip over the first seven MAC games.
   Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure has led the team averaging 13.5 points per game with 9.6 rebounds over the last eight contests, while redshirt junior Ty Groce and junior Thomas Binelli has added 12.1 and 10.8, respectively.

DOUBLE-DIGIT WIN: The Eagles posted their second double-digit win over a Mid-American Conference team this season with a 70-49 victory Kent State, Feb. 18. The 21-point win is the third highest victory margin over the Golden Flashes since the all-time series started in 1950, and the eighth time EMU defeated KSU by double-figures.
   Eastern's first double-figure win over a conference team was against Western Michigan, when the Green and White topped the Broncos by 17 (69-51), Feb. 15. That victory was the first double-digit win over a Division I school since UMBC in the Jamaica Classic (62-45), Nov. 22. Ten of the 14 wins over the 2019-20 campaign, have been within six points-or-less.

FINDING THE GROOVE: With the 70-49 win over Kent State, Feb. 18, the Eagles shot 50 percent from the floor (23-of-46). This is the third time EMU has shot 50 percent or higher in MAC play this season. Eastern first found its groove inside the arc, when it shot 50 percent from the field (19-of-38) in a heartbreaking loss, 59-58, to Akron, Feb. 8. Two games later, the Green and White sparked its offense again and went 27-of-51 (52.9 percent) from the field in a 69-51 victory over in-state rival Western Michigan, Feb. 15.
   The Green and White have shot 50 percent-or-above in seven games during the 2019-20 campaign. Eastern Michigan's season-high is a 61.4 percent efficiency, when the Eagles downed Valparaiso, 85-79, Dec. 3.

SHARING THE BURDEN: Nine of the 10 Eagles who played against Kent State, Feb. 18, etched their names in the box score with at least two points. Five of those players scored eight-or-more points in the 70-49 victory over the Golden Flashes with three of those five who scored in double-figures (Ty Groce, 15; Thomas Binelli, 13; Boubacar Toure, 10). EMU has had five players score eight points or more in 10 games this season with four of those coming in conference play.

LOCK IT UP: Eastern Michigan's signature zone defense was on point in the 70-49 victory over Kent State, Feb. 15. Going into Tuesday's game, the Golden Flashes ranked first with a 45.3 field-goal percentage and shot above 45 percent in 14 games. The Eagle defense held the Flashes to its lowest shooting percentage in a game with a 29.1 clip (16-of-55).
   Eastern has held two teams to shooting less than 30 percent (23.2, Detroit Mercy, Dec. 7; 29.1, Kent State, Feb. 18) and holds a 13-6 mark when opponents shoot less than 45 percent.

EAGLES HOT STREAK: Eastern Michigan is on a hot streak in the second half of Mid-American Conference play, as the Eagles have won three of their last five conference games (at Central Michigan, Feb. 11; vs. Western Michigan, Feb. 15; vs. Kent State, Feb. 18) and are 5-3 over the last eight games.
   Over the last three wins, the Green and White are averaging 70.7 points per game, while holding opponents to 56.7 points per game (+14.0 scoring margin). EMU is shooting 50.7 percent (76-of-150) from the field, compared to its opponents only shooting a 36.8 clip.

ALL-TIME VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Tuesday's game will be the 197th 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 (114 years). The Chippewas hold the all-time series advantage with a 102-94 mark. EMU snapped a two-game losing streak with a 73-70 victory over the Maroon and Gold in the first game of the season series in Mount Pleasant, Feb. 11.
   The Green and White is 7-3 against CMU over the last 10 games, and boast a 11-7 record in the Rob Murphy era. The Eagles have won three of the last four games in the Convo and hold a 59-48 overall record against the Chippewas in Ypsilanti.

SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Led by eighth-year head coach Keno Davis, Central Michigan enters Saturday's game coming off a 93-81 loss versus Toledo, Feb. 25. The Chippewas have dropped the last six contests and are 13-14 overall with a 6-8 MAC mark. CMU will make up a league Thursday, Feb. 27, when the Chippewas play at Miami before traveling to Ypsilanti.
   Central Michigan is led by senior David DiLeo, who is averaging 15.0 points per game and has drained a team-best 73 three-pointers. Classmate Kevin McKay is also averaging double-figures with 14.0 points per game and grabbing 6.8 rebounds a contest. Senior Dallas Morgan is adding 13.5 points per game, while fellow classmate Rob Montgomery is tallying 11.3, respectively. Junior Devontae Lane leads the Chippewas with 84 assists, while eight CMU players have totaled double-digit steals in 2019-20.
   The Chippewas has the best scoring offense in the MAC and the 12th in the nation, averaging 80.3 points per game. CMU is shooting 43.9 percent (759-of-1728) from the field and drain 8.1 triples per game. On the defensive side, the Maroon and Gold are holding opponents to 76.8 points per game and forcing 16.6 turnovers. Its 9.1 steals per game ranks second behind Eastern's 10.1.

