Men's Basketball Treks to Northern Kentucky Thursday Night

Men's Basketball at Northern Kentucky
Date	Thursday, Nov. 18 \| 7 p.m. ET
Venue	Highland Heights, Ky. \| BB&T Arena
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Media Guide.
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| The Varsity Network App \| Eastern Insider Podcast
Twitter	@EMU_MBB \| @EMUAthletics

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team hits the road as part of the DePaul Blue Demons Classic and heads to Northern Kentucky University Thursday, Nov. 18. The game against the Norse will be the first of three as a part of the seasonal classic. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside BB&T Arena.
   Eastern (1-1, 0-0 MAC) enters the contest coming off a double-overtime win against Illinois State, 103-98, Friday, Nov. 12. The Eagles battled the Redbirds at home in a game that saw 16 lead changes as Head Coach Stan Heath earned his first win at the helm of his alma mater and his first win inside the Convocation Center. Meanwhile, Northern Kentucky (1-1; 0-0 Horizon) is coming off a 70-69 loss to UNC Greensboro on the same day.
   The game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Fans can also tune WEMU (89.1) and The Varsity Network App, where veteran broadcaster Tom Helmer will bring you the action from behind the microphone.

KEEPING THE TRADITION: With EMU's 103-98 win over Illinois State, Head Coach Stan Heath became the third straight, and 13th out of the last 15, Eastern Michigan men's head basketball coaches to win their home-opener with the Green and White. Only twice since 1947 has a debuting head coach for EMU lost at home (William Crouch -1947, Jim Boone – 2000).
   Additionally, Heath is the first EMU coach to have his first home game be decided in overtime.

NEW BLOOD: A total of 60.8 percent (104-of-165) of EMU's scoring and 60.8 percent (48-of-79) rebounding have come from newcomers to the roster.

TOP-100: EMU is ranked in the NCAA's top-80 in the following statistical categories:

OFFENSE:
       No. 29 in free throws made (45)
   No. 32 in free throw attempts (59)
   No. 77 in free throw percentage (76.27 percent)

DEFENSE:
   No. 53 in defensive rebounds per game (31)
   No. 65 in three point field goal defense (25)
   No. 70 in steals per game (9.5)

THE COMEBACK KIDS: EMU erased a 16-point first-half deficit at its highest, to beat Illinois State, 103-98. The comeback marks the first time since Feb. 29, 2020, that EMU has come back from a deficit of 10-or-more points to win a game. In that game, EMU erased a 14-point Central Michigan lead to defeat the Chippewas.

EXTRA TIME: The Eagles needed extra time to take care of the Illinois State, Nov. 12, going to two overtimes before winning 103-98. The last time Eastern Michigan participated in a double overtime game was Jan. 8, 2019, against Ball State, when the Eagles escaped with an 84-83 win.
   Furthermore, it marked the first time Eastern had hit the century mark against a Division I team since dropping 109 points at Central Michigan, Feb. 28, 2017.

DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING: With the offensive production against Illinois State, Nov. 12, from senior Monty Scott (28 points), junior Bryce McBride (23 points), freshmen Noah Farrakhan (17 points), and Colin Golson Jr. (16 points), the performances marked the first time the Eagles had three-or-more players drop 15-plus points in a single game in a game this season. Former Eagles Noah Morgan (22 points), Yeikson Montero (20 points), and Ty Groce (15 points) each contributed to help the Eagles thwart Northern Illinois, Feb. 27, 2021.

HOME COOKING: With the win over Illinois State, Nov. 12, EMU has now won 120 of its last 162 games at home (74%).

TECHNICALLY 2-0: Despite the win over ISU being Head Coach Stan Heath's first at Eastern Michigan, it is not his first inside EMU's home venue, the Convocation Center. Heath was the head coach at Kent State University for the 2001-02 season. He is now 2-0 in the Convo after leading his Golden Flashes team to an 82-62 victory, Jan. 29, 2002, and now leading Eastern to the 103-98 victory over the Redbirds, Nov. 12.

20-PLUS: Against Illinois State, Nov. 12, the Eagles had two players score 20-plus points in senior Monty Scott (28), and junior Bryce McBride (23). The last time Eastern had two players accomplish the feat was against Northern Illinois, Feb. 27, 2021. Former Eagles Noah Morgan (22) and Yeikson Montero (20) both topped the 20-point mark.
   Furthermore, both hit three treys in the contest against the Redbirds. The last time the Green and White saw two players accomplish that was also in the NIU game, Feb. 27, 2021. Montero was 4-of-6 and McBride was 3-of-6.

McBRIDE TO THE LINE: Junior guard Bryce McBride is no stranger to going to the line to shoot free throws as he led the team a season ago in attempts (86), and percentage (.837). McBride is picking up where he left off, sitting No. 22 in the nation in free throws made (14), and No. 29 in attempts (18).
   Additionally, the junior had 12 attempts against Illinois State, Nov. 12, which is the highest total in the Mid-American Conference in a single game.

