Men's Basketball Continues MAC Play at Akron Tuesday

Men's Basketball at Akron
Date	Tuesday, Jan. 26 \| 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue	Akron, Ohio \| James A. Rhodes Arena
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN3
Listen	WEMU (89.1FM) \| TuneIn Radio \| Podcast
Twitter	@EMU_MBB \| @EMUAthletics

AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team will travel south to Akron, Ohio to challenge the University of Akron Tuesday, Jan. 26. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. inside UA's James A. Rhodes Arena.
   EMU (4-7, 1-6 MAC) is on a four-game Mid-American Conference losing streak, as the Eagles dropped a league affair against Miami, 85-63, Jan. 23. The Zips (8-3, 6-2 MAC) are on a four-game win streak with its most recent victory over Western Michigan, 79-68, Jan. 23
   Fans can catch the action on ESPN3, with UA's Michael Reghi providing the play-by-play and Jacki Windon serving as the analyst. WEMU (89.1 FM) will also broadcast the game 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 three statistical categories: steals per game (9.5), turnovers forced (17.2), and turnover margin (+3.8). The Eagles' 9.5 swipes per contest ranks sixth in the NCAA. Eastern Kentucky ranks first in the nation with 12.1 steals per game, with VCU, st. John's (N.Y.) Abilene Christian, and Baylor following with 10.7, 10.2, 10.2, and 9.6, respectively. Additionally, EMU's 17.2 TO's forced and +3.8 TO margin are good for 21st and 24th among Division I programs, respectively.
   Individually, senior Yeikson Montero leads the MAC and ranks 34th in the country in steals per game (2.2). Additionally, redshirt junior Miles Gibson and Montero are tied for first in the league with three double-doubles.

THE GREAT SCHEDULING PUZZLE: Many teams have shuffled their schedules due to complications from the COVID-19 pandemic, and Eastern is included. EMU still has three Mid-American Conference games to reschedule. The contests against Kent State (Jan. 2), Western Michigan (Jan. 19), and Northern Illinois (Jan. 30) have not been rescheduled yet.

COVID WOES: It's no secret that the schedule is always up in the air due to COVID-19 protocols, and EMU has fallen victim to game postponements and cancellations during the 2020-21 season. The Eagles have had nine games either postponed, canceled, and/or rescheduled this year: at Valparaiso (canceled), vs. Olivet (rescheduled), vs. Central Michigan (rescheduled), at Buffalo (rescheduled), vs. Kent State (postponed), vs. Akron (rescheduled), vs. Miami (time rescheduled), vs. Western Michigan (postponed), and at Northern Illinois (postponed).

FREE THROW IMPROVEMENT: Eastern Michigan ranks third in the Mid-American Conference with a 76.3 free throw percentage (164-of-215). Through 11 games during the 2019-20 season, the Eagles were shooting 63.8 percent from the charity stripe (178-of-279). This year's numbers are a 12.5 percent improvement over a season ago.
   In 2019-20 the Eagles struggled from the free throw line finishing the season with a 62.7 clip (448-of-714).

CONSISTENCY IS KEY: Eastern Michigan Head Coach Rob Murphy has found some consistency in the Eagles' lineup as four players have started six-or-more games. Redshirt senior Ty Groce, senior Yeikson Montero, and junior Bryce McBride have made the starting lineup in all 11 games played this season, while sophomore Drew Lowder has started in seven. Those four Eagles have scored a combined 487 points out of EMU's 795 total this year, which comes up to 65.8 percent.
   Montero leads the team averaging 13.6 points per game, while McBride and Groce are adding 13.5 and 12.9, respectively. Lowder is also tallying 8.3 points per contest.

CHARITY STRIPE STREAK: Eastern Michigan made 31-straight free throws before missing one at the charity stripe between Jan. 14 and Jan. 21. The Eagles went 8-of-8 late in the second half against Calvin, Jan. 14, before shooting 13-of-13 at Central Michigan, Jan. 16. EMU went 10-of-10 from the line before missing one in the second half at Buffalo, Jan. 21. This is the best stretch during the modern statistical era (since 1998 season) since the Eagles went 39-of-42 (92.9 percent), March 4, 2006, between Ball State (25-of-29) and Western Michigan (14-of-16), March 6, 2006.
   The Eagles shot 100 percent against CMU and 94.1 percent at Buffalo, which is the best back-to-back free throw performance by an EMU team under Head Coach Rob Murphy (2011-present).