JAMES, CHRIS JAMES: Freshman Chris James broke out of his offensive slump as he tied a career-high 15 points, including three triples in a 69-51 victory over Western Michigan, Feb. 15. James has scored in double-digits four times this season, including the first three-straight games of the season (14 vs. Siena Heights, Nov. 8; 11 vs. Goshen, Nov. 12; 15 vs. Michigan-Dearborn, Nov. 14).

PERFECT SHOOTING: Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure led the Eagles with 17 points on a perfect 8-of-8 from the floor in an 69-51 win over Western Michigan, Feb. 15. This is the second time this season Toure has shot 100 percent from the field with the first coming at Miami, Jan. 25, when the center went 4-of-4. The Dakar, Senegal native leads the league with a 68.2 field-goal percentage (120-of-176).

SCORING FRENZY: Junior Darion Spottsville is breaking through offensively, as he has scored in double-figures in five of the last eight games. Most recently, the guard added 10 points in a 73-71 loss to Northern Illinois, Feb. 25. Spottsville tallied 10 points in a 69-51 win over in-state rival Western Michigan, Feb. 15, and scored a career-high 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting and made five free throws in the 59-58 loss at Akron, Feb. 8. Spottsville has tallied five double-digit scoring performances this season. The junior totaled 11 points in a 66-62 win over Buffalo, Feb. 4 and added 12 at Miami, Jan. 25; which was his first 10-plus point performance in an EMU uniform.

TWO WILL GIVE YOU 20: Two Eagles scored over 20 points in a game for the second time this season at Central Michigan, Feb. 11. Redshirt junior Ty Groce and redshirt senior Boubacar Toure tallied 20+ points in a 73-70 victory over the Chippewas. Groce led the Eagles with 22 points, while Toure went 9-of-10 from the floor and added 20 points.
   Earlier this season, Groce and junior Noah Morgan scored over 20 points to lead the team to an 85-79 victory, Dec. 3 against Valparaiso. Groce had a career-best performance to lead the Green and White, scoring 23 points, and hitting 9-of-10 free throws. Morgan was right behind the Ypsilanti, Mich. native, also with a career-high of 21 points and went 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. The performances by Groce and Morgan was the first time Eastern had two players score 20+ since last season when Paul Jackson and Kevin McAdoo scored 21 and 20, respectively, at Central Michigan, Jan. 29, 2018.

GROCE REACHING TO NEW HEIGHTS: Redshirt junior Ty Groce notched his first career double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Green and White past Central Michigan, 73-70, Feb. 11. The Ypsilanti, Mich. native went 8-of-12 from the field and sank six free throws. Groce has led the Eagles in scoring in 12 games this season and has notched double-figures in 19-of-28 contests during the 2019-20 campaign. The redshirt junior has also grabbed 10+ rebounds in two games this year.
   Groce is averaging a team-best 11.5 points per game, while grabbing 5.4 boards a game, which ranks second on the team.

DYNAMIC DUO: Redshirt junior Ty Groce and redshirt senior Boubacar Toure both posted double-doubles in a 73-70 victory over Central Michigan, Feb. 11. Groce totaled a team-best 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Toure added 20 points and notched a team-high 13 rebounds. This is the first time this season two Eagles has earned a double-double in the same game. Former Eagle James Thompson IV (15 pts., 17 rebs.) and Toure (12 pts., 16 rebs.) were the last pair in the Green and White to reach this feat, March 2, 2019.
   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 Thompson IV and Elijah Minnie reached 20+ points and double-digit rebounds against Oakland, Dec. 6, 2017.

AKRON THREE-BALL DENIED: The Eastern Michigan defense was ruthless in the first half of play at Akron, Feb. 8. The Eagles held the Zips to 25 points, which tied a season-low for UA. In addition, EMU held Akron scoreless from beyond the arc, forcing UA to go 0-of-14 from deep.
   This is the first time this season that EMU has held an opponent to a zero percent field-goal percentage from behind the 3-point line. Eastern held North Carolina A&T to shooting 1-of-10 from deep in the first half at the Jamaica Classic, Nov. 24.