MARATHON MAN: A double overtime win can really get your minutes up. Freshman Noah Farrakhan ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference and No. 50 in the nation in minutes per game with an average of 36.4. Farrakhan also ranks 33rd in the nation in field goal attempts with 36.

SAME DEFENSE, DIFFERENT LOOK: Eastern Michigan may be playing man defense this year but that has not changed the effectiveness of it. The Eagles are tied for first in the Mid-American Conference in steals per game with 9.50, which ranks 70th in the nation. Leading the team is senior Monty Scott, with five total steals through two games, tying for second in the conference with 2.5 per game.

BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL: The Eagles continue to sit near the top of the conference offensively and defensively. The Green and White rank third in the MAC in both total offense (82.5 points per game), and field goal defense (.250).

CRASH THE BOARDS: Getting those all-important rebounds can be the difference between winning and losing. Eastern is second in the conference in rebounding offense (41.5 per game), and defensive rebounds (31.0). Freshman Colin Golson Jr. leads the team with 7.5 rebounds per game, followed by senior Nate Scott with 6.5 per contest.

THREE-HEADED MONSTER: Three Eagles currently have three leading scorers as senior Monty Scott, junior Bryce McBride, and freshman Noah Farrakhan are all averaging 17.5 points per game. The three are listed as the sixth, seventh, and eighth top scorers in the Mid-American Conference thus far this season.

DEFENSIVE LEADER: Senior captain Darion Spottsville is showing his leadership on the defensive side of the ball, tying for fifth in the MAC with 2.0 steals per game, and sixth in blocked shots with two. Spottsville has already surpassed his season-high from last year as he only recorded one block. The Phoenix, Ariz. native is on pace to beat his steals total from 2020-21 as well, with 20 total a year ago.

BREAKING 100: Eastern Michigan's offense broke the 100 point barrier against Illinois State in a 103-98 win that took two overtimes to finish, Nov. 12. That scoring total is the second highest in the Mid-American Conference so far this season, being out-done by only Miami versus Lamar University. The RedHawks hung 104 on the Cardinals.
   The long contest between the Eagles and RedBirds also saw the Green and White make 32 field goals, the highest in the MAC in a game this season, and attempt 73 total field goals, the third highest total in the conference.
   Furthermore, Eastern Michigan scored 100-plus points in a home opener for the first time since Nov. 14, 2008, when it put up 119 in a 119-48 win over Marygrove.

NOT AFRAID OF CONTACT: The Eagles were not afraid of contact in the paint against Illinois State, Nov. 12. EMU made 32 free throws in the contest and attempted 43. Both totals are first in the MAC in a single game by a lot. The closest teams to those totals are Northern Illinois at Indiana (Nov. 12), who made 19, and Ball State against Omaha (Nov. 13), who attempted 27.

VETERAN SCORING: The veteran presence of senior transfer Monty Scott has proven to be a spark for the Eagles when they need it most. Down by 12 at halftime to Illinois State, Nov. 12, Scott went on to score 26 points in the second half of the game, including 3-of-7 from downtown. The senior finished the game with 28 points, two assists, and four steals.
   Additionally, Scott is second in the Mid-American Conference for field goal makes in a game, with 11 in the contest against the RedBirds.

IF IT'S NOT GLUED DOWN: Eastern's 13 steals against Illinois State, Nov. 12, is the most in a game in the MAC this season. Moreover, the total is more steals than the Eagles had against any DI opponent last season.

FIRST TIME FOES: Eastern Michigan and Northern Kentucky have never played a basketball game against one another. Furthermore, NKU is one of two teams in the Horizon League that the EMU has yet to play, with the other being Wright State.

ALL-TIME VERSUS THE HORIZON LEAGUE: The Eagles are 79-94 against Horizon League teams in program history. Eastern actually holds a winning or even record against every team in the league besides Detroit Mercy (21-62). Following the game against Northern Kentucky, Wright State will be the only team in the conference that the Green and White has yet to play.

ELITE EIGHT REUNION: Thursday's game will mark a reunion for EMU Head Coach Stan Heath and NKU Assistant Coach Eric Haut, who were both members of the 2002 Kent State team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight. Heath was the bench boss for the Golden Flashes' program, while Haut averaged 3.1 points, and 11.5 minutes per game as a player. All told, Haut played in 123 games for the Golden Flashes in his career from 2000-04, averaging 8.0 points, 1.6 rebounds and 21.4 minutes per game.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern is set to meet a familiar foe in Michigan State University Saturday, Nov. 20. This will be the third consecutive season the Eagles will play the Spartans. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. inside the Breslin Center.

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Players Mentioned

Noah Farrakhan

Colin Golson Jr.

Ty Groce

Bryce McBride

Yeikson Montero

Noah Morgan

Monty Scott

Nate Scott

Darion Spottsville

Eastern Michigan Athletics