ANOTHER DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Senior Yeikson Montero notched his third career double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds at Buffalo, Jan. 21. The guard shot 8-of-14 from the floor and pulled down eight defensive rebounds against the Bulls.
   Montero's first double-double came against Adrian, Dec. 9, when he posted 11 points and 12 rebounds. The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native also recorded 19 points and a career-best 14 rebounds at in-state rival Central Michigan, Jan. 16. The senior is tied for first in the Mid-American Conference with three double-doubles during the 2020-21 season.

TY IN #MACTION: Redshirt senior Ty Groce has been a major contributor in Mid-American Conference games despite playing center after primarily playing on the wing last season. Groce leads the team averaging 12.3 points per game and is shooting 54.0 percent from the field (34-of-63), which ranks 10th in the conference. The forward ranks second on the team grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game, but has tallied a team-high 17 assists and six blocks.
   The Ypsilanti, Mich. native has scored in double-figures in six of the seven league games this season.

GETTING TO THE LINE: Junior Bryce McBride has been able to get himself to the free throw line throughout the first 11 games of the season. The Jackson, Tenn. native is shooting 83.8 percent from the charity stripe, sinking 57-of-68 attempts. His free throw percentage ranks sixth in the Mid-American Conference, while his 57 makes is good for fourth. Additionally, his 68 attempts doubles any other Eagle this season, as the next highest free throw attempts comes from redshirt senior Ty Groce with 34.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE: Two Eagles recorded double-doubles in EMU's 75-64 loss at Central Michigan, Jan. 16, in senior Yeikson Montero and redshirt junior Miles Gibson. Montero led the team with 19 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, which was good for his second career double-double. Gibson tallied his third career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
   The game against CMU was the third time during the 2020-21 season that two Eagles recorded a double-double in a game. The last time EMU had two players notch double-doubles three times in a season was during the 2009-10 season. During the 2017-18 season, Eastern has had two Eagles record double-doubles in a game four times, which is the most since the 1998-99 campaigns.

GIBSON GETS ANOTHER: Redshirt junior Miles Gibson is in his first year donning the Green and White and has tallied three double-doubles this season. The Richmond, Va. native recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes of play against Central Michigan, Jan. 16.
   The guard/forward posted his first and second double-doubles of the 2020-21 season versus Adrian, Dec. 9 and Calvin, Jan. 14. Gibson posted 13 points and a career-high 13 boards against the Bulldogs, then tallied 13 points and 10 rebounds versus the Knights. Gibson co-leads the team with three double-doubles, which is tied for first in the Mid-American Conference.

GOING FOR 100: Eastern Michigan was perfect from the free throw line, going 13-for-13 at Central Michigan, Jan. 16. It was the first time that the Eagles shot 100 percent from the charity stripe since 2013. EMU last did it when it went 4-of-4 at Kentucky, Jan. 2, 2013.

GETTING THAT DUB-DUB: Redshirt senior Ty Groce recorded his third career double-double against Calvin, Jan. 14, as he scored a team-best 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 38 minutes of play. Groce shot 8-of-11 from the field and dished out an assist.
   The Ypsilanti native notched his first double-double of the 2020-21 season versus in-state rival Central Michigan, Dec. 29. The forward went 7-of-10 from the floor to score 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. This was Groce's second double-double against the Chippewas, as he tallied his first career with 22 points and 12 rebounds, Feb. 11, 2020.

HOLD 'EM TO 60-OR-LESS: When holding opponents to 60 points-or-less, Eastern Michigan has better luck in the win column. The Eagles are 4-0 during the 2020-21 campaign when holding their opponents under the 60-point plateau. Additionally, the Green and White has tallied an impressive 88-13 mark during the Rob Murphy era (2011-present) when keeping its competition below 60 points.

80 IS NOT THE MAGIC NUMBER: There are many factors that go into the result of a game, but allowing opponents to score 80-plus points is kryptonite for the Green and White. The Eagles are 0-6 this season when allowing 80-or-more points in a game. In the Rob Murphy era (2011-present), EMU is 8-47 when giving up 80+ points.
   However, when Eastern Michigan scores more than 80 points, it is 2-0 this season and 9-10 since Murphy took the helm of the program.

