Happy Twosday! Men's Hoops Back in Action Feb. 22 Against NIU

Men's Basketball vs. Northern Illinois
Date	Tuesday, Feb. 22 \| 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 closes out a three-game homestand at the George Gervin GameAbove Center Tuesday, Feb. 22, when it welcomes Northern Illinois University. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
   Eastern Michigan (9-18, 4-12 MAC) dropped a home contest to the University of Akron, 67-48, Feb. 19. Meanwhile, Northern Illinois (8-17, 5-10 MAC) saw its two-game winning streak snapped with a 78-75 home setback to Miami University, Feb. 19.
   The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Ryan Wooley (pxp), Justin Rose (analyst), and Lexi Ayala (sideline) on the call. Fans can also listen on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app with Tom Helmer.

FARRAKHAN NEARING BOYKINS FOR FRESHMAN SCORING: Freshman guard Noah Farrakhan scored 21 points versus Akron, Feb. 19, to pass Darryl Garrett (358) with 365 points so far this season. Farrakhan sits fourth 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 429 points. The point total would place him second all-time behind James Thompson IV (490). Farrakhan needs 11 points to move into third and pass Earl Boykins (375).

BULKING UP: With 21 points against the Zips, Feb. 19, Noah Farrakhan was responsible for 43.8 percent of all points by EMU, the highest percentage by one player for Eastern in a game this season. In addition, the New Jersey native shot 9-of-17 from the field and 2-of-5 from long range. His performance marked his seventh outing hitting 50%-or-more of his shots and fourth hitting at least nine shots from the field. Furthermore, his performance was his third consecutive double-digit performance, and team-best 17th overall this season.

FIRST YEAR HEAD COACHES: Stan Heath is seeking to become just the eighth EMU head coach since 1940 to win 10-or-more games in their first season on the bench. Since the beginning of World War II, only seven of the program's 15 bench bosses have hit double-digits in victories. Rob Murphy was the last coach to reach double figures in 2011-12 when his team notched 11, meanwhile Milton Barnes set the standard with 22 wins in his first season in 1996-97.

IMPROVEMENT ON THE BOARDS: Senior captain Darion Spottsville has helped the team on the glass, averaging 4.4 rebounds this season through 27 games, after only grabbing 1.9 boards per contest through 17 games last season. Spottsville has had five-or-more rebounds in 11 contests this season, a total he only saw once in the 2019-20 campaign. Furthermore, the senior's 34 offensive rebounds leads the team, while his 119 total is third for the Eagles.

NOAH DOWNTOWN: Freshman Noah Farrakhan currently leads Eastern Michigan from downtown, shooting 40 percent (36-of-90). Additionally, Farrakhan is on pace to finish the season 42-of-105 (.400). The freshman would be the first EMU player to finish a season shooting 40 percent-or-better from deep (minimum of 100 attempts) since the 2005-06 season when two Eagles did so. Carlos Medlock was 45-of-107 (.421), and Danny McElhinny went 72-of-171 (.421).

AKRON TURNOVERS: The Eagles forced Akron into 12 turnovers while committing 11, Feb. 19. For Eastern Michigan, this marked the third Mid-American Conference test in which it has won the turnover battle. Additionally, the Green and White took advantage of the Zips' errors, scoring 15 points off of turnovers. Moreover, Eastern forced Akron's Enrique Freeman to commit four turnovers, tied for the most in a single game by the sophomore.

THREE-POINT WOES: Eastern was cold from three-point land, knocking down just 4-of-22 (18.2%) from deep against Akron, Feb. 19. The team's percentage from beyond-the-arc was the third-worst of the season (3-of 24 vs. Kent State, Jan. 18; 1-of-11 at Valparaiso, Dec. 20). Additionally, Noah Farrakhan was the only Eagle to connect on multiple makes in the contest (2). The Eagles have recorded four-or-less triples seven times so far in the 2021-2022 campaign.