HISTORY MADE: EMU men's basketball has tallied 202 victories in the Convocation Center since it opened for the 1998-99 season. The Eagles notched their 200th win on the Convo with the 66-62 victory over Buffalo, Feb. 4. The Convo'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 men's and EMU women's basketball programs have a combined 389 victories in the Convo - the women's program has accumulated 187 wins since 1998-99.

HEY DJ, THAT'S MY DJ: Redshirt sophomore Derek Ballard Jr. was the definition of clutch in EMU's 66-62 win over Buffalo, Feb. 4. Coming off the bench, Ballard Jr. reinvigorated the EMU offensive snatching two offensive rebounds from the grasps of the Bulls and earned the put-back with the foul. The Southfield, Mich.-product drained the old-fashion three-point play to give EMU the one-point lead with five minutes left in the game. With 1:42 left, Ballard wrangled yet another offensive-rebound that he put back to tie a career-high in points (5), giving EMU the five-point lead. The redshirt sophomore finished the evening with five points, five rebounds, and a steal in seven minutes of play.

SWITCHING IT UP: Under Head Coach Rob Murphy, the starting lineup has changed seven times this season. Eight of the 12 Eagles who have seen playing time have been part of the starting five. Redshirt junior Ty Groce and redshirt senior Boubacar Toure are the only members of the squad to have started all 28 games played so far in the 2019-20 campaign.

SPLASH CITY: Junior Thomas Binelli has proved to be Eastern Michigan's deep-shooter, as he leads the team with 50 three-pointers this season. The Bologna, Italy native has made at least one from beyond the arc in 20 of the 21 games he has played and in the last 13-straight contests. Binelli has drained three-plus triples in nine games this year, including a career-high six 3's at against Northern Illinois, Feb. 25. Binelli is averaging 8.7 points per game with 2.4 triples a contest.

FIRST MAC VICTORY: Eastern Michigan notched its first Mid-American Conference win of the 2019-20 season and made its way back into the win column for the first time since Dec. 30 (vs. Concordia), as the Eagles downed Toledo, 61-57, Feb. 1. EMU has won the last three home contests against the Rockets.

HAVE A DAY, YEIKSON: Junior Yeikson Montero led the Eagles with a career-high 26 points against Toledo, Feb. 1. The guard drained a career-best five 3-pointers and tallied 20 points in the second half of play. His 26 points are a team-best this season and he is the third Eagle to reach the 20+ point plateau this season.
   Montero has led the Green and White in scoring three times this year and has tallied double-digit scoring 12 times. The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native ranks fourth on the team averaging 9.2 points per game.

DEFENSE! DEFENSE!: Eastern Michigan has played exceptional defense all season, as the Eagles have held opponents to scoring 60 points-or-less in 13 games. The Eagles lost its first game when holding the opposition under 60 points at Akron (59-58), Feb. 8. Its record when accomplishing this feat is 12-1.
   The 61-57 victory over Toledo, Feb. 1, helped EMU improve to a 10-0 record when the opposition puts up fewer than 60 points. Under Rob Murphy, the Eagles boast an 85-13 mark.

CAREER DAY FOR SPOTTSVILLE: Junior Darion Spottsville scored a career-best 12 points in a 73-68 loss at Miami, Jan. 25. This is the first time Spottsville scored in double-digits this season. The Phoenix, Ariz. native went 3-of-4 from the field and drained six from the charity stripe against the RedHawks.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE: With the 73-71 loss to Northern Illinois, Feb. 25, redshirt senior Boubacar Toure posted his 11th double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Dakar, Senegal native has pulled down double-figure rebounds in 14 games this year, including 10 of the last 17 games. The redshirt senior has led the Eagles on the boards in 23-of-28 games in the 2019-20 campaign. Toure has tallied 19 double-doubles in his EMU career.

.600 OR BETTER: The Eagles have one player that is shooting 60 percent-or-better from the field. The Green and White are led by redshirt senior Boubacar Toure, hitting at 66.7 percent on 132-of-198 shooting, which ranks first among MAC players. Toure has shot over 70 percent from the field (min. seven attempts) in 10 games this season. His season-high of 100 percent (8-of-8) was hit against Western Michigan, Feb. 15.

