EMU Hopes to Stretch Winning Streak to Four Monday at Valpo

Men's Basketball at Valparaiso
Date	Monday, Dec. 20 \| 6 p.m. CT
Venue	Valparaiso, Ind. \| Athletics Recreation Center
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Media Guide.
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Watch	ESPN3
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| The Varsity Network App \| Eastern Insider Podcast
Twitter	@EMU_MBB \| @EMUAthletics

VALPARAISO, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team hits the road for its final non-conference game against Valparaiso University Monday, Dec. 20. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET) from the Athletics Recreation Center (ARC).
   Eastern (5-5, 0-0 MAC) won a historical four-overtime contest against Florida International, Dec. 11, 92-88. Meanwhile, Valparaiso (5-6; 0-1 MVC) came up short at home to Charlotte on the same day, 68-67.
   The game will be broadcast on ESPN3. Fans can also listen to the game on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app with Tom Helmer and Alex Jewell on the call.

A PROGRAM FIRST: The four-overtime contest against Florida International, Dec. 11, was the longest game in program history. The last time Eastern Michigan played a 3OT game was Jan. 8, 2000, against Ball State when Eastern defeated the Cardinals, 98-93. Additionally, the four-overtime game was only the 13th in the last five seasons in all of Division I basketball and was only the second Division I basketball game to go to four overtimes this season. The other occurrence was between NC State and Nebraska (Dec. 1).
   Furthermore, The Green and White finished with season-highs in field goal attempts (79), three-point field goal attempts (27), rebounds (58), assists (14), and steals (14).

DEFEND THE NEST: Eastern Michigan Head Coach Stan Heath became the first EMU head coach to start a season 5-0 at home in their first year as bench boss since former Eagles Head Coach Milton Barnes started 8-0 at home in his first season during the 1996-97 campaign.

THE GEORGE GERVIN GAMEABOVE CENTER: The Convocation Center is no more as Eastern Michigan announced at halftime on George Gervin Day, Dec. 11, that the facility would be named after the legend, coining the name George Gervin GameAbove Center.
   GameAbove committed $2.7 million to EMU Athletics to improve the facility's technology infrastructure and enhance the student-athlete and visitor experience, including upgrades to athletic training facilities, team meeting rooms, visitor suites, and the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame. GameAbove and its members have committed more than $25 million to EMU to support students, faculty, staff, and the Ypsilanti community.

HOME SWEET HOME: EMU closed out its non-conference slate undefeated at home. In five games, EMU has averaged 81.2 points per game while giving up 73.8. Furthermore, the Eagles have shot 45.7 percent.
   Conversely, on the road, the Green and White are 0-5 and being outscored by nearly 16 points per game (EMU 66.2, OPP 81.8). EMU is shooting 39.9 percent from the field compared to 48.6 for the opposition, to go along with being on the short side of the rebounding margin (EMU 35.0, OPP 38.8).

BENCH HERO BRYCE: Junior Bryce McBride has been stellar off the bench this season, totaling 112 of his 121 points as a reserve. Eastern Michigan has seen 245 points from its non-starters this season, with McBride being the responsible party for 45.7 percent of those. Furthermore, the junior has led the team in points coming off the pine in three contests. Most recently, the guard scored 15 of EMU's 23 bench points against FIU, Dec. 11.

NATE SAYS NO: Senior transfer Nate Scott has played three consecutive games with multiple blocks, rejecting two shots against Northwood, Dec. 5, Niagara, Dec. 8, and FIU, Dec. 11. Additionally, the senior has tallied four games this season with multiple blocks. Scott leads the team in total blocks (10), tying for sixth in the Mid-American Conference. Furthermore, EMU is sixth in the MAC in blocks per game with an average of 3.60.

DROPPING DIMES: Eastern Michigan had a season-high 14 assists as a team against FIU, Dec. 11, led by senior Nate Scott with five, a career-best. Freshman Noah Farrakhan also dished out four helpers for the third time this season.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE CRUSADERS: Eastern Michigan rallied from a late, six-point deficit to knock off Valparaiso University, 85-79, Dec. 3, 2019, inside the Convocation Center.
   With the Eagles trailing 69-68 heading into the final media timeout, Noah Morgan sank a pair of free throws to put the Green and White in front, before knocking down a three-pointer to extend the lead to 73-69 with 3:12 left in regulation. Ty Groce then went 2-for-2 from the charity stripe to open up a six-point cushion with 2:24 to go in the contest.
   The Eagles authored a stellar performance on the offensive end, setting season-highs with a 61.4 field-goal percentage (27-of-44) and a 56.3 percent (9-of-16) efficiency from beyond the arc. Valparaiso finished 48.4 percent (30-of-62) from the floor, and also ended the night with nine triples. EMU out-rebounded the Crusaders, 30-27, and edged the visitors in fast break points (13-8) and bench points (22-21).

ALL-TIME VERSUS THE MVC: Eastern holds a 27-53 record against the Missouri Valley Conference all-time, including a 103-98 2OT win earlier this season against Illinois State, Nov. 12.

