Men's Basketball Hosts Niagara Wednesday, Dec. 8

Men's Basketball vs. Niagara
Date	Wednesday, Dec. 8 \| 7 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Media Guide.
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN3
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| The Varsity Network App \| Eastern Insider Podcast
Twitter	@EMU_MBB \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team continues its homestand, inviting Niagara University to the Convocation Center Wednesday, Dec. 8. The game is set to tipoff at 7 p.m.
   Eastern (3-5, 0-0 MAC) posted its biggest margin of victory of the 2021-22 season with a 79-57 win over Division II foe Northwood, Dec. 5. Meanwhile, Niagara (3-5, 0-2 MAAC) has dropped back-to-back conference contests after it was edged by Fairfield, 81-71, Dec. 5.
    The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Greg Steiner (pxp) and Justin Rose (analyst) on the call. Fans can also listen to the game on 89.1 (WEMU) or the Varsity Sports App with Tom Helmer.

HOME SWEET HOME: EMU puts its unblemished home court record on the line Wednesday, as the stats prove that the Convocation Center has treated it well. In three games, EMU has averaged 84.6 points per game while giving up 74.3. Furthermore, the Eagles have shot 48.3 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).

SWAT TEAM: For the first time this season, multiple Eagles recorded multiple blocks against Northwood, Dec. 5. Seniors Darion Spottsville and Nate Scott both swatted two balls apiece. Eastern totals 29 blocks as a team ranking fifth in the Mid-American Conference.
   Additionally, the Green and White recorded six blocks as a team. That total ties the season-high at Michigan State, Nov. 20.

TAKING COOKIES FROM THE JAR: The Eagles saw success against Northwood, Dec. 5, forcing 18 turnovers and grabbing 10 steals. Both totals are the second highest of the season, as the team had 13 steals on 22 forced turnovers against Illinois State, Nov. 12.

KEEP IT 100: Freshman Noah Farrakhan shot a perfect three-for-three from beyond-the-arc, Dec. 5 against Northwood. The performance was the first time Farrakhan has shot perfect from downtown (min. two attempts) in a contest. The freshman's 45.8 percent from three ranks seventh in the Mid-American Conference.

RICE, RICE, BABY: Freshman Kevin-David Rice totaled a career-high six points against Northwood. The freshman shot perfectly in the contest, going 2-of-2 from the field and the line. Rice also collected his second steal of the season in seven minutes of play.

STOP SCORE, STOP SCORE: The Eagles allowed Northwood just 57 points, Dec. 5, beating their previous season-low mark of 68 allowed against Western Illinois, Nov. 24. Additionally, EMU beat the Timberwolves by 22 points, the first time the Green and White have won a game by 20-or-more points since Feb. 27, 2021 versus Northern Illinois, 91-57.

BEST OF THREE: Eastern Michigan is currently split with Niagara in the all-time matchup's category, as each team has won a game (1-1). The two contests happened 47 years, 3 months, and two days apart, with the first taking place in 1970 and the second, as a part of the CollegiateInsider.com Tournament (CIT), in 2018.

SHARP SHOOTING ALL AROUND: EMU shot 53.7% (29-of-54) from the field, a season-high, against Northwood, Dec. 5. The hot shooting breaks the previous mark of 50.0% (29-of-58) done at Northern Kentucky on Nov. 18th.

BOB ROSS BALLERS: Like Bob Ross, EMU was all over the paint in its most recent game, against Northwood, Dec. 5. The Green and White finished with an inside advantage in back-to-back games for just the third time this season, outscoring the Timberwolves, 40-30, down low. In its previous game, Eastern outscored UC San Diego, 46-30, Dec. 2. The 16-point margin is the best in any game for Eastern this season. Additionally, EMU's 46 points in the paint is a season-high for the Green and White. Eastern averages 29.1 ppg from the paint this season.

TRIPLE THREAT: EMU got double-digit scoring from a trio of scorers against Northwood, Dec. 5. Freshman Noah Farrakhan led with 20 points, while classmate Colin Golson Jr. and senior Monty Scott chipped in 13 and 12, respectively. The performance marked the sixth time this season that at least three EMU players have scored 10+ in a game.

BENCH BOSS(ES): EMU's bench was dominant in the game against Northwood, Dec. 5. The reserves outscored the Timberwolves' non-starters, 35-12, a season-high for the Green and White. Eastern has now gotten 20+ points from its bench in seven games this season. Additionally, EMU is averaging 24.8 points per game from its bench this season, a significant advantage over its opponents, which average just 16.1 points per game from their non-starters this season.

BALLARD ON THE BOARDS: Redshirt junior Derek Ballard Jr. averages 2.3 rebounds per game (tied for eighth on the team), but no one on the EMU roster is more effective on the boards on a per-minute basis. Advanced metrics show that when Ballard is on the court, he collects 24 percent of all the possible rebounds that occur. That number is the best of any Eagle. The only other Eagle to have a number over 20 percent is redshirt freshman Yusuf Jihad, who collects 20.2 percent of all available rebounds when on the floor.
   Additionally, Ballard earned season-highs in minutes (11), points (4), and rebounds (5), against Northwood, Dec. 5.