CRASHIN' THE BOARDS: Boubacar Toure has pulled down 10+ rebounds in 14 games this season and has led the team in rebounding 23-of-28 games this year. The redshirt senior leads the team averaging 9.1 boards per game (255 total), including 5.8 defensive and 3.4 offensive rebounds per contest. In MAC play, Toure is averaging 10.3 boards to go along with 12.5 points 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 12.5 points and 10.3 rebounds in league play. Toure is one-of-four student-athletes in the MAC who are averaging a double-double in conference play. Toledo's Willie Jackson leads the league with a league-best 11.4 rebounds per game to go along with 12.9 points a game. Ball State's Tahjai Teague is tallying 10.2 rebounds and 15.2 points per game, while Buffalo's Josh Mballa is adding 10.5 points and 10.1 rebounds, respectively.
   Toure is shooting a league-best 66.7 percent from the floor (82-of-123) and has recorded 21 blocks. The Dakar, Senegal native notched eight double-doubles in MAC play and nearly missed one at Ohio, Jan. 11 and versus Kent State, Feb. 18. Toure's 10.3 rebounds per game ranks second in the conference, to go along with his 1.4 blocks per contest is good for fifth.

STEAL MACHINES: The Eagles are averaging 10.1 steals per game with redshirt junior Ty Groce, and juniors Yeikson Montero and Noah Morgan are leading EMU in swipes this season. Groce leads the way with 51 steals and has recorded at least one steal in 22 games this season. Montero ranks second on the team with 49 swipes and has tallied one steal in 22 games, while Morgan has also totaled one swipe in 23 games this year, respectively.

FINDERS KEEPERS: The Eagles are tied for second in the nation and leads the Mid-American Conference with 10.1 steals per game. SFA leads the NCAA with 10.5, while EMU is tied with St. Johns (N.Y.) and Nicholls State, respectively. The Green and White have stolen the ball 284 times this season, including 10+ swipes in 14 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 1.8 steals per game (51 this season), which is third in the MAC with junior Yeikson Montero also swiping 1.7 balls per game. Nine players have double-digit steals on the season, which includes EMU's primary starting-five: Groce (51), Montero (49), junior Noah Morgan (43), junior Darion Spottsville (34), redshirt senior Boubacar Toure (34), freshman Chris James (21), junior Thomas Binelli (16), and juniors Chris Barnes and Jalen King have 14 and 11, respectively. Eastern Michigan is one-of-two schools (Kent State) in the MAC that has nine players with steals in double figures with Central Michigan close behind with eight players, respectively.

BLOCK PARTY: Eastern Michigan ranks fifth in the Mid-American Conference with 91 blocks this season (3.25 bpg). Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure leads the team with 38 swats and is averaging 1.4 blocks per game, which is good for fourth in the conference. The Dakar, Senegal native tied a career-high in blocks (4) at Miami, Jan. 25. Redshirt junior Ty Groce and junior Jalen King also have tallied double-digit blocks this season with 22 and 14, respectively.

DOUBLE-DIGIT DEDICATION: Redshirt junior Ty Groce leads Eastern Michigan in scoring with 11.5 points per game (321 total points), while redshirt senior Boubacar Toure is averaging 11.0, and 10.2, respectively. Groce is the only Eagle to reach double-digits in 19 games this year, and Toure has tallied double figures in 17 games, respectively.
   Groce posted a career-high 23 points against Valpo, Dec. 3, while Toure tied a personal-best with 20 points at Central Michigan, Feb. 11.
   In MAC play, two Eagles are averaging in double-figures in Toure (12.5) and Groce (10.9).

versaTYle: Redshirt junior Ty Groce has proven to be a versatile player on the floor. He leads the team with 321 points (11.5 ppg). The Ypsilanti, Mich. native has hit double-digits in 19 games during the 2019-20 campaign, and in seven of the last nine games (10 at Miami, Jan. 25; 10 vs. Toledo, Feb. 1; 14 vs. Buffalo, Feb. 4; 15 at Akron, Feb. 8; 22 at Central Michigan, Feb. 11; 15 vs. Kent State, Feb. 18; 12 vs. Northern Illinois, Feb. 25). Groce has led the Green and White in scoring in 12 games this season, including a career-high 23 points versus Valpo, Dec. 3. The forward 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) versus Buffalo, Feb. 4.
   In conference play, the redshirt junior is recording 10.9 points per game to go along with 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals a contest.

PRESSURE LEADS TO TURNOVERS: The Eastern Michigan defense is forcing opponents to turn the ball over 17.1 times a game, which leads the MAC and ranks 15th among Division I teams. EMU also holds a +2.5turnover margin (17.1-14.6), which is good for second in the league and 40th in the NCAA. Eastern holds an 9-7 mark (16 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 17 games with 15 or less turnovers and four with less than 10.

