Eastern and Buffalo Set for Thursday Matinee in Ypsilanti

Men's Basketball vs. Buffalo
Date	Thursday, Feb. 17 \| 12 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 opens a three-game homestand at the George Gervin GameAbove Center Thursday, Feb. 17, with a visit from the University at Buffalo. Game time has been pushed up to 12 p.m. with forecasted inclement weather set to impact Southeast Michigan.
   Eastern (9-16, 4-10 MAC) claimed the Michigan MAC trophy Tuesday, Feb. 15, as it snapped a five-game losing skid with a 75-70 win at Central Michigan University. Meanwhile, Buffalo (14-8, 8-4 MAC) has rolled off four-straight wins, most recently barreling past Bowling Green State University, 112-85, Feb. 17.
   The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Ryan Wooley (pxp) and Greg Steiner (analyst) on the call. Fans can also listen to the game on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app with Tom Helmer.

PLEASE CUE SNOW MISER: With the forecast of inclement weather headed towards Ypsilanti, game time has been pushed up six hours to get ahead of the winter storm. Heavy precipitation of ice and snow is possible with rain changing to snow in mid-afternoon.

MICHIGAN MAC CHAMPIONS: With its win over Central Michigan, Feb. 15, Eastern Michigan has officially claimed the Michigan MAC Trophy for the 2022 campaign. The trophy is awarded to the Michigan-based Mid-American Conference institution (EMU, CMU, WMU) that emerges with the best head-to-head record against the others. EMU is now 3-0 this season in that race (2-0 vs. CMU, 1-0 vs. WMU). Originated in 2005, EMU has claimed ownership three times previously (2017, 2018, and 2020).    EMU seeks to go undefeated versus the pair for the first time since 1999-2000, as it awaits Western Michigan, March 1, for senior day.

WE WANT IT MORE!: After leading NCAA Division I basketball for more than three weeks in December, Eastern Michigan ranks 15th nationally with an average of 75.7 possessions per game. The Eagles have had great success at home, where they average 80.2 this season. Last season, EMU averaged 71.3 possessions per game, ranking 164th in Division I.

OFF THE ROAD FOR A BIT: Eastern hits the road just twice more in the regular season. The Eagles will be home for four of its next five games – only traveling to Ball State, Feb. 26.

BREAKING THE HABIT: With its win at Central Michigan, Feb. 15, Eastern Michigan snapped a five-game losing streak, dating back to Feb. 1. EMU shot 48.3 percent (28-of-58) from the field against Central, marking its 10th contest of the season hitting 45 percent-or-higher. Additionally, the Eagles scored 43 points in the first half, the most they have scored in the first stanza since hosting Miami, Jan. 29, when they scored 55 before halftime.

HEATING UP FROM DEEP: Eastern Michigan caught fire from downtown at Central Michigan, Feb. 16. EMU hit 7-of-14 shots from downtown in the first half, the best shooting performance from deep for the team in a first half since its contest against Miami, Jan. 29. In that game, Eastern hit 12-of-20 before halftime. Eastern finished the game with nine made three-point buckets, which ties for its second-best effort in a game this season. The Eagles have hit the same mark on three previous occasions and knocked down a season-best 14 long balls in the Miami contest.

OKONGO MAKES AN IMPACT: Senior Axel Okongo led the Eagles with two blocks, marking the fifth multi-block outing of his career and second of the season at Central, Feb. 15, the first coming against Akron, Jan. 22. Additionally, the senior scored his first points (2) since Valparaiso, Dec. 30.

BACK ON TRACK: Freshman Noah Farrakhan got back on track against CMU, Feb. 15, scoring 24 points to lead all competitors. The performance is the freshman's seventh game this season with 20-or-more points, and his 15th in double-figures. Additionally, the freshman has scored in double-digits twice in the last four contests for the Green and White.

DISH 'EM OUT: Eastern Michigan finished with 14 assists to tie for its second-highest single game total this season, against the Chippewas, Feb. 15. Additionally, EMU had four players with multiple assists (Noah Farrakhan - 4, Luka Savicevic - 3, Monty Scott - 3, and Nate Scott - 2) for just the fifth time this season.

BOMBS AWAY BINELLI: Senior Thomas Binelli was locked in from deep early, knocking down three of his four triple attempts in the first half at CMU, Feb. 15. The effort was good enough to set a new season-high in makes from long range, as his previous best mark was two in a half, a total that he has hit in four contests this season.
   Binelli finished the game with three triples made on five attempts. His three long balls are the most in a single game since he shot 4-of-7 from deep against Toledo, March 6, 2020. Additionally, his 60.0 percent clip from deep is the second-best effort of his career. His best came in his first career game when he hit at a 67.7 percent clip (4-of-6) against Valparaiso, Dec. 3, 2019.

SCOTT. NATE SCOTT: Senior Nate Scott has reached double-digits in six of his last seven games (vs. Miami - 25, vs. Toledo -17, at Ohio -16, at Kent State - 11, at Buffalo – 11, at Central Michigan - 10). He leads the team at 13.0 points per game over that span. Additionally, in those games, the senior has shot well, hitting 47.1 percent (32-of-68) from the field, 34.6 percent (17-of-49) from deep, and 91.0 percent (10-of-11) from the free throw line.

