EMU Men's Basketball Squares Off Saturday at Michigan State

Men's Basketball at Michigan State
Date	Saturday, Nov. 20 \| 5 p.m. ET
Venue	East Lansing, Mich. \| Breslin Center
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Media Guide.
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	Big Ten Plus (subscription)
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| The Varsity Network App \| Eastern Insider Podcast
Twitter	@EMU_MBB \| @EMUAthletics

EAST LANSING, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team is set to take on Michigan State University for the third time in as many years Saturday, Nov. 20. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. inside the Jack Breslin Student Events Center.
   The Eagles (1-2; 0-0 MAC) are coming off a last-second, 74-73 heartbreaker at Northern Kentucky, Nov. 18. Eastern shot a season-high 50 percent from the floor, but could not close out the contest. Meanwhile, Michigan State (2-1; 0-0 B1G) enters Saturday after a 73-52 win over Butler on Nov. 17.
   The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network Plus with Ian Gilmour (pxp), Brendan Schabath (analyst), and Regan Holgate (sideline) on the call. To access BTN Plus programming, you must purchase a subscription (see pricing, length, and other options) at BigTenPlus.com. Meanwhile, veteran broadcasters Tom Helmer and Greg Steiner will also bring fans the action on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Sports App.

THEY'RE BACK!: EMU Head Coach Stan Heath and Assistant Coach Drew Denisco are no strangers to the Breslin Center, with both having spent time working under MSU Head Coach Tom Izzo.
   Heath spent five seasons as an assistant coach on Izzo's staff. During his tenure, MSU advanced to the Final Four on three occasions (1999, 2000, and 2001), highlighted a national championship in 2000. The Spartans compiled an overall record of 132-37 during his stay.
   More recently, Denisco spent the last six seasons as the video coordinator for the MSU basketball program. He assisted the coaching staff in breaking down game and practice video to create individual player edits for the Spartans along with opponent scouting materials.

PLAYING THEM TIGHT: Eastern Michigan has had plenty of high-leverage moments in its first three contests. All three games have been decided by a combined 12 points.
   No team in the Mid-American Conference has played in a smaller window than EMU's average of a 4.0 point per game differential. Central Michigan is next with its three games decided by 14 points, while Buffalo has played in two contests decided by just 15 points. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Akron has seen its three games have an average of 39.3 points per game.

RED HOT START: Eastern was red hot from the floor in the first half of its game at Northern Kentucky, Nov. 18. The Green and White shot 51 percent overall (15-of-29), including 50 percent from deep (3-of-6). Both those totals are first-half bests this season. Prior to the NKU game, EMU had not shot better than 32 percent in a first half, which it did against Illinois State, Nov. 12. Overall, the 51 percent is the second-best single-half effort for the team this season, falling just short of the 54 percent effort (15-of-28) it recorded in the same game against the Redbirds. The Eagles shot a season-best 55 percent (6-of-11) from deep in the second half of its game at Indiana, Nov. 9.

NEW BLOOD: A total of 68.4 percent (163-of-238) of EMU's scoring and 59.8 percent (67-of-112) of its rebounding have come from newcomers to the roster. Of that 68.4 percent of the team's total scoring, an incredible 67 percent (112-of-163) have come from just two players: freshman guard Noah Farrakhan and senior guard Monty Scott, who happen to be stepbrothers.

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

OFFENSE:
    No. 51 in free throw percentage (76.8%)
    No. 66 in free throws made (53)
   No. 86 in three-point field goal percentage (37.1%)
   No. 99 in free throws attempted (69)

DOING MO: Eastern Michigan got a team-high seven rebounds from freshman Mo Njie in its game at NKU, Nov. 18. A career-high for the newcomer from Centerville, Ohio, his previous best was six, which came against Illinois State, Nov. 12. Njie is one of five Eagles with 10+ rebounds this season.

DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING: EMU got double-digit scoring outings from senior Monty Scott (21 points), freshman Noah Farrakhan (21 points), and senior Nate Scott (15 points) at Northern Kentucky, Nov. 18. Scott had 28, junior Bryce McBride scored 23, Farrakhan dropped 17, and freshman Colin Golson Jr. added 16 in EMU's last home game vs. Illinois State, Nov. 12.
   With the efforts, EMU has now seen three players score 15-or-more in consecutive games for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
   Prior to the current two-game stretch, the most recent such occurrence came in a pair of games against Central Michigan and Western Michigan during the previously mentioned season. Former Eagles Ty Groce and Boubacar Toure led with 22 and 20, respectively, while then-junior Thomas Binelli added 15 against the Chippewas Feb. 11. Toure again led with 17, while former Eagles Chris James and Noah Morgan added 15 each one game later against the Broncos, Feb. 15.

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 this season, where he sits tied for 58th in the nation in free throws made (16) and in attempts (21).
   The junior had 12 attempts against Illinois State, Nov. 12, which is the highest total in the Mid-American Conference in a single game this season.

NATE THE GREAT: Senior Nate Scott earned his first start with the Green and White in EMU's contest at NKU, Nov. 18. He finished with EMU-career-high marks in numerous categories, including: points (15), minutes (31), field goals (5), three-pointers (1), free throws (4), and blocks (2).

DOING IT ALL: Monty Scott finished tied for the team lead with 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting (67%) against NKU, Nov. 18. Both of those numbers are good for his second-best efforts of the season. Scott has now led EMU in scoring in two of the Eagles first three contests.
   The senior was more than EMU's best scorer in the contest. He also paced the Eagles with an EMU-career-best three assists in the contest.

NEW MARKS FOR NOAH: Freshman guard Noah Farrakhan had another big outing in EMU's game against the Norse. Farrakhan tied Monty Scott for the team lead with an EMU-career-best 21 points and 44 percent shooting clip (8-of-18). He also tied a season-best mark in three-point makes (3). That number led all Eagles in the contest.

HALFTIME LEAD: EMU took an 11-point lead into the halftime intermission in its most recent game, at NKU, Nov. 18. It was the first intermission lead for the team this season after previously facing deficits of 17 (Indiana, Nov. 9) and 12 (Illinois State, Nov. 12).

BEST OF THE YEAR (SO FAR): EMU held a 13-point advantage (35-22) with just under one minute remaining in the first half of its contest at Northern Kentucky. It is largest lead at any point during this 2021-22 season. EMU's previous best advantage was eight, a margin it held for a brief period over Illinois State, Nov. 12.
   EMU's 35 points are the most for the team in a first half, and fourth-most in any half this season for the Eagles. EMU's previous best first half total was 32, which it put up vs. Illinois State, Nov. 12.

FIERY FIRST HALF: Monty Scott had the hot hand in the first half of the game for EMU at Northern Kentucky. The transfer dropped a team-best 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Both totals are season-bests in the first half for Scott this season.

20/20 VISION: Eastern Michigan has seen a pair of 20+ point performances in consecutive games. Senior Monty Scott dropped a season-high 28 points, while junior Bryce McBride added 23 against Illinois State, Nov. 12. Scott again crossed the 20-point plateau, dropping 21 at NKU, Nov. 18, while freshman Noah Farrakhan added 21 of his own.
   The last time the Green and White had back-to-back contests with two 20+ scorers was in the 2016-17 season. In both contests, it was former Eagles Willie Mangum IV and Raven Lee that did the damage. The two scored 22 and 21, respectively, against Northern Illinois, Feb. 25, 2017. The following game was Lee's famous 50-point, record-breaking performance, against Central Michigan, Feb. 28. The 50-point effort is still the program record. Mangum IV added 24 in that contest.

MARATHON MAN: Freshman Noah Farrakhan ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference and No. 88 in the nation in minutes per game with an average of 34.4. Farrakhan also ranks 48th in the nation in field goal attempts with 54.

