Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, November 21
Detroit, Mich.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Detroit Mercy
Eastern Michigan Taking on Detroit Mercy Tuesday
11/19/2023 8:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Eagles head to Detroit seeking back-to-back victories
| Men's Basketball at Detroit Mercy | |
| Date | Tuesday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. |
| Venue | Calihan Hall | Detroit, Mich. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide (PDF) |
| Live Stats | Link |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Listen | No radio |
| @EMU_MBB | @EMUAthletics | |
| Fan Information | Purchase Tickets |
DETROIT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Coming off a 69-62 victory over Cleveland State University, Nov. 18, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team is scheduled to travel to the University of Detroit Mercy in a 7 p.m. contest Tuesday, Nov. 21, at Calihan Hall.
ON AIR
Eastern Michigan and Detroit Mercy will air on ESPN+. Jeremy Otto will be on the call.
OPENING TIPS
» Eastern Michigan took down Cleveland State, 69-62, Nov.18. EMU has a 2-0 start at home for the 11th time in the last 13 seasons after EMU defeated Georgia Southern, Nov. 11, and Cleveland State, Nov. 18.
» Junior Tyson Acuff scored a season-high 31 points in EMU's 69-62 victory over Cleveland State, Nov. 18, in an 11-for-17 shooting performance. Acuff has netted 30-plus point games three times and 20-plus points six times in his career, all of which have come at EMU.
» Junior Tyson Acuff is averaging 19.8 points per game through four games, which leads the MAC. Acuff's season has been highlighted by a 31-point showing against Cleveland State, Nov. 18.
» EMU had three players with double-figure points for the first time this season in the Eagles' 69-62 win over Cleveland State, Nov. 18 (junior Tyson Acuff, 31; redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe, 10; junior Yusuf Jihad, 10). The Eagles had two players in double-digits in points in each of the first three games.
» Eastern had four players with six-plus rebounds in EMU's 69-62 win over Cleveland State, Nov. 18, led by junior Julius Ellerbe's eight. Juniors Jalin Billingsley, Yusuf Jihad, and Tyson Acuff each had six boards. Eastern last had four players with six-plus rebounds, Dec. 11, 2021, against Florida International University when the Eagles had five players haul in at least six rebounds.
» Eastern Michigan's Stan Heath is in his third year at the helm of the Eagles, holding an 20-46 record at EMU and 229-253 record over 16 years as a head coach. Fifty of NCAA Division I's head coaches are coaching their alma mater, up from 48 in 2022-23.
TYSON ACUFF FOR 31 POINTS
Junior Tyson Acuff scored a season-high 31 points in EMU's 69-62 victory over Cleveland State, Nov. 18, in an 11-for-17 shooting performance. Acuff has netted 30-plus point games three times and 20-plus points six times in his career, all of which have come at EMU. Acuff started 6-for-6 from the field, scoring 17 points in the first half. His 31 points are the most scored by a player from the MAC this season.
TYSON ACUFF, MAC SCORING LEADER
Junior Tyson Acuff is averaging 19.8 points per game through four games, which leads the MAC. Acuff's season has been highlighted by a 31-point showing against Cleveland State, Nov. 18. Acuff is the first Eagle since Noah Farrakhan to score at least 13 points in each of the team's first four games. Farrakhan started the 2020-21 season with five-straight contests with 13-plus points.
TYSON ACUFF 20-22 FREE THROWS
Junior Tyson Acuff is 20-for-22 from the free throw line to start the 2023-24 season, including a 7-for-7 showing against Georgia Southern, Nov. 11. His seven makes also tie a career high. Acuff started the season with 18-consecutive makes at the charity stripe. Only Utah State University's Jarod Lucas (23), Southern Illinois University's Xavier Johnson (21) and Northwestern State University's Cliff Davis (19) had more free throw makes without a miss to start the season in the country.
TYSON ACUFF MILESTONES COMING SOON
Junior Tyson Acuff has a pair of milestones on the horizon as the transfer from Duquesne sits at 95 career three-point makes and 746 career points. Acuff netted 38 three-pointers and 239 points in his two seasons at Duquesne.