SETTLING IN: Junior college transfer Bryce McBride from Dyersburg Community College (Tenn.) is settling in well in Ypsilanti, averaging 13.5 points per game on 38-of-111 (.342) shooting, while averaging 32.9 minutes a game. The junior leads the team with a 83.8 free throw percentage, which ranks sixth in the Mid-American Conference. The newcomer leads the team in assists with 33 and is second in steals with 21.
   McBride is currently 10th in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7), and 15th in assists per game (3.0). The Jackson, Tenn. native has tallied a career-high four assists four times this season.

.500 OR BETTER: Two Eagles are shooting 50 percent-or-better from the field, with a minimum of 20 attempts, to start the 2020-21 season. EMU is led by redshirt senior Ty Groce, who has hit 54.4 percent of his shots (56-of-103), which ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference. Following the forward is classmate Darion Spottsville, who is shooting 53.8 percent (21-of-39).
   Groce has scored in double-digits in nine-of-11 games this season, and is averaging 12.9 points per game. Spottsville has scored in double-figures four times this year, with his most recent performance of 12 points at Buffalo, Jan. 21

LAST TIME OUT: Eastern Michigan fell to Miami, 85-63, Jan. 23. The loss was the Eagles' third-straight Mid-American Conference loss.
   The Eagles put new meaning to the word teamwork, as each Eagles' player that appeared in the matchup notched at least one basket and one rebound. One bright spot in Eastern's lineup was sophomore Drew Lowder who led the Eagles' offense, notching 11 points. The Jackson product posted consistent numbers across the board adding three rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Senior Yeikson Montero and classmate Noah Morgan contributed nine points each, while redshirt junior Derek Ballard Jr. produced a career-high eight points in addition to six rebounds, respectively.
   The Eagles registered a 33.3 field goal percentage (21-of-63), and struggled from deep shooting 20.8 percent (5-of-24). The RedHawks fared better in both areas, posting efficiencies of 50.9 percent (28-of-55) and 42.1 percent (8-of-19), respectively. Eastern outdid Miami in steals (7-3) and bench points (23-21). However, the RedHawks outpaced the Eagles in fast break points (18-9) and rebounds (39-32).

ALL-TIME VS. AKRON: Tuesday's game marks the 55th meeting between Eastern Michigan and Akron. The Eagles trail in the all-time series, 31-23. EMU won the first meeting for the 2020-21 series with a 79-51 victory inside the Convocation Center, Jan. 9.
   The Green and White are 9-16 against the Zips in Akron. In the Rob Murphy era, the Eagles are 5-12 versus UA and Akron has won seven of the last 10 meetings.

SCOUTING AKRON: Led by third-year head coach John Groce, Akron enters Tuesday's game owning a 8-3 overall record and 6-2 Mid-American Conference mark. The Zips Are on a four-game win streak with their most recent victory coming against Western Michigan, 79-68, Jan. 23.
   Akron has two players averaging in double-figures and is paced by Loren Cristian Jackson, who is recording 22.0 points per game, which ranks seventh in the nation. The senior is averaging 7.1 assists per game, which leads the MAC and seventh in the NCAA. Following Jackson is Bryan Trimble Jr., who is averaging 11.8 points per game, while Enrique Freeman is tallying nearly a double-double with 9.0 points and 9.6 rebounds.
   The Zips average 78.9 points per game and are shooting 45.9 percent from the floor (302-of-658), while draining 10.1 triples per game. Akron ranks first in the conference with a 78.9 free throw percentage, which is good for 14th in the nation. On the defensive side, Akron is holding its opponents to 69.9 points per game with a 28.9 shooting percentage from beyond the arc, which ranks seventh in the NCAA.

ALL-TIME VS. THE MAC: The Green and White hold a 347-443 program mark against Mid-American Conference teams. Eastern has played Central Michigan the most (199 times), while facing Western Michigan 113 times and Toledo 111 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 77-88 MAC record and clinched a MAC West title in 2012.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan will return to Ypsilanti and play host to Bowling Green State University Tuesday, Feb. 2. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
   Tuesday's game will be the first meeting between the Eagles and Falcons during the 2020-21 season.

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Players Mentioned

Derek Ballard Jr.

Miles Gibson

Ty Groce

Drew Lowder

Bryce McBride

Yeikson Montero

Noah Morgan

Darion Spottsville

Eastern Michigan Athletics