Glow Night Returns Tuesday as Men's Basketball Welcomes In Toledo

Men's Basketball vs. Toledo
Date	Tuesday, Feb. 1 \| 7 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| George Gervin GameAbove 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 renews the rivalry with the University of Toledo Tuesday, Feb. 1, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The Mid-American Conference contest is slated for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
   Eastern (8-11, 3-5 MAC) connected on 14 three-point field goals as it ended its four-game skid with an 85-75 triumph over Miami University, Jan. 29. Meanwhile, the Rockets (17-4, 9-1 MAC) are white-hot having rolled off eight consecutive wins including most recently an 84-76 home victory over the University of Akron, Jan. 28.
   The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Ryan Wooley (pxp) and Justin Rose (analyst) on the call. Fans can also listen to the game on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app with Tom Helmer.

GLOW NIGHT!: Break out your glow in the dark gear for EMU's third annual "glow night." Fans attending the contest will be given light up giveaways as they pass through the turnstiles for use during a special lights-out halftime performance. Help us "glow out" the arena with a special glow-in-the-dark stroll off from the National Pan-Hellenic Greek Council and the Multicultural Greek Council.

LONE REGULAR SEASON MEETING: Separated by just 50 miles, Tuesday's game will mark the lone regular season meeting between EMU and Toledo. The two sides have played at least twice in every campaign since 1999-2000. The time the schools met just once on the hardwood came in 1998-99 when the then-Convocation Center first opened its doors. Toledo won that battle, 63-55, Jan. 30, 1999.
   Toledo is 30-21 against Eastern over that span, posting a 7-17 record when the team's tangle in Ypsilanti.

WE WANT IT MORE!: After leading NCAA Division I basketball for more than three weeks, Eastern Michigan now ranks sixth nationally with an average of 76.6 possessions per game. The Eagles have pushed that average to 82.0 at home this season.
    Last season, EMU averaged 71.3 possessions per game, ranking 164th in Division I.

IT'S RAINING THREES!: Eastern Michigan connected on 14 three-point field goals, tied for the second-most in program history, as the team bested Miami, 85-75, Jan. 29. EMU knocked down 14-of-30 long-range attempts. Moreover, the 46.7 percent shooting clip is the third-best for the Eagles this season (Northern Illinois, 9-of-16 (56.3%), Jan. 15; Michigan State, 8-of-17 (47.1%), Nov. 20).

NEW STANDARD FOR THREE'S IN HALF: EMU connected on a Gervin GameAbove Center record 12 triples in the first half, surpassing the previous standard of 10 set against Olivet College, as it hung 55 points in the opening 20 minutes of work against Miami.

CAREER DAY FOR NATE SCOTT: Senior forward Nate Scott dropped his first career double-double against Miami, Jan. 29, with a career-high 25 points and 10 rebounds. The Naperville, Ill. product made 6-of-12 from deep, including five in the first half. On the glass, he grabbed nine defensive caroms and an offense stick back to go along with two assists, two steals, and two blocks in 34 minutes of work.
   Scott's previous standard at EMU was 15 points at Northern Kentucky, Nov. 18, while he notched 18 against Coppin State while playing at Northern Illinois, Nov. 15, 2019.
   In two games during the week, Scott averaged 16.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 29.5 minutes.

WELCOME BACK NOAH: After missing back-to-back games, freshman Noah Farrakhan returned to the lineup and made an immediate impact against Miami, Jan. 29. The Newark, N.J. native scored 28 points and dished out seven assists, both career-bests. The effort was also his fifth this season with 20-or-more points.
   Farrakhan got off to a quick start for the Eagles, scoring 13 of the team's first 18 points. He finished the first half with 18 points on a perfect 7-of-7 from the field. The guard surpassed his previous high of 27, set twice previously against FIU, Dec. 11, and at Northern Illinois, Jan. 15.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Freshman Noah Farrakhan has provided a definitive spark when he has been in the lineup for Head Coach Stan Heath.

SCORING BONANZA: The Eagles notched a season-high 55 points in the first half against Miami, Jan. 29. EMU's total tied for the eighth most scored inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. It was the first time the Green and White crossed the 50-point plateau at home in a half since scoring 64 in the first half versus Adrian, Dec. 9, 2020. Furthermore, it was also the highest-scoring half for the Eagles against a Division I opponent since Jan. 12, 2019, when the team dropped 56 points after halftime against Kent State.
   Overall, Eastern shot 60 percent from three-point range (12-of-20) in the first half.

CURING WHAT AILS YOU: Eastern Michigan shot an average of just 17.5 percent from three over its last three games heading into the game against Miami, Jan. 29. Eastern went on to break a facility record against the RedHawks, hitting 12 threes in the first half. Five of those treys came from senior Nate Scott. Scott finished the game 6-for-12 from beyond-the-arc, as four Eagles hit multiple threes. The Green and White ended the contested 14-of-30 (.467), on its way to a 55-point half.

CARRY THE LOAD: In the game against Miami, Jan. 29, senior Nate Scott and freshman Noah Farrakhan accounted for 62 percent of the Eagles' points in the 85-75 win. Furthermore, with Farrakhan's 28, and Scott's 25, it was the third time this season that at least two players scored 20-or-more. The other two came against Illinois State (Monty Scott - 28, Bryce McBride - 23), Nov. 12, and Northern Kentucky (Farrakhan, M. Scott - 28), Nov. 18.

NEARING RARE AIR: Freshman Noah Farrakhan needs just 12 points to crack the top-10 in freshman scoring at EMU. Calvin Warner currently sits 10th with 267 points in 1998-99.