JULIUS ELLERBE; 10 POINTS, 8 REBOUNDS
Redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe scored 10 points and hauled in eight rebounds in EMU's 69-62 victory over Cleveland State, Nov. 18. Ellerbe had scored just five points in the season's first three games, but has shown his play-making ability outside of the scoring column as he leads the Eagles in both rebounds (20, 5.0 rpg) and assists (11, 2.8 apg).
YUSUF JIHAD; 10 POINTS, 6 REBOUNDS
Junior Yusuf Jihad scored a season-high 10 points and recorded six rebounds in EMU's 69-62 victory over Cleveland State, Nov. 18. Jihad was 4-for-8 from the field and 2-for-5 from deep. Jihad also became the first Eagle with multiple blocks in a game this season as he swatted away two Viking attempts.
FOUR EAGLES WITH 6+ REBOUNDS
Eastern had four players with six-plus rebounds in EMU's 69-62 win over Cleveland State, Nov. 18, led by junior Julius Ellerbe's eight. Juniors Jalin Billingsley, Yusuf Jihad, and Tyson Acuff each had six boards. Eastern last had four players with six-plus rebounds, Dec. 11, 2021, against Florida International University when the Eagles had five players haul in at least six rebounds.
FOUR EAGLES WITH 10+ POINTS
EMU had three players with double-figure points for the first time this season in the Eagles' 69-62 win over Cleveland State, Nov. 18 (junior Tyson Acuff, 31; redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe, 10; junior Yusuf Jihad, 10). The Eagles had two players in double-digits in points in each of the first three games.
2-0 HOME START
Eastern Michigan has a 2-0 start at home for the 11th time in the last 13 seasons after EMU defeated Georgia Southern, Nov. 11, and Cleveland State, Nov. 18. EMU started 1-1 at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in 2022-23 after topping Wayne State University, Nov. 7, 2022, before falling vs. University of California San Diego, Nov. 11, 2022. EMU won five-straight to open the 2021-22 home slate. EMU had a streak of 10-straight seasons with a 3-0 or better start at home starting with the 2011-12 campaign.
FOUR-FOR-FOUR UNIQUE LINEUPS
Eastern Michigan has used a trio of different lineups in the opening four games of the 2023-24 season. Junior Tyson Acuff and redshirt sophomore Legend Geeter have started each game. Redshirt junior John McGriff and freshman Arne Osojnik have started three games while redshirt juniors Connor Serven and junior Julius Ellerbe have started two games apiece. Junior Jalin BIllingsley also has one start.
THR33-POINT STR3AK, 586-STRAIGHT GAM3S
Eastern, which hit five threes against Cleveland State, Nov. 11, has now hit at least one triple in 586-straight games. EMU last failed to score from downtown Jan. 24, 2004, when Miami held the Eagles to 0-of-7 from behind the arc.
86-97 AGAINST THE HORIZON LEAGUE
Eastern Michigan is 86-97 against current Horizon League schools. The Eagles have played the University of Detroit Mercy 84 times (22-62), 51 more games than any other school as Cleveland State and Eastern have played 33 times. The 86-97 record includes a 24-9 record against Cleveland State after EMU topped the Vikings in a 69-62 decision, Nov. 18. EMU's 24 wins against CSU are the most against any Horizon League school.
WON 4-OF-5 AGAINST DETROIT MERCY
Despite a lackluster 22-62 record against Detroit Mercy, Eastern Michigan has won four of the last five games against the Titans, including two-straight victories inside Calihan Hall. Eastern is seeking three-consecutive wins at UDM for the first time in program history.
WELCOME TO DETROIT
Eastern Michigan will have three players return to their home city of Detroit when the Eagles take on Detroit Mercy, Dec. 21, as junior Tyson Acuff (Cass Technical), redshirt sophomore Javantae Randle (Frederick Douglass), and sophomore Orlando Lovejoy (Summit Academy North) all call Detroit home.
TYSON ACUFF AND UDM'S KYLE LEGREAIR
Junior Tyson Acuff and Detroit Mercy's Kyle LeGreair were high school teammates at Cass Tech, winning the Detroit Public Schools Community District title in 2017, 2019, and 2020.