SPLASHING IN THE DEEP END: Eastern is currently hitting at a 35.3 clip from deep this season, which ranks fifth in the Mid-American Conference and 111th in the nation. The Eagles are led by freshman Noah Farrakhan, shooting 45.8 percent (11-of-24) from deep, and ranking seventh in the MAC. Senior Monty Scott follows closely behind, hitting 13-of-32 (40.6 percent).

NEW BLOOD: A total of 72.9 percent (427-of-585) of EMU's scoring and 59.7 percent (174-of-291) of its rebounding have come from newcomers to the roster. Of that 72.9 percent of the team's total scoring, an incredible 54.3 percent (232-of-427) have come from just two players: freshman guard Noah Farrakhan and senior guard Monty Scott, who happen to be half brothers.

LAST TIME SEEING NIAGARA: As a part of the 2018 CollegiateInsider.com Tournament, Eastern defeated Niagara 83-65, March 14, 2018. EMU's dominance was reflected on the stat sheet, as the Eagles finished 47.4 percent from the floor on 37-of-78 shooting, while Niagara struggled to a 35.1 percent (26-of-74) clip. The Green and White used their size advantage to great effect, out-blocking the Purple Eagles, 11-4, and scoring 54 points in the paint compared to Niagara's total of 30.
   Elijah Minnie paced the Green and White with a career-high 29 points on 12-of-19 shooting, converting 5-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc. James Thompson IV tallied 20 points and pulled down a team-high 16 rebounds for his 20th double-double of the season, while adding a team-best four blocks. Tim Bond fell just shy of a triple-double, recording 11 points, 12 boards, and eight assists, while also adding two steals.

CAPITALIZE AT THE LINE: Eastern's 106 made free throws ranks fourth 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 100 percent (11-of-11). Freshman Noah Farrakhan is hitting 82.6 percent (19-of-23), and had shot 100 percent from the line in three straight games this season, NKU: 2-for-2, MSU: 4-of-4, and WIU: 2-for-2. Farrakhan's 82.6 percent ranks sixth in the conference.

MIGHTY MONTY: Senior Monty Scott continues to show his veteran leadership, as he tops the team in field goal percentage (53.5 percent), and field goals made (53). Scott's 53.5 percent is second in the MAC and 94th nationally. Additionally, his 53 made field goals is good for fourth in the conference and 90th in the country.
   The Union, N.J. native also leads the team with 23 assists and 128 points. The point total is currently fifth in the MAC. Furthermore, Scott has scored in double-digits in seven-straight games. Most recently, the senior dropped 12 against Northwood, Dec. 5.

PLAYING THEM TIGHT: EMU has had plenty of high-leverage moments to open the year. Four of eight games this season have been decided by six points-or-less, 68-62 (at Indiana, Nov. 9), 103-98 (vs. Illinois St., Nov. 12), 74-73 (at Northern Ky., Nov. 18), and 72-68 (vs. Western Ill., Nov. 24).

DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING: EMU got double-digit scoring from freshman Noah Farrakhan (20), classmate Colin Golson Jr. (13), and senior Monty Scott (13) versus Northwood, Dec. 5.
    The Eagles continue to have at least three players score in double-digits, as it has happened in all but two games this season (6-of-8).

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 fourth in the Mid-American Conference in free throws made (27), and attempts (36). The team captain is 15th in the conference in free-throw percentage, at 75.0.

SPOTTSVILLE IN BLOCKSVILLE: Senior guard Darion Spottsville recorded a career-best two blocks in back-to-back contests; at UC San Diego (Dec. 2) and versus Northwood (Dec. 5). Spottsville now has eight on the season, leading the team, and ranking seventh in the Mid-American Conference in total and blocks per game (1.0). The senior captain totaled one block in his previous two seasons with Eastern. The Eagles rank fifth in blocked shots per game (3.63) in the MAC.

MAKE PLANS FOR GERVIN DAY PRESENTED BY GAMEABOVE - DEC. 11: The Iceman is returning home! E-Club Hall of Famer and NBA Legend George Gervin will be coming home as a part of the upcoming men's basketball game against Florida International Saturday, Dec. 11. The fun-filled day will be presented by GameAbove.
    Gervin will be the focal point of the afternoon with fun activities and giveaways. Be sure to wear white against FIU as we "ice out" the Convo. Fans can buy tickets to the Dec. 11 contest for 24 percent off in honor of Gervin's EMU jersey number, 24.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern closes its three game home stretch with George Gervin Day in the Convocation Center against Florida International Saturday, Dec. 11. The contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. and can be viewed on ESPN+.

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Players Mentioned

Derek Ballard Jr.

Noah Farrakhan

Colin Golson Jr.

Yusuf Jihad

Bryce McBride

Kevin-David Rice

Monty Scott

Nate Scott

Darion Spottsville

Eastern Michigan Athletics