GETTING THE ROTATION BACK: With the national uptick in COVID, combined with usual bumps and bruises from gameplay, EMU has not had its full rotation of student-athletes dressed for a game in nearly 60 days. The last such occurrence was against Northwood, Dec. 5, when 13 players saw action in the 79-57 non-conference victory.

SPREADING THE WEALTH: EMU is one of five MAC teams to have three players ranked inside the league's top 24 for scoring. The Eagles join Buffalo, Miami, Ohio, and Toledo in accomplishing the feat. Noah Farrakhan is sixth with 17.0 points per game, Monty Scott is 17th at 13.1 pgg, and Bryce McBride ranks 24th at 12.4 points a contest.

TAKE THE FREEBEES: Eastern currently ranks fifth in free throw makes (266), sixth in attempts (370), and percentage (71.9%) in the Mid-American Conference. Freshman Noah Farrakhan leads the team, shooting 80.4 percent (45-of-56), which ranks 10th in the conference. The freshman most recently hit 3-of-3 against Miami, Jan. 29.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU: The Eagles' opponents average 14.4 turnovers per game, which ranks third in the Mid-American Conference. Most recently, Eastern pressured the RedHawks into eight turnovers, Jan. 29. Furthermore, EMU has forced teams into 20-or-more turnovers twice this season: Illinois State, Nov. 12 – 22, and FIU, Dec. 11 – 25.

YOU ONLY GET ONE SHOT: EMU is averaging 27.4 defensive rebounds per game, which ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference and 54th nationally. Eastern grabbed 38 defensive boards most recently in its win over Miami, Jan. 29.

SWAT TEAM: Eastern Michigan currently ranks fifth in the Mid-American Conference in blocks per game (3.47), and total blocks (66). EMU is led by freshman Mo Njie, and senior Nate Scott who both have 16 total blocks this season. Njie's 1.0 block per game is eighth in the conference, while Scotts 0.9 is 10th.

HOME TEAM SUCCESS: Protecting home court is key, but this season MAC road teams have had more success than normal. League-wide, the home team has posted just a 26-25 record.

ALL-TIME VS. TOLEDO: Tuesday's game marks the 112th meeting between Eastern Michigan and Toledo. EMU has met UT the third-most out of any school in the Mid-American Conference with the series dating back to the 1917-18 season. The Green and White have collided with Central Michigan the most with 200 matchups, followed by Western Michigan with 115.
    The Eagles trail in the all-time series at 59-52, as the Rockets swept both meetings in 2020-21. The Midnight Blue and Gold rolled to a 91-74 victory in the Mid-American Conference opener, Dec. 4, 2020, and took the finale, 96-63, back in the Glass City, Jan. 12, 2021.

LAST MEETING AGAINST TOLEDO: Keshaun Saunders had a career-high 20 points coming off the bench as Toledo won its eighth-straight game, rolling past Eastern Michigan, 96-63, at Savage Arena, Jan. 12, 2021. Saunders hit 5-of-6 3-pointers.
   Spencer Littleson had 19 points and six rebounds for Toledo, while Marreon Jackson added 17 points and Ryan Rollins had 14 points and six rebounds. The Rockets registered season highs with 17 3-pointers and 26 assists. Toledo also scored 51 points in the second half, a season best for the team.
   Bryce McBride had 12 points for the Eagles. Ty Groce added 10 points.

LAST WIN VERSUS TOLEDO: Yeikson Montero had a season-high 26 points as Eastern Michigan snapped its seven-game losing streak, narrowly beating Toledo, 61-57, in Ypsilanti for its first conference win of the season, Feb. 1, 2020.
   Montero made 9-of-12 shots.
   Boubacar Toure had 12 points and 16 rebounds for Eastern Michigan. Ty Groce added 10 points.
   A free throw by Groce extended Eastern Michigan's lead to 61-54 with just under a minute to go with a three-pointer by Marreon Jackson providing Toledo's final points with 50 seconds left.
   Dylan Alderson had 14 points for the Rockets. Jackson added 14 points. Keshaun Saunders had 12 points.

BUCKEYE STATE BONANZA: Eastern Michigan continues to get to know the state of Ohio extremely well over the next few weeks. The Eagles are currently in a stretch of games that features the squad playing seven consecutive contests against teams from the Buckeye State.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Don't miss Superhero Day at the George Gervin GameAbove Center on Saturday, Feb. 12. It's an Eastern basketball doubleheader as the Eagles are joined by some of your favorite Superhero characters. Pickup a free Block E cape for your junior Eagle and be sure to visit Swoop's Hero Training Obstacle Course in the atrium pregame.
   Beerfest is back on Saturday, Feb. 19, against Akron. Purchase the exclusive Beerfest ticket package and receive a commemorative glass plus two complimentary beers from the EMU Concessions as you cheer on men's basketball against the Zips.
   Get your tickets now at EMUEagles.com/tickets.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan hits the road for three consecutive games with contests at Ohio, Feb. 3, Kent State, Feb. 5, and Buffalo, Feb. 8. The team will remain on the road for the entirety before returning home following the game in Amherst, N.Y. It is the team's longest in-conference road swing since Feb. 5-11, 1998. That year, the Eagles played at Akron (Feb. 5 - L, 76-69), at Kent State (Feb. 7 - W, 79-74), and at Ball State (Feb. 11 - W, 89-77).

Glow Night Returns Tuesday as Men's Basketball Welcomes In Toledo

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Players Mentioned

Noah Farrakhan

Ty Groce

Bryce McBride

Yeikson Montero

Mo Njie

Monty Scott

Nate Scott

Eastern Michigan Athletics