MICHIGAN MATCH-UPS
The Eagles are scheduled to play five in-state opponents in non-conference action with contests at Detroit Mercy (Nov. 21), Lake Superior State (Dec. 1), Oakland (Dec. 8), Michigan (Dec. 16), and Northwood (Dec. 30). EMU last played five in-state foes during the non-conference slate in 2019-20, going 4-1 in such contests.
SWEET HOME MICHIGAN IN DECEMBER
Eastern Michigan is scheduled to play five games in December, all of which will occur in Michigan. The Eagles host Lake Superior State (Dec. 1), Oakland (Dec. 8), Hampton (Dec. 21), and Northwood (Dec. 30) while also traveling to Michigan (Dec. 16). The last time EMU stayed in Michigan for the entirety of a month while playing at least five games was November 2015, when Eastern played six contests in Michigan, four of which were played on its home floor. Eastern Michigan did not leave the Mitten State until Jan. 12, 2021, during the 2020-21 COVID-influenced season, but the Eagles played one game in November and four games in December, respectively.
NEW FOE, WHO DIS?
The Eagles are scheduled to play three first-time opponents as they meet Butler (Nov. 6), Georgia Southern (Nov. 11), and Central Arkansas (Nov. 25). EMU dropped a 94-55 decision against Butler before beating Georgia Southern, 70-60.
MT. MARTYNOV, SEVEN-FOOTER
Sophomore Cyril Martynov stands at seven feet tall and is one of five players in the MAC scaling at least seven feet, per each MAC school's official website. Miami's Reece Potter is the tallest in the conference at 7-foot-1 while Bowling Green's Jason Spurgin, Central Michigan's Hunter Harding, and Western Michigan's Javonte Brown are all 7-foot.
WHO'S BACK??
EMU returns 10 players from its 2022-23 roster including juniors Tyson Acuff, Jalin Billingsley, Yusuf Jihad, Kevin-David Rice, and Andrew Wells; redshirt sophomores Legend Geeter, Javantae Randle, and Prakash Ketterhagen; sophomore Orlando Lovejoy; and redshirt freshman Derik Pranger.
WHO'S GONE??
EMU lost six players from its 2022-23 roster including Emoni Bates (2nd Round pick in NBA Draft), Noah Farrakhan (transfer to West Virginia), Derek Ballard Jr. (graduation), Luka Savicevic (transfer to Lafayette), Collin Golson Jr. (transfer to Wayne State), and JZ Zaher (transfer to Bowling Green).
WHAT'S GONE??
EMU lost 1,114 of its 2,239 points (49.8%) from the 2022-23 season, most notably being the program's 15th NBA draftee as Emoni Bates was picked in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers (49th overall).
FRESH FACES
EMU added six newcomers to its 2023-24 roster including redshirt juniors John McGriff (Binghamton), Julius Ellerbe (East Central CC), Connor Serven (Illinois), and Micah Schnyders (Wheaton College), sophomore Cyril Martynov (Georgia Tech), and freshman Arne Osojnik (Ljubljana, Slovenia).
PRESEASON SECOND-TEAM ALL-MAC
Junior Tyson Acuff was named Preseason Second-Team All-MAC, Nov. 1. Acuff started 30-of-31 games in 2022-23, averaging 14.3 points per game to go with 2.7 rebounds per game, and a team-leading 2.8 assists per game. His 81.3 free throw percentage ranked eighth in the MAC. Acuff also led EMU with 1.3 steals per game. His season was highlighted by a 36-point output against Toledo, Feb. 11, which was the third-highest point total by a MAC player in the 2022-23 season.
2023-24 PRESEASON ALL-MAC TEAMS
First Team
Ali Ali, Guard, Akron, Sr.
Enrique Freeman, Forward, Akron, Sr.
Chris Payton, Forward, Kent State, Grad.
Jaylin Hunter, Guard, Ohio, Sr.
Dante Maddox Jr., Guard, Toledo, Jr.
Second Team
Tyson Acuff, Guard, Eastern Michigan, Jr.
Jalen Sullinger, Guard, Kent State, Jr.
Anderson Mirambeaux, Center, Miami, Sr.
David Coit, Guard, Northern Illinois, Jr.
AJ Brown, Guard, Ohio, So.