DEFENSIVE LEADER: Senior captain Darion Spottsville is showing his leadership on the defensive side of the ball. He is tied for sixth in the MAC in total steals (5), third in blocked shots (3), and fifth in blocks per game (1.0). 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.

VETERAN SCORING: The veteran presence of senior transfer Monty Scott has proven to be a spark for the Eagles when they need it most, tying for the team lead with 18.7 points per game, which ranks third in the Mid-American Conference. Scott is averaging 2.0 steals per game, tied for fifth in the MAC, and his 61.5 percent shooting from the field is good for 10th in the conference and 75th in the NCAA. Furthermore, his 24 made field goals lands him first in the league and tied for 60th in the country.

IF IT'S NOT GLUED DOWN: Eastern's 13 steals against Illinois State, Nov. 12, is tied for third 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.

STEPBROTHERS: The dynamic duo of stepbrothers senior Monty Scott and freshman Noah Farrakhan have proven to be a crucial offseason addition to the Eagles. Most recently, the brothers totaled 42 points at Northern Kentucky, which made up 57.5 percent of EMU's total offensive output (73).
   Furthermore, Scott and Farrakhan have been responsible for 47 percent (112-of-238) of Eastern's offense through three games this season.

BLOCK(E) DEFENSE: Eastern Michigan recorded a season-high five blocks at Northern Kentucky, Nov. 18. The total ranks third in the Mid-American Conference for single-game performances this season.

DEEP IMPACT: The Green and White shot a season-high 43.8 percent from three at Northern Kentucky, Nov. 18. Additionally, EMU's 37.1 percent from deep on the season is second in the MAC, and 82nd in the country.

AUTOMATIC: Continuing the perfect streak, senior Nate Scott shot a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line at Northern Kentucky, Nov. 18. Scott is now 7-of-7 from the charity stripe to tie for first in the Mid-American Conference. Moreover, seven attempts and makes is the second most by any of the players in the MAC he is tied with.

ALL-TIME VS. MICHIGAN STATE: Saturday's game in East Lansing will be the 36th all-time meeting between Eastern and Michigan State. EMU trails MSU 4-31 in the all-time series, which started during the 1899-1900 season. The Green and White posted a 5-1 victory over MSU.
   Eastern's last win over the Spartans came during the 1987-88 season, where EMU bested MSU, 84-80, in overtime.
   The Spartans are 21-1 all-time at home against EMU, including a 6-0 mark at the Breslin Center.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE SPARTANS: Last season Eastern Michigan battled at Michigan State, Nov. 11, 2020, losing 83-67, in a game that the Eagles forced the Spartans into 18 turnovers.
   Former Eagle Yeikson Montero led the Eagles with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and posted a team-high six rebounds. Former teammate Ty Groce added 14 points and tied a career-best three blocks, while senior Darion Spottsville and former Eagle Miles Gibson recorded 12 and 11 points, respectively.
   Junior Bryce McBride notched four assists in his Division I debut.

ALL-TIME VERSUS THE BIG TEN: Eastern Michigan is 12-72 against Big Ten teams in its storied history, with the most wins coming against Michigan State, who EMU holds a 4-31 record against. The Eagles have also bested Michigan three times, including the Green and White's most recent win over a Big Ten team. Eastern defeated the Wolverines 45-42 Dec. 9, 2014.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern puts its attention back on the DePaul Blue Demon Classic as it welcomes Western Illinois to the Convocation Center Nov. 24, at 3 p.m. The contest will be televised on ESPN3.

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Players Mentioned

Thomas Binelli

Noah Farrakhan

Miles Gibson

Colin Golson Jr.

Ty Groce

Chris James

Bryce McBride

Yeikson Montero

Noah Morgan

Mo Njie

Monty Scott

Nate Scott

Darion Spottsville

Eastern Michigan Athletics