Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Akron
Eastern Set for Showdown at Akron Friday Night
1/11/2023 4:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Eagles looking to knock off 2022 MAC Tournament champions on their court
| Men's Basketball at Akron | |
| Date | Friday, Jan. 13 | 7 p.m. |
| Venue | Akron, Ohio | James A. Rhodes Arena |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide (PDF) | Digital Game Programs |
| Live Stats | Fan Stats | Media Stats |
| Watch | ESPNU |
| Listen | WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) | The Varsity Network App | Eastern Insider Podcast |
| @EMU_MBB | @EMUAthletics | |
AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team returns to the road, and the national spotlight, as the Eagles are set to face the University of Akron Friday, Jan. 13, inside the James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio. The nationally televised game is set for a 7 p.m. tip between the Eagles (4-12, 1-2 MAC) and the Zips (10-6, 2-1 MAC) with Robert Lee and Brooke Weisbrod on the call on ESPNU. Tom Helmer, the Voice of the Eagles, and Alex Jewell will have the radio call on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app.
OPENING TIPS:
» Eastern continues to shoot well from the line as its 19-of-21 (90.5 percent) performance has helped the Eagles climb to a 76.1 percent conversion rate, which ranks third in the MAC and 24th in the NCAA.
» The Eagles have converted 85.0 percent or better from the line three times this year, the most in a single season since the 2015-16 squad did the same.
» On a conference-only level, the Eagles are second in the MAC through three games at 80.0 percent from the line while leading the league in attempts (80) and makes (64). Individually, five different Eagles rank in the league's top 25 for free throw percentage as well, led by Noah Farrakhan at 91.7 percent.
» Defensively, the Eagles are averaging 7.25 steals per game, the third-most in the league. Tyson Acuff (1.5) and Orlando Lovejoy (1.2) are ranked in the MAC's top 20 individually for thefts.
» Emoni Bates continues to lead the offensive charge for the Eagles as he is averaging a MAC-best 20.9 points per game overall and is second at 21.3 points per game in league play. Bates is the top sophomore scorer in the nation and ranks 16th in the NCAA in scoring.
» With 23 points at Western Michigan, Emoni Bates has scored 20+ seven times this year and did so in back-to-back contests for the third time. He also has reached double-digits in 14 of his 15 games at EMU.
» The Eagles shot 6-of-18 from three at Western Michigan to extend their streak to 567 games in a row with at least one made triple.
» Tyson Acuff has been Mr. Do It All this season for the Eagles. In the MAC, he currently ranks 23rd in scoring (12.7), 10th in free throw percentage (81.8), 12th in assists (2.9), and seventh in steals (1.5).
SCOUTING AKRON: The Zips enter the game with a 10-6 overall record and stand 2-1 in the MAC following their 74-70 road win at Bowling Green, Jan. 10. Undefeated at home with an 8-0 record, Akron is receiving votes in the most recent College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 rankings, which was released Jan. 9. The defending MAC Tournament champions and NCAA participant in 2022, the Zips are led by reigning MAC Player of the Week Xavier Castaneda, who is averaging team-bests with 19.3 points and 3.1 assists per game. Enrique Freeman is averaging a double-double for Akron with his 14.8 points and 10.9 rebounds per contest.
IN THE SERIES WITH AKRON:
» Akron leads the all-time series with Eastern, 34-23.
» The Zips have won three in a row, including a 67-48 decision in Ypsilanti in the last meeting, Feb. 16, 2022.
» UA also leads the series when it is played in Akron with a 19-9 record and have won nine in a row. The last meeting saw the Zips win, 46-44, Jan. 22, 2022.
» The last time the Eagles won at Akron was a 62-59 decision, Feb. 1, 2010.
TOP SCORERS: Friday's game will see the top two scorers in the MAC square off as Emoni Bates is averaging 20.9 points for the Eagles and Xavier Castaneda is scoring 19.3 points per game. Bates is leading the league with 313 total points scored this year while Castaneda's 274 points currently ranks seventh in the MAC.
Through three games played, Akron's Enrique Freeman and Bates are the top two scorers in conference play as they are averaging 23.7 points and 21.3 points per game, respectively.
QUICK REVIEW • WESTERN MICHIGAN: The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team fell on the road, 85-79, at Western Michigan University Tuesday, Jan. 10, inside University Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich. Emoni Bates led the way for the Eagles (4-12, 1-2 MAC) with 23 points, including 15 in the second half, but couldn't overcome the host Broncos (5-11, 1-2 MAC).
Four Eagles scored in double figures, including both Tyson Acuff and Jalin Billingsley, who finished with 13 points each while Noah Farrakhan added 12. Bates also led the team in rebounds with six, while Billingsley and Legend Geeter each chipped in five.