PRESEASON PICKED 11TH
After finishing tied for ninth in 2022-23, Eastern Michigan was picked 11th in the MAC preseason coaches' poll.
2023-24 Preseason Coaches' Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Akron (11) – 121
2. Kent State – 104
3. Ohio (1) – 102
4. Toledo – 93
5. Northern Illinois – 82
T6. Bowling Green – 64
T6. Miami – 64
8. Ball State – 55
9. Buffalo – 38
10. Western Michigan – 33
11. Eastern Michigan – 22
12. Central Michigan – 14
Tournament Champion: Akron (9), Kent State (1), Ohio (1), Toledo (1)
HALF MICHIGAN-MADE
Half of the Eastern Michigan 16-player roster hails from Michigan while Illinois (two), Maryland (two), Colorado (one) are represented, as well as a pair of international student-athletes with one from Canada and another from Slovenia. A complete breakdown of the EMU roster can be found on page 10.
DOUBLEHEADER DAY
The Eagles are scheduled to play five double-headers with the EMU women's basketball team in 2023-24 with four of the five double-headers taking place in Ypsilanti. Both the EMU men's and women's teams will play Nov.18 (men vs. Cleveland State, women vs. SIUE), Jan. 6 (men vs. Kent State, women vs. Toledo), Jan. 20 (at Ohio), Jan. 27 (men vs. Buffalo, women vs. Ball State), Feb. 17 (men vs. Bowling Green, women vs. Northern Illinois). The EMU men also hosted a doubleheader with the EMU's volleyball team, Nov. 11.
Men's basketball beat Georgia Southern, 70-60, while volleyball beat Kent State in straight sets, Nov. 11.
Men's basketball beat Cleveland State, 69-62, Nov.18, while women's basketball topped SIUE, 68-65.
EMONI BATES NBA + G-LEAGUE
Former Eagle Emoni Bates played his first significant minutes in the NBA, Oct. 31, for the Cleveland Cavaliers against the New York Knicks as the rookie netted nine points with six rebounds in 23 minutes. Bates later sent shockwaves through the G-League in his first game with the Cleveland Charge, scoring 29 points with seven made three-pointers, Nov. 10, in Cleveland's 119-106 win over the Wisconsin Herd.
NEXT UP
Eastern Michigan is scheduled to travel to the University of Central Arkansas to take on UCA, Nov. 25, and the University of North Dakota, Nov. 26.
FOLLOW US
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMU_MBB) and Instagram (@EMUMBB).
ON AIR
Eastern Michigan and Detroit Mercy will air on ESPN+. Jeremy Otto will be on the call.
OPENING TIPS
» Eastern Michigan took down Cleveland State, 69-62, Nov.18. EMU has a 2-0 start at home for the 11th time in the last 13 seasons after EMU defeated Georgia Southern, Nov. 11, and Cleveland State, Nov. 18.
» Junior Tyson Acuff scored a season-high 31 points in EMU's 69-62 victory over Cleveland State, Nov. 18, in an 11-for-17 shooting performance. Acuff has netted 30-plus point games three times and 20-plus points six times in his career, all of which have come at EMU.
» Junior Tyson Acuff is averaging 19.8 points per game through four games, which leads the MAC. Acuff's season has been highlighted by a 31-point showing against Cleveland State, Nov. 18.
» EMU had three players with double-figure points for the first time this season in the Eagles' 69-62 win over Cleveland State, Nov. 18 (junior Tyson Acuff, 31; redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe, 10; junior Yusuf Jihad, 10). The Eagles had two players in double-digits in points in each of the first three games.
» Eastern had four players with six-plus rebounds in EMU's 69-62 win over Cleveland State, Nov. 18, led by junior Julius Ellerbe's eight. Juniors Jalin Billingsley, Yusuf Jihad, and Tyson Acuff each had six boards. Eastern last had four players with six-plus rebounds, Dec. 11, 2021, against Florida International University when the Eagles had five players haul in at least six rebounds.
» Eastern Michigan's Stan Heath is in his third year at the helm of the Eagles, holding an 20-46 record at EMU and 229-253 record over 16 years as a head coach. Fifty of NCAA Division I's head coaches are coaching their alma mater, up from 48 in 2022-23.
