Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, October 27
Ypsilanti, Mich.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Grand Valley
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Men's Basketball Set for Home Exhibition with GVSU
10/27/2022 2:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Game will be fans' first chance to see the 2022-23 squad in action
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team, under the guidance of second-year Head Coach Stan Heath, is set to face Grand Valley State University in an exhibition game today, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The game will be free for all fans to attend.
GET IT STARTED
Thursday's exhibition will be the final tune-up for the Eagles before they take flight on their 126th varsity season. Recently, the coaches of the Mid-American Conference voted on the projected order of finish in the conference standings with the Eagles earning 68 points to sit seventh on the list with Kent State University (135), the University of Toledo (131) and the University of Akron (127) selected to make up the top three. Additionally, the coaches predicted the MAC Tournament Champion with the Eagles earning one vote behind KSU (four), UT (three), and UA (two).
HIGHLY RANKED
Individually, one member of the team earned preseason accolades as the coaches voted sophomore Emoni Bates (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Ypsi Prep-Memphis) to the Preseason All-MAC second team. A former No. 1 national recruit, the local product joins his hometown team this year after averaging nearly 10 points per game at the University of Memphis last year. Prior to the season, 247 Sports ranked each school's transfer classes with the Eagles ranking fourth in the nation with Bates leading the way for a group that also includes Jalin Billingsley (Cleveland, Ohio-Lutheran East-Georgetown), Tyson Acuff (Detroit, Mich.-Cass Technical-Duquesne), and Legend Geeter (River Rouge, Mich.-River Rouge-Providence). Collectively, all four individuals were finalists for the prestigious Mr. Basketball award in their respective states with Bates earning the 2019 MaxPreps Freshman of the Year as well as being named the 2020 Gatorade national Player of the Year.
WELCOME BACK
Nine players on the 2022-23 roster return to the team from last year with Noah Farrakhan (Hillside, N.J.-The Patrick School-East Carolina) leading the way. Farrakhan averaged 16.6 points per contest in 2021-22 and is the third-leading scorer returning in the MAC this year. Colin Golson Jr. (Detroit, Mich.-Ferndale-Siena College) returns after starting in 17 of 28 games last year where he averaged 23.5 minutes, 7.8 points, and 4.1 rebounds.
The other returning players for the 2022-23 Eagles include: Kevin-David Rice (Flint, Mich.-Grand Blanc-Delta College), Luka Savicevic (Skopje, North Macedonia-Sports Academy Skopje), Andrew Wells (East Lansing, Mich.-East Lansing-International Sports Academy), Prakash Ketterhagen (Kalamazoo, Mich.-New Rochelle (N.Y.)-Combine Academy), Yusuf Jihad (Farmington Hills, Mich.-North Farmington-Oakland), Derek Ballard Jr. (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield-Lathrop), and Javantae Randall (Detroit, Mich.-Frederick Douglass).
WELCOME TO YPSILANTI
Three true freshmen have joined the roster this year including Orlando Lovejoy (Detroit, Mich.-Summit Academy North), Derik Pranger (Parker, Colo.-Colorado Prep), and JZ Zaher (Fenton, Mich.-Flint Powers Catholic).
STARTING YOUNG
The 2022-23 roster features a talented and young roster with 15 of the 16 Eagles playing in their freshmen or sophomore seasons, including three true freshmen and three redshirt freshmen. The lone elder statesman on the roster is Ballard Jr., who earned his degree from Eastern last year and is working toward his Master's degree this year.
SCOUTING GRAND VALLEY
The Lakers, who recorded a 17-11 record overall during the 2021-22 season, are playing in their second of three exhibition games after dropping a 92-76 decision at Oakland University Oct. 20. GVSU will venture to Michigan State University Nov. 1 for its final exhibition game before beginning the regular season Nov. 11 in Nashville, Tenn., against Southwest Baptist University. In their first exhibition, the Lakers, under the direction of first-year Head Coach Cornell Mann, were led by Trevon Gunter's 20 points while Jalen Charity chipped in 12.
TICKETS
Season tickets are currently on sale for the 2022-23 men's and women's basketball campaigns with each purchase gaining entrance to both men's and women's games inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Reserved seating is limited and fans are encouraged to call the EMU Ticket Office at 734.487.3669 to reserve seats as soon as possible. Non-conference single-game tickets and group tickets for all games are currently on sale.
FOLLOW US
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, continue to visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMU_MBB) and Instagram (@EMUMBB).