BOARDING SCHOOL: Senior Nate Scott hauled in eight rebounds versus the Zips, Feb. 19, the sixth time the senior has grabbed eight-or-more boards. The transfer currently leads the team in total rebounds with 146, making up 15.7% (146-of-928) of Eastern's overall production, and has the highest rebound per game average on the team at 5.6. Additionally, the forward has hauled in 21 offensive boards this season, the third-best mark on the squad.

YOU ONLY GET ONE SHOT: EMU is averaging 26.2 defensive rebounds per game, which ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference and 109th nationally. Eastern grabbed 24 defensive boards most recently against Akron, Feb. 19.

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 27 games so far this season and has started in 23 of those contests. Furthermore, Spottsville is tied for the team lead in steals (30) and is third on the squad in blocks (15) and total rebounds (119).

TAKE THE FREEBEES: Eastern currently ranks sixth in free throw attempts (482), seventh in makes (343), and seventh in percentage (71.2%) in the Mid-American Conference. Junior Bryce McBride leads the team, shooting 79.0 percent (83-of-105), which ranks 11th in the conference. Freshman Noah Farrakhan is 13th in the MAC with 61 free throws made on 79 tries.

MARKED IMPROVEMENT: Freshman Mo Njie continues to grow and make an impact for Eastern Michigan. Over his last eight contests, he has averaged 7.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks. The Centerville, Ohio product has reached double figures in points in four of the last eight games, after having only done it once prior to the current streak.

OFF THE ROAD FOR A BIT: Eastern hits the road just twice more in the regular season with ventures to Ball State, Feb. 26, and Miami, March 4.

BENCH BOSS(ES): Eastern has received 20-or-more points from its bench in 18 of its 27 games this season. Overall, EMU is averaging 22.5 points per game from its bench this season, an advantage over its opponents, which average 21.0 points per game from their non-starters this season. Most recently, EMU saw its bench score 13 points versus Akron, Feb. 19.

SCOTT. NATE SCOTT: Senior Nate Scott has reached double-digits in seven of his last nine games (vs. Miami - 25, vs. Toledo -17, at Ohio -16, at Kent State - 11, at Buffalo – 11, at Central Michigan – 10, vs. Buffalo - 13). He is averaging 11.9 points per game over that span. Additionally, in those games, the senior has shot well, hitting 42.0 percent (37-of-88) from the field, 32.8 percent (19-of-58) from deep, and 87.5 percent (14-of-16) from the free throw line.
   Most recently against Akron, Feb. 19, Scott was the team's leading rebounder (8).
   Last time against his former team, NIU, Scott poured in nine points and grabbed four boards.

ALL-TIME AGAINST NIU: This will be the 103rd meeting between the Eagles and Huskies, as NIU holds the series advantage 57-45. Eastern has been dominant at home against Northern, posting a 17-8 tally in Ypsilanti.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE HUSKIES IN YPSI: Eastern defeated Northern Illinois on Senior Day last season, Feb. 27, 2021, 91-57. The seniors (Ty Groce, Yeikson Montero, Darion Spottsville, and Noah Morgan) combined to score 63 of the Eagles' points on 60.5 percent shooting from the field and 72.7 percent from deep. Morgan led all scorers with a season-high 22 points while adding four assists and three rebounds.
   Montero finished the contest with 20 points and five rebounds, while Groce added his fifth career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Spottsville contributed six points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

LAST MEETING WITH NIU: Keshawn Williams scored 18 points as Northern Illinois defeated Eastern Michigan, 77-70, in DeKalb, Ill., Jan. 1. Kaleb Thornton scored 15 points for the Huskies. Trendon Hankerson scored 12 points with five assists. Adong Makoui added 11 points. Anthony Crump had 10. Noah Farrakhan scored 27 points to lead the Eagles, hitting four three-pointers. Darion Spottsville added 11 points.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern heads to Muncie, Ind. to take on Ball State University, inside Worthen Arena, Saturday, Feb. 26. The contest is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3.

Happy Twosday! Men's Hoops Back in Action Feb. 22 Against NIU

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Players Mentioned

Noah Farrakhan

Ty Groce

Bryce McBride

Yeikson Montero

Noah Morgan

Mo Njie

Nate Scott

Darion Spottsville

Eastern Michigan Athletics