TYSON ACUFF FOR 31 POINTS
Junior Tyson Acuff scored a season-high 31 points in EMU's 69-62 victory over Cleveland State, Nov. 18, in an 11-for-17 shooting performance. Acuff has netted 30-plus point games three times and 20-plus points six times in his career, all of which have come at EMU. Acuff started 6-for-6 from the field, scoring 17 points in the first half. His 31 points are the most scored by a player from the MAC this season.
TYSON ACUFF, MAC SCORING LEADER
Junior Tyson Acuff is averaging 19.8 points per game through four games, which leads the MAC. Acuff's season has been highlighted by a 31-point showing against Cleveland State, Nov. 18. Acuff is the first Eagle since Noah Farrakhan to score at least 13 points in each of the team's first four games. Farrakhan started the 2020-21 season with five-straight contests with 13-plus points.
TYSON ACUFF 20-22 FREE THROWS
Junior Tyson Acuff is 20-for-22 from the free throw line to start the 2023-24 season, including a 7-for-7 showing against Georgia Southern, Nov. 11. His seven makes also tie a career high. Acuff started the season with 18-consecutive makes at the charity stripe. Only Utah State University's Jarod Lucas (23), Southern Illinois University's Xavier Johnson (21) and Northwestern State University's Cliff Davis (19) had more free throw makes without a miss to start the season in the country.
TYSON ACUFF MILESTONES COMING SOON
Junior Tyson Acuff has a pair of milestones on the horizon as the transfer from Duquesne sits at 95 career three-point makes and 746 career points. Acuff netted 38 three-pointers and 239 points in his two seasons at Duquesne.
JULIUS ELLERBE; 10 POINTS, 8 REBOUNDS
Redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe scored 10 points and hauled in eight rebounds in EMU's 69-62 victory over Cleveland State, Nov. 18. Ellerbe had scored just five points in the season's first three games, but has shown his play-making ability outside of the scoring column as he leads the Eagles in both rebounds (20, 5.0 rpg) and assists (11, 2.8 apg).
YUSUF JIHAD; 10 POINTS, 6 REBOUNDS
Junior Yusuf Jihad scored a season-high 10 points and recorded six rebounds in EMU's 69-62 victory over Cleveland State, Nov. 18. Jihad was 4-for-8 from the field and 2-for-5 from deep. Jihad also became the first Eagle with multiple blocks in a game this season as he swatted away two Viking attempts.
FOUR EAGLES WITH 6+ REBOUNDS
Eastern had four players with six-plus rebounds in EMU's 69-62 win over Cleveland State, Nov. 18, led by junior Julius Ellerbe's eight. Juniors Jalin Billingsley, Yusuf Jihad, and Tyson Acuff each had six boards. Eastern last had four players with six-plus rebounds, Dec. 11, 2021, against Florida International University when the Eagles had five players haul in at least six rebounds.
FOUR EAGLES WITH 10+ POINTS
EMU had three players with double-figure points for the first time this season in the Eagles' 69-62 win over Cleveland State, Nov. 18 (junior Tyson Acuff, 31; redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe, 10; junior Yusuf Jihad, 10). The Eagles had two players in double-digits in points in each of the first three games.
2-0 HOME START
Eastern Michigan has a 2-0 start at home for the 11th time in the last 13 seasons after EMU defeated Georgia Southern, Nov. 11, and Cleveland State, Nov. 18. EMU started 1-1 at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in 2022-23 after topping Wayne State University, Nov. 7, 2022, before falling vs. University of California San Diego, Nov. 11, 2022. EMU won five-straight to open the 2021-22 home slate. EMU had a streak of 10-straight seasons with a 3-0 or better start at home starting with the 2011-12 campaign.
FOUR-FOR-FOUR UNIQUE LINEUPS
Eastern Michigan has used a trio of different lineups in the opening four games of the 2023-24 season. Junior Tyson Acuff and redshirt sophomore Legend Geeter have started each game. Redshirt junior John McGriff and freshman Arne Osojnik have started three games while redshirt juniors Connor Serven and junior Julius Ellerbe have started two games apiece. Junior Jalin BIllingsley also has one start.