The Eagles and Broncos went back-and-forth in the early part of the game with Western Michigan climbing to a seven-point lead before Eastern came back to take a three-point lead with under four minutes to play in the first half. From there, the Broncos reclaimed the lead and built an eight-point advantage at the break. One of the biggest differences in the stanza was free-throw shooting that saw the hosts convert 6-of-9 attempts while the Eagles were held to 1-of-1 from the line.
Western Michigan grew its leads to as many as 15 in the second half before the Eagles were able to work it down to a four-point deficit, 56-52, with 10:20 remaining. The Broncos rebuilt their lead back to 10 points on several occasions, but the Eagles would not go away as Eastern drew to within four points with 1:44 to play. The Eagles could climb no closer as the teams continued to trade points with the hosts winning, 85-79.
QUICK NOTES • WESTERN MICHIGAN GAME:
» Emoni Bates finished the game with 23 points to record at least 20 points in back-to-back games for the third time this year after scoring 26 at home against Central Michigan University, Jan. 7. The last time Bates had back-to-back 20-point games came earlier this year when he scored 26 at Florida International University, Nov. 30, and 29 at home against Florida Atlantic University, Dec. 4. With his point total tonight, Bates has now scored 10+ points in 14 of his 15 games with the Eagles, reached 15+ points in 13 of those games, and hit for 20+ in seven games.
» Emoni Bates drained a three-point shot with 15:50 remaining in the first half of play to extend the Eagles' streak to 567 consecutive games with at least one three-point bucket. The Eagles finished the game shooting 6-of-18 from three with both Bates and Tyson Acuff each hitting two long-range shots.
» Jalin Billingsley scored 11 points to reach double digits in points for the fourth time this season and the fifth time in his career. The last time he scored 10+ points in a game came against Purdue Fort Wayne, Nov. 22, at the Cancun Challenge when he tallied 10. Billingsley added his sixth made triple of the year while recording five boards, tying for his season-best that he has recorded three times previously with the last coming at home, Dec. 18, against the University of Detroit Mercy.
» Tyson Acuff finished the game with 13 points and tied for the team lead with three assists in the game, eighth time this year he recorded at least three helpers in a contest.
» The Eagles started the game 14-of-14 from the free throw line and finished 19-of-21. Included in that total was Emoni Bates, who went 9-of-9 from the stripe, including 8-of-8 in the second half.
FROM THE STRIPE: The Eagles have excelled at the free throw line all year, converting 76.1 percent of their shots, which ranks third in the MAC and 24th nationally. Through 16 games this year, the Eagles have made their way to the line 20 or more times in a game eight times and converted over 85.0 percent of their chances in three games, including twice in their last five. At Western Michigan, Jan. 10, Eastern opened the game 14-of-14 from the line before finishing the game 19-of-21 for a 90.5 shooting percentage, the highest the team has posted since shooting 10-of-11 at Ohio, Feb. 3, 2022, a 90.9 conversion rate.
Taking 20 or more free throws in a game is not new for the program: Eastern has hit the marker 105 times in the previous seven seasons. Collectively, those teams have shot at an 85.0 percent clip or better in six of those games with the most recent game seeing EMU go 17-of-20 (85.0 percent) at home against Northern Illinois University, Feb. 27, 2021. Prior to that, the last two instances came in the 2016-17 season with 17-of-20 performances at home against Ball State University, Jan. 24, 2017, and against Akron at the MAC Tournament in Cleveland, March 9, 2017. The 2015-16 team was the last to have three games of 20+ free throws and an 85.0-or-better performance in the same season.
MOVING UP: The Eagles are currently hitting at a 76.1 percent clip from the free throw line this season, which ranks third in the MAC and 24th nationally. As it stands, the current Eagles have the best shooting percentage from the line in program history with the 2020-21 team's 74.5 percent shooting ranking first following its 18 game, COVID-shortened season. When looking at teams that played full seasons, the 2007-08 squad leads the way at 72.9 percent following its 31-game slate.
In conference-only games, the Eagles rank second in the MAC at 80.0 percent shooting while leading the way in both makes (64) and attempts (80). The next closest in makes is Ball State with 55.
ON THE LINE: The game at Western Michigan was a tail of two halves in regards to free throw shooting. In the first half, the Eagles went to the line once with Tyson Acuff draining his only free throw of the game after being fouled on a made fast-break basket. In the second half, the Eagles drew 16 fouls that resulted in 20 free throws, 18 of which were converted with Emoni Bates posting a perfect 9-of-9 performance. Five different players made their way to the line with Noah Farrakhan (4-of-5), Legend Geeter (3-of-4), and Jalin Billingsley (2-of-2) shooting well.