TWICE IN ONE SEASON: The Eagles have an opportunity to beat two Missouri Valley Conference teams during its non-conference slate this season, heading into the contest at Valparaiso, Dec. 20. EMU already topped Illinois State, Nov. 12, in a double-overtime thriller at home. Valpo moved from the Horizon League to the MVC in the 2017-18 season.

NOAH STOPPIN' HIM: Freshman Noah Farrakhan continues to lead the team in scoring, averaging 17.1 points per game, ranking fourth in the Mid-American Conference and 103rd in the nation. Most recently, Farrakhan scored a career-high 27 points against Florida International, Dec. 11. The Newark, N.J. native also finished with season-highs in field goals made (8), free throws made (9), rebounds (8), assists (4), and steals (4).

TAKING COOKIES FROM THE JAR: The Eagles saw success against FIU, Dec. 11, forcing 25 turnovers and grabbing 14 steals. Both totals are season-highs for the Green and White and raise Eastern to fifth in the league in steals per game (7.10).
   Freshman Noah Farrakhan snagged a season-high four steals to lead the team in the contest. Junior Bryce McBride and freshman Colin Golson Jr. recorded three apiece, a season-high and career-high, respectively.

DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCE: EMU's defense allowed just 55 points in regulation against Florida International, Dec. 11, its lowest total of the season.

BENCH BOSS(ES): Eastern has now gotten 20+ points from its bench in nine of its 10 games this season. Additionally, EMU is averaging 24.5 points per game from its bench this season, a significant advantage over its opponents, which average just 20.6 points per game from their non-starters this season. Most recently, the Eagles saw 23 bench points against Niagara, Dec. 8, 19 of which came from junior captain Bryce McBride.

DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING: EMU got double-digit scoring from freshman Noah Farrakhan (27), senior Monty Scott (17), junior Bryce McBride (15), and freshman Mo Njie (10) versus FIU, Dec. 11.    The performance marked the eighth time this season that at least three EMU players have scored 10+ in a game, as it has happened in all but two games this season (8-of-10).

BOB ROSS BALLERS: Like Bob Ross, EMU was all over the paint against Niagara, Dec. 8. The Green and White finished with an inside advantage for the third consecutive game this season, outscoring the Purple Eagles, 34-24, down low. In its previous game, Eastern outscored Northwood 40-30, Dec. 5. Prior to that, the team claimed a 46-30 point differential in the paint at UC San Diego, Dec. 2. The 16-point margin is the best in any game for Eastern this season. Additionally, the Eagles' 46 points in the paint is a season-high for the Green and White. Overall, Eastern averages 31.6 ppg in the paint this season.

NEW BLOOD: A total of 72.6 percent (535-of-737) of EMU's scoring and 61.6 percent (231-of-375) of its rebounding have come from newcomers to the roster. Of that 72.6 percent of the team's total scoring, an incredible 54.7 percent (293-of-535) have come from just two players: freshman guard Noah Farrakhan and senior guard Monty Scott, who happen to be half brothers.

CAPITALIZE AT THE LINE: Eastern's 143 made free throws ranks first in the Mid-American Conference. The Green and White are led by senior Nate Scott (minimum eight attempts) through the first eight games of the season, shooting 82.4 percent (14-of-17). Junior Bryce McBride is hitting 78.7 percent (37-of-47).

MIGHTY MONTY: Senior Monty Scott continues to show his veteran leadership, as he tops the team in field goal percentage (51.6 percent) and field goals made (64). Scott's 51.6 percent is fourth in the MAC and 103rd nationally. Additionally, his 64 made field goals is good for second in the conference and 65th in the country.
   The Union, N.J. native also leads the team with 27 assists and 156 points. The point total is currently third in the MAC. Furthermore, Scott has scored in double-digits in nine-straight games. Most recently, the senior dropped 17 against Florida International, Dec. 11.

PLAYING THEM TIGHT: EMU has had plenty of high-leverage moments to open the year. A total of six of the 10 games this season have been decided by six points-or-less, 68-62 (at Indiana, Nov. 9), 103-98 2OT (vs. Illinois St., Nov. 12), 74-73 (at Northern Ky., Nov. 18), 72-68 (vs. Western Ill., Nov. 24), 60-58 (vs. Niagara, Dec. 8), and 92-88 4OT (vs. FIU, Dec. 11).

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 currently ranks third in the Mid-American Conference in free throws made (47) and fourth in attempts (37). The team captain is 11th in the conference in free-throw percentage, at 78.7.

HOME COOKING: With the win over FIU, Dec. 11, EMU has now won 124 of its last 165 games at home (75.2%).

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern kicks off its conference schedule in Athens, Ohio against the reigning MAC Champion Ohio Bobcats Tuesday, Dec. 28. The contest will tip at 7 p.m. on ESPN3.

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Players Mentioned

Noah Farrakhan

Colin Golson Jr.

Ty Groce

Bryce McBride

Noah Morgan

Mo Njie

Monty Scott

Nate Scott

Eastern Michigan Athletics