THR33-POINT STR3AK, 586-STRAIGHT GAM3S
Eastern, which hit five threes against Cleveland State, Nov. 11, has now hit at least one triple in 586-straight games. EMU last failed to score from downtown Jan. 24, 2004, when Miami held the Eagles to 0-of-7 from behind the arc.
86-97 AGAINST THE HORIZON LEAGUE
Eastern Michigan is 86-97 against current Horizon League schools. The Eagles have played the University of Detroit Mercy 84 times (22-62), 51 more games than any other school as Cleveland State and Eastern have played 33 times. The 86-97 record includes a 24-9 record against Cleveland State after EMU topped the Vikings in a 69-62 decision, Nov. 18. EMU's 24 wins against CSU are the most against any Horizon League school.
WON 4-OF-5 AGAINST DETROIT MERCY
Despite a lackluster 22-62 record against Detroit Mercy, Eastern Michigan has won four of the last five games against the Titans, including two-straight victories inside Calihan Hall. Eastern is seeking three-consecutive wins at UDM for the first time in program history.
WELCOME TO DETROIT
Eastern Michigan will have three players return to their home city of Detroit when the Eagles take on Detroit Mercy, Dec. 21, as junior Tyson Acuff (Cass Technical), redshirt sophomore Javantae Randle (Frederick Douglass), and sophomore Orlando Lovejoy (Summit Academy North) all call Detroit home.
TYSON ACUFF AND UDM'S KYLE LEGREAIR
Junior Tyson Acuff and Detroit Mercy's Kyle LeGreair were high school teammates at Cass Tech, winning the Detroit Public Schools Community District title in 2017, 2019, and 2020.
MICHIGAN MATCH-UPS
The Eagles are scheduled to play five in-state opponents in non-conference action with contests at Detroit Mercy (Nov. 21), Lake Superior State (Dec. 1), Oakland (Dec. 8), Michigan (Dec. 16), and Northwood (Dec. 30). EMU last played five in-state foes during the non-conference slate in 2019-20, going 4-1 in such contests.
SWEET HOME MICHIGAN IN DECEMBER
Eastern Michigan is scheduled to play five games in December, all of which will occur in Michigan. The Eagles host Lake Superior State (Dec. 1), Oakland (Dec. 8), Hampton (Dec. 21), and Northwood (Dec. 30) while also traveling to Michigan (Dec. 16). The last time EMU stayed in Michigan for the entirety of a month while playing at least five games was November 2015, when Eastern played six contests in Michigan, four of which were played on its home floor. Eastern Michigan did not leave the Mitten State until Jan. 12, 2021, during the 2020-21 COVID-influenced season, but the Eagles played one game in November and four games in December, respectively.
NEW FOE, WHO DIS?
The Eagles are scheduled to play three first-time opponents as they meet Butler (Nov. 6), Georgia Southern (Nov. 11), and Central Arkansas (Nov. 25). EMU dropped a 94-55 decision against Butler before beating Georgia Southern, 70-60.
MT. MARTYNOV, SEVEN-FOOTER
Sophomore Cyril Martynov stands at seven feet tall and is one of five players in the MAC scaling at least seven feet, per each MAC school's official website. Miami's Reece Potter is the tallest in the conference at 7-foot-1 while Bowling Green's Jason Spurgin, Central Michigan's Hunter Harding, and Western Michigan's Javonte Brown are all 7-foot.
WHO'S BACK??
EMU returns 10 players from its 2022-23 roster including juniors Tyson Acuff, Jalin Billingsley, Yusuf Jihad, Kevin-David Rice, and Andrew Wells; redshirt sophomores Legend Geeter, Javantae Randle, and Prakash Ketterhagen; sophomore Orlando Lovejoy; and redshirt freshman Derik Pranger.
WHO'S GONE??
EMU lost six players from its 2022-23 roster including Emoni Bates (2nd Round pick in NBA Draft), Noah Farrakhan (transfer to West Virginia), Derek Ballard Jr. (graduation), Luka Savicevic (transfer to Lafayette), Collin Golson Jr. (transfer to Wayne State), and JZ Zaher (transfer to Bowling Green).
WHAT'S GONE??