SHUT 'EM DOWN: The Green and White ranks second in the MAC and 22nd in the nation holding their opponents to 62.6 points per game. Ball State leads the league in scoring defense with 62.4. The Eagles have held 10 opponents to under 55 points in 2019. This fierce defense has outscored the opposition by double-digits in seven 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 junior Darion Spottsville (63), redshirt junior Ty Groce (58), juniors Noah Morgan (38) and Yeikson Montero (33), and redshirt junior Chris Barnes (25). Spottsville leads the team with 2.3 helpers per game, while Groce, Morgan, Montero, Barnes are dishing out 2.1, 1.4, 1.2, and 1.2, respectively.
   Spottsville registered seven of the team's 12 assists at Detroit Mercy, Dec. 7 and has led the Eagles in assists 12 times this season. Groce notched a career-high five helpers versus Concordia, Dec. 30, and has led the Eagles in assists 12 times during the 2019-20 campaign. 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.

CHARITY STRIPE: The Eagles have found their way to the charity stripe 635 times so far this season, which ranks 25th in the nation and first in the MAC. EMU is averaging 22.7 free throw attempts per game, which ranks first in the league with Central Michigan following with 21.9, respectively. In fact, the Green and White have had more free-throw attempts than its opponent in 22 games this year.
   Converting those opportunities into points (min. 50 attempts), junior Yeikson Montero leads the team from the charity stripe, shooting 75.0 percent on 57-of-76, while redshirt junior Ty Groce has hit 72.0 (85-of-118) percent from the free-throw line, respectively.

TOURE TAKEOFF: Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure is shooting a team leading 66.7 percent (132-of-198) from the field this year, which ranks first in the MAC. He is averaging 3.4 offensive boards a game (94), which is good for second in the Mid-American Conference. The Dakar, Senegal native has notched 17 double-figure scoring performances as well as pulling down 10+ boards in 14 games this season. Toure leads the team with 11 double-doubles with his most recent performance (11 pts., 10 rebs.) versus Northern Illinois, Feb. 25.
   The redshirt senior has been efficient while shooting, but also anchors the Eagles' 2-3 zone, having tied his career-high in blocks (4) against the RedHawks, Jan. 25. The redshirt senior center ranks fourth in the league with 1.4 blocks per game (38 total) and has totaled 34 steals.

LAST TIME OUT: Eastern Michigan did not trail Northern Illinois until the final seconds of regulation, Feb. 25, when senior Eugene German sank a three-pointer with seven ticks remaining to stun the Eagles, 73-71, inside the Convocation Center. The Eagles held a 71-67 lead over the Huskies when junior Darion Spottsville pulled down a defensive rebound with 34 seconds to go in the final frame. However, he and fellow junior Noah Morgan each missed the front end of a 1-and-1 before NIU's Trendon Hankerson and German both connected from beyond the arc to give the visitors an unexpected two-point win.
   Junior Thomas Binelli was one of four Eagles to reach double-figures, tallying a career-high 26 points as he finished 7-of-14 from the field and 6-of-11 from beyond the arc. He also recorded five rebounds and a steal in a career-high 36 minutes of game action. Redshirt senior Boubacar Toure notched his 11th double-double of the campaign, finishing with 11 points and 10 boards along with three assists and a team-best three blocks. From there, redshirt junior Ty Groce added 12 points and tied for the team lead with four helpers, while Spottsville showed 10 points, four assists, and three boards.
   EMU finished 43.1 percent (22-of-51) from the field, while NIU ended the night with a 45 percent (27-of-60) field-goal efficiency. The Green and White bested the Huskies in points off turnovers (17-8), points in the paint (24-20), and steals (7-3).

ALL-TIME VS. MAC: The Green and White hold a 342-432 program mark against Mid-American Conference teams. Eastern has played Central Michigan the most (196 times), while facing Western Michigan 112 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 75-80 MAC record and clinched a MAC West title in 2012.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: EMU has won 113 of 150 games at home during the Rob Murphy era, and have started the 2019-20 campaign 6-1 at the Convocation Center. Under coach Murphy, the Eagles have opened the season 6-0 at home in six of his nine seasons as head coach. EMU posted a 7-0 start in the Convo in three seasons (2014-15; 2016-17; 2017-18).

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan will finish the 2019-20 regular season on the road with a two-game trip beginning a visit to in-state rival Western Michigan Tuesday, March 3. The game will be televised on ESPN+ with a 7 p.m. inside WMU's University Arena. The Eagles recorded a convincing win over the Broncos, 69-51, in the first game of the season series, Feb. 15.

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Players Mentioned

Derek Ballard Jr.

Chris Barnes

Thomas Binelli

Ty Groce

Paul Jackson

Chris James

Jalen King

Kevin McAdoo

Elijah Minnie

Yeikson Montero

Noah Morgan

Darion Spottsville

James Thompson IV

Boubacar Toure

Eastern Michigan Athletics