NEXT UP
The regular season is right around the corner with the Eastern Michigan men and women inviting all fans to The Season Premiere, a green-carpet event to usher in the 2022-23 regular season, Monday, Nov. 7, at the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The Eastern women will play host to Lindenwood University at 5 p.m. with the men set to face Wayne State University at 7:30 p.m.
GET IT STARTED
Thursday's exhibition will be the final tune-up for the Eagles before they take flight on their 126th varsity season. Recently, the coaches of the Mid-American Conference voted on the projected order of finish in the conference standings with the Eagles earning 68 points to sit seventh on the list with Kent State University (135), the University of Toledo (131) and the University of Akron (127) selected to make up the top three. Additionally, the coaches predicted the MAC Tournament Champion with the Eagles earning one vote behind KSU (four), UT (three), and UA (two).
HIGHLY RANKED
Individually, one member of the team earned preseason accolades as the coaches voted sophomore Emoni Bates (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Ypsi Prep-Memphis) to the Preseason All-MAC second team. A former No. 1 national recruit, the local product joins his hometown team this year after averaging nearly 10 points per game at the University of Memphis last year. Prior to the season, 247 Sports ranked each school's transfer classes with the Eagles ranking fourth in the nation with Bates leading the way for a group that also includes Jalin Billingsley (Cleveland, Ohio-Lutheran East-Georgetown), Tyson Acuff (Detroit, Mich.-Cass Technical-Duquesne), and Legend Geeter (River Rouge, Mich.-River Rouge-Providence). Collectively, all four individuals were finalists for the prestigious Mr. Basketball award in their respective states with Bates earning the 2019 MaxPreps Freshman of the Year as well as being named the 2020 Gatorade national Player of the Year.
WELCOME BACK
Nine players on the 2022-23 roster return to the team from last year with Noah Farrakhan (Hillside, N.J.-The Patrick School-East Carolina) leading the way. Farrakhan averaged 16.6 points per contest in 2021-22 and is the third-leading scorer returning in the MAC this year. Colin Golson Jr. (Detroit, Mich.-Ferndale-Siena College) returns after starting in 17 of 28 games last year where he averaged 23.5 minutes, 7.8 points, and 4.1 rebounds.
The other returning players for the 2022-23 Eagles include: Kevin-David Rice (Flint, Mich.-Grand Blanc-Delta College), Luka Savicevic (Skopje, North Macedonia-Sports Academy Skopje), Andrew Wells (East Lansing, Mich.-East Lansing-International Sports Academy), Prakash Ketterhagen (Kalamazoo, Mich.-New Rochelle (N.Y.)-Combine Academy), Yusuf Jihad (Farmington Hills, Mich.-North Farmington-Oakland), Derek Ballard Jr. (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield-Lathrop), and Javantae Randall (Detroit, Mich.-Frederick Douglass).
WELCOME TO YPSILANTI
Three true freshmen have joined the roster this year including Orlando Lovejoy (Detroit, Mich.-Summit Academy North), Derik Pranger (Parker, Colo.-Colorado Prep), and JZ Zaher (Fenton, Mich.-Flint Powers Catholic).
STARTING YOUNG
The 2022-23 roster features a talented and young roster with 15 of the 16 Eagles playing in their freshmen or sophomore seasons, including three true freshmen and three redshirt freshmen. The lone elder statesman on the roster is Ballard Jr., who earned his degree from Eastern last year and is working toward his Master's degree this year.
SCOUTING GRAND VALLEY
The Lakers, who recorded a 17-11 record overall during the 2021-22 season, are playing in their second of three exhibition games after dropping a 92-76 decision at Oakland University Oct. 20. GVSU will venture to Michigan State University Nov. 1 for its final exhibition game before beginning the regular season Nov. 11 in Nashville, Tenn., against Southwest Baptist University. In their first exhibition, the Lakers, under the direction of first-year Head Coach Cornell Mann, were led by Trevon Gunter's 20 points while Jalen Charity chipped in 12.
TICKETS
Season tickets are currently on sale for the 2022-23 men's and women's basketball campaigns with each purchase gaining entrance to both men's and women's games inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Reserved seating is limited and fans are encouraged to call the EMU Ticket Office at 734.487.3669 to reserve seats as soon as possible. Non-conference single-game tickets and group tickets for all games are currently on sale.
FOLLOW US
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, continue to visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMU_MBB) and Instagram (@EMUMBB).
NEXT UP
The regular season is right around the corner with the Eastern Michigan men and women inviting all fans to The Season Premiere, a green-carpet event to usher in the 2022-23 regular season, Monday, Nov. 7, at the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The Eastern women will play host to Lindenwood University at 5 p.m. with the men set to face Wayne State University at 7:30 p.m.
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