EMU lost 1,114 of its 2,239 points (49.8%) from the 2022-23 season, most notably being the program's 15th NBA draftee as Emoni Bates was picked in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers (49th overall).
FRESH FACES
EMU added six newcomers to its 2023-24 roster including redshirt juniors John McGriff (Binghamton), Julius Ellerbe (East Central CC), Connor Serven (Illinois), and Micah Schnyders (Wheaton College), sophomore Cyril Martynov (Georgia Tech), and freshman Arne Osojnik (Ljubljana, Slovenia).
PRESEASON SECOND-TEAM ALL-MAC
Junior Tyson Acuff was named Preseason Second-Team All-MAC, Nov. 1. Acuff started 30-of-31 games in 2022-23, averaging 14.3 points per game to go with 2.7 rebounds per game, and a team-leading 2.8 assists per game. His 81.3 free throw percentage ranked eighth in the MAC. Acuff also led EMU with 1.3 steals per game. His season was highlighted by a 36-point output against Toledo, Feb. 11, which was the third-highest point total by a MAC player in the 2022-23 season.
2023-24 PRESEASON ALL-MAC TEAMS
First Team
Ali Ali, Guard, Akron, Sr.
Enrique Freeman, Forward, Akron, Sr.
Chris Payton, Forward, Kent State, Grad.
Jaylin Hunter, Guard, Ohio, Sr.
Dante Maddox Jr., Guard, Toledo, Jr.
Second Team
Tyson Acuff, Guard, Eastern Michigan, Jr.
Jalen Sullinger, Guard, Kent State, Jr.
Anderson Mirambeaux, Center, Miami, Sr.
David Coit, Guard, Northern Illinois, Jr.
AJ Brown, Guard, Ohio, So.
PRESEASON PICKED 11TH
After finishing tied for ninth in 2022-23, Eastern Michigan was picked 11th in the MAC preseason coaches' poll.
2023-24 Preseason Coaches' Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Akron (11) – 121
2. Kent State – 104
3. Ohio (1) – 102
4. Toledo – 93
5. Northern Illinois – 82
T6. Bowling Green – 64
T6. Miami – 64
8. Ball State – 55
9. Buffalo – 38
10. Western Michigan – 33
11. Eastern Michigan – 22
12. Central Michigan – 14
Tournament Champion: Akron (9), Kent State (1), Ohio (1), Toledo (1)
HALF MICHIGAN-MADE
Half of the Eastern Michigan 16-player roster hails from Michigan while Illinois (two), Maryland (two), Colorado (one) are represented, as well as a pair of international student-athletes with one from Canada and another from Slovenia. A complete breakdown of the EMU roster can be found on page 10.
DOUBLEHEADER DAY
The Eagles are scheduled to play five double-headers with the EMU women's basketball team in 2023-24 with four of the five double-headers taking place in Ypsilanti. Both the EMU men's and women's teams will play Nov.18 (men vs. Cleveland State, women vs. SIUE), Jan. 6 (men vs. Kent State, women vs. Toledo), Jan. 20 (at Ohio), Jan. 27 (men vs. Buffalo, women vs. Ball State), Feb. 17 (men vs. Bowling Green, women vs. Northern Illinois). The EMU men also hosted a doubleheader with the EMU's volleyball team, Nov. 11.
Men's basketball beat Georgia Southern, 70-60, while volleyball beat Kent State in straight sets, Nov. 11.
Men's basketball beat Cleveland State, 69-62, Nov.18, while women's basketball topped SIUE, 68-65.
EMONI BATES NBA + G-LEAGUE
Former Eagle Emoni Bates played his first significant minutes in the NBA, Oct. 31, for the Cleveland Cavaliers against the New York Knicks as the rookie netted nine points with six rebounds in 23 minutes. Bates later sent shockwaves through the G-League in his first game with the Cleveland Charge, scoring 29 points with seven made three-pointers, Nov. 10, in Cleveland's 119-106 win over the Wisconsin Herd.
NEXT UP
Eastern Michigan is scheduled to travel to the University of Central Arkansas to take on UCA, Nov. 25, and the University of North Dakota, Nov. 26.
FOLLOW US
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMU_MBB) and Instagram (@EMUMBB).
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