SWAT TEAM: Eastern Michigan currently ranks third in the Mid-American Conference in blocks per game (3.36) and fourth in total blocks (84). EMU is led by freshman Mo Njie who has 24 total blocks this season. Njie's 1.1 blocks per game is seventh in the conference and 184th nationally. Njie and Akron's Aziz Bandaogo are the only freshmen ranked in MAC's top seven for blocks.
   Recently against Buffalo, Feb. 8, Njie had four blocks. It was the second time the freshman has totaled four-or-more swats in a game, having done so previously at Michigan State, Nov. 20.

MARKED IMPROVEMENT: Freshman Mo Njie continues to grow and make an impact for Eastern Michigan. Over his last six contests, he has averaged 8.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. The Centerville, Ohio product has reached double figures in points in four of the last six games, after having only done it once prior to the current streak.

FARRAKHAN NEARING NEELY FOR FRESHMAN SCORING: Freshman Noah Farrakhan scored 24 points at Central Michigan, Feb. 15, to jump EMU greats Kennedy McIntosh (315) and Carlos Medlock (322) with 330 points so far this season. Farrakhan sits sixth all-time in freshman scoring and is just the fifth freshman in the 21st century to make the list. The guard is on pace to score 474 points by the end of the regular season. The point total would place him second all-time behind James Thompson IV (490). The freshman needs nine points to move into fifth and pass Lorenzo Neely (338).

YOU ONLY GET ONE SHOT: EMU is averaging 26.2 defensive rebounds per game, which ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference and 112th nationally. Eastern grabbed 26 defensive boards most recently in its win at Central Michigan, Feb. 15.

EASTERN'S IRON MAN: Between COVID and injuries, there has been one constant in Eastern Michigan's lineup, senior captain Darion Spottsville. The guard is the only player on the team to have played in all 25 games so far this season, and has started in 21 of those contests. Furthermore, Spottsville leads the team in steals (28) and is third on the squad in blocks (15) and total rebounds (106).

TAKE THE FREEBEES: Eastern Michigan made 76.9 percent (10-of-13) of its free throws against Central, Feb. 15, marking six out of the last eight games where the Green and White shot 75 percent-or-better from the line, with a minimum of double-digits attempts. Additionally, three Eagles players shot perfectly from the charity stripe, as Noah Farrakhan was 5-of-5, Darion Spottsville was 3-of-3, and Nate Scott was 2-of-2.

HISTORIC WIN: Eastern's win over Central Michigan, Feb. 15, comes with a piece of history. The victory over the Chippewas marks the 100th for the Green and White over its in-state rival. CMU is the first opponent that EMU has notched 100 wins over in its 125 seasons of basketball.

ALL-TIME VS. BUFFALO: Thursday's game marks the 32nd meeting between Eastern Michigan and Buffalo. The Bulls hold the edge in the all-time series, 19-12, which began in 1971.

LAST CONTEST AGAINST THE BULLS: Eastern Michigan got a 21-point performance from the bench, but could not keep pace with the Buffalo's high-powered offense Feb. 8, at Alumni Arena. The Bulls shot 57.3 percent (43-for-75) from the floor and poured in 64 paint points en route to the 102-64 Mid-American Conference victory.
   Eastern had three players score in double figures, led by Bryce McBride who had 12 points and three steals. Freshman Mo Njie recorded 11 points and four blocks and senior Nate Scott helped out with 11 points.

LAST WIN AT HOME VERSUS BUFFALO: Eastern Michigan thwarted Buffalo, 66-62, Feb. 4, 2020, inside the then-Convocation Center. The win marked the first EMU victory over the Bulls since January 2016.
   Yeikson Montero kept his hands busy registering four rebounds and five steals. Boubacar Toure fought valiantly, ending the night with eight points, five rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. Derek Ballard Jr. seized every opportunity thrown at him as he scored five points (2-2 from the field), five rebounds, and one steal in just seven minutes of action. Ty Groce did a little bit of everything for EMU. The Ypsilanti-native paced the Eagles with 14 points, while dishing out three assists, swiping four steals, and tying his career-high in blocks (3).

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern invites Akron to the George Gervin GameAbove Center Saturday, Feb. 19. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3.
   Come out to the game, and have a drink with us. When you purchase an exclusive Beerfest ticket package, you'll receive a 14 oz. frosted glass Block E beer mug and two complimentary beers or a beer and a pretzel all for just $25.
   Already have a ticket to the game? Upgrade your game day by adding the beerfest package for just $15! Call the EMU Athletics Ticket Office at 734.487.3669 or visit EMUEagles.com/tickets.

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Players Mentioned

Derek Ballard Jr.

Thomas Binelli

Noah Farrakhan

Ty Groce

Bryce McBride

Yeikson Montero

Mo Njie

Axel Okongo

Luka Savicevic

Monty Scott

Nate Scott

Darion Spottsville

Eastern Michigan Athletics