THIEVERY: While forcing 23 Central Michigan turnovers, Jan. 7, the Eagles were credited with a season-best 15 steals, surpassing the 12 steals Eastern recorded Dec. 18, against Detroit Mercy. The total thefts are the most in a conference game for the Eagles since Jan. 17, 2020, when Eastern stole the ball 17 times against Ohio. In their next game, the Eagles stole the ball from Western Michigan eight times, giving Eastern 23 steals in two games, the most in a two-game span since EMU stole the ball 30 times with eight against Central Michigan, Dec. 29, 2020, after taking 22 from Olivet, Dec. 27, 2020. The last time the Eagles stole the ball as many times in back-to-back conference games came in the 2019-20 season with 17 at Ohio, Jan. 7, 2020, and eight at Northern Illinois, Jan. 11, 2022.
TEN OR MORE: In all but one game so far this season, Emoni Bates has scored in double figures as the sophomore is making his case for one of the top scorers in the MAC and the NCAA. With his 23 points at Western Michigan, Jan. 10, Bates reached double-figure points for the 14th time in the 15 games he has played while scoring at least 15 points for the 13th time. Additionally, he reached the 20-point mark for the seventh time this year and the second time in three games. All told, Bates leads the MAC at 20.9 points per game and ranks tied for 16th nationally.
BACK-TO-BACK, TIME THREE: With 26 points against Central Michigan, Jan. 7, and 23 at Western Michigan, Jan. 10, Emoni Bates scored 20+ points in back-to-back games for the third time this season. The first instance came in his first two games, a 30-point showing against Michigan, Nov. 11, and 20 at Bradley, No. 15. The second was against two Florida schools with 26 at Florida International, Nov. 30, and 29 against Florida Atlantic, Dec. 4.
ON THE CHARTS: Following the conclusion of games played Jan. 10, Emoni Bates finds himself in rare company in the Mid-American Conference. According to the statistics, Bates' 20.9 points and 6.0 rebounds rank him in the top 10 of the MAC in both categories, a feat he alone can claim this season. When looking at the top 25 averages in the league currently, Bates is one of four players in the top 15, one of eight in the top 20, and one of 12 in the top 25 in both categories.
MORE THAN AVERAGE: Emoni Bates is currently averaging 20.9 points per game, which ranks him first in the MAC and tied for 16th nationally. He also is the highest scoring sophomore in the nation. If Bates is able to finish the year at or above 20.0, he would be the first Eastern player to average more than 20 points per contest for the season since the 2005-06 campaign when both John Bowler and Carlos Medlock accomplished the feat. If he is able to finish at 21.0 points per game or better this year, he would be the first Eagle to do so since Earl Boykins averaged 25.7 in 1997-98.
DOING IT ALL: Tyson Acuff did it all against Detroit Mercy, Dec. 18, as the sophomore not only tied for the team lead with 19 points, he also dished a team-best six assists, led the way with five steals and turned the ball over just twice. His second-highest point output behind the 25 he scored against Winthrop, Nov. 22, at the Cancun Challenge, Acuff also jump started the defense with his five thefts, the most for an Eagle in a single game since Yeikson Montero took the ball away five times against Bowling Green, Feb. 23, 2021.
Through the Jan. 10, game at Western Michigan, Acuff appears in several league rankings, including 23rd in scoring (12.7), 10th in free throw percentage (81.8), 12th in assists per game (2.9), and seventh in steals per game (1.5). In three conference games, he ranks third in steals with 2.3 per game and 10th with 2.0 three-point field goals made per game.
WAY DOWNTOWN: Eastern connected on six three-point attempts in its game at Western Michigan, Jan. 10, to extend the program's streak to 567 games in a row with at least one triple drained. Emoni Bates extended the streak with his first of two triples in the game, the first of which came with 15:50 remaining in the first half of play. The last time the Eagles failed to hit from downtown came Jan. 24, 2004, when Miami held Eastern to 0-of-7 from three.
HOME COOKING: According to the latest update from College Basketball Reference, Jan. 4, the Eagles currently rank third nationally in regards to points scored per game by in-state players with Eastern averaging 54.9 points per game from its Michigan-born players. Northern Iowa (68.1) and Youngstown State (58.1) rank just ahead of the Eagles. Additional research through 16 games played this year shows that those same in-state players have accounted for 75.0 percent of the team's scoring with Michigan-born Eagles having collected 877 of the team's 1,169 points so far in 2022-23.
UP NEXT: The Eagles return to Ypsilanti for the first of two home games in a row as the Golden Flashes of Kent State University come to town Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m., inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The game will air live on ESPN+, WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app.
