Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, November 11
Ypsilanti, Mich.
12 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Georgia Southern
Men's Basketball Opens 2023-24 Home Slate Against Georgia Southern Saturday
11/9/2023 3:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MAC-SBC Challenge game slated for 12 p.m. start
| Men's Basketball vs. Georgia Southern | |
| Date | Saturday, Nov. 11 at 12 p.m. |
| Venue | George Gervin GameAbove Center | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Radio | WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| @EMU_MBB | @EMUAthletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team is scheduled to open to its home slate against Georgia Southern University Saturday, Nov. 11, at 12 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
ON AIR
Eastern Michigan and Georgia Southern will air on ESPN+. Brent Balbinot and Justin Rose are on the call. Tom Helmer and Greg Steiner will have the call live on WEMU Radio (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network App.
OPENING TIPS
» Saturday's game will be the first-ever meeting between Eastern Michigan and Georgia Southern.
» Eastern Michigan's Stan Heath is in his third year at the helm of the Eagles, holding an 18-45 record at EMU and 227-252 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.
» Freshman Arne Osojnik was 3-for-6 from three-point range in his collegiate debut, netting 13 points against Butler, Nov. 6.
» Eastern Michigan has won 15-straight non-conference openers at home with its last non-conference, home-opening loss coming to Brown University, Nov. 9, 2007 in a 74-55 final. EMU has won 14-of-15 home openers as the Eagles dropped a 91-74 decision to the University of Toledo, Dec 4, 2020.
» The first game of the MAC-SBC Challenge occurs from Wednesday, Nov. 8, to Saturday, Nov. 11, with the match-ups determined based on projected NET rankings heading into the season. The second contest will take place on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 with the match-ups set based on real-time NET rankings and announced in January. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests will be considered in determining the matchups. The MAC-SBC Challenge is confirmed through the 2024-25 season.
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)
ARN333 OSOJNIK
Freshman Arne Osojnik was 3-for-6 from three-point range in his collegiate debut, netting 13 points against Butler, Nov. 6. The freshman hit triples in back-to-back possessions in the first half to put EMU ahead 12-11 through seven and a half minutes of action. Osojnik's 13 points off the bench were the most by a reserve in the season opener since Chris James scored 14 points, Nov. 8, 2019 against Siena Heights University. The last freshman to score 13-plus off the bench was Ty Groce, who netted 15 points, Nov. 10, 2017 against Spring Arbor University. Current sophomore Orlando Lovejoy scored 18 points in his freshman debut, Nov. 7, 2022 against Wayne State University but was in the starting lineup.
HOME OPENER SUCCESS
Eastern Michigan has won 15-straight non-conference openers at home with its last non-conference, home-opening loss coming to Brown University, Nov. 9, 2007 in a 74-55 final. EMU has won 14-of-15 home openers as the Eagles dropped a 91-74 decision to the University of Toledo, Dec 4, 2020 in a COVID-19-effected season. Under head coach Stan Heath, EMU has secured home-opening wins against Wayne State (75-66), Nov. 7, 2022 and against Illinois State (103-98, 2 OT), Nov. 12, 2021.
SUN BELT, FUN BELT
Eastern Michigan is 8-17 all-time against Sun Belt opponents, having played Marshall more than any other Sun Belt school. EMU is 4-12 in the 16 meeting between the two programs. The most recent EMU contest against a Sun Belt school was the Eagles' 75-59 win against Arkansas State, Nov. 16, 2017. Eastern has never played Georgia Southern.
SERVEN SUCCESS
Redshirt junior Connor Serven set career-highs against Butler, Nov. 6, in his first career start in the following categories: points (6), rebounds (3), field goals made (2), field goals attempted (4), free throws attempted (3), and minutes (13).
JULIUS ELLERBE ASSISTING
Redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe showed flashes of his athleticism despite a scoreless outing at Butler, Nov. 6. Ellerbe found success getting into the lane, dropping off a team-high four assists, in addition to hauling in four rebounds. Only three players in the MAC had more than four assists opening night.
MARTYNOV MINUTES MATCHING
Sophomore Cyril Martynov played 18 minutes in the season opener at Butler, Nov. 6, matching the total number of minutes played during his freshman season at Georgia Tech. Martynov played 18 minutes over seven games played as a Yellow Jacket. The seven-footer had two points, a pair of rebounds, and one steal in his Eagle debut.
MT. MARTYNOV
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 7'1 while Bowling Green's Jason Spurgin, Central Michigan's Hunter Harding, and Western Michigan's Javonte Brown are all 7'0.
ACUFF MILESTONES COMING SOON-ISH
Junior Tyson Acuff has a pair of milestones on the horizon as the transfer from Duquesne sits at 91 career three-point makes and 680 career points. Acuff netted 38 three-pointers and 239 ponts in his two seasons at Duquesne.
THR33-POINT STR3AK
Eastern, which buried eight threes against Butler, Nov. 6, has now hit at least one triple in 583-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.
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 94-56 decision against Butler.
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 (49.8%) from the 2022-23 season, most notably being the program's 15th NBA draftee as Emoni Bates was picked in the second roundof the 2023 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers (49th overall).
FRESH FACES
EMU added six newcomers to its 2023-24 roster inlcuding 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).
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 (Kent State), Jan. 20 (at Ohio), Jan. 27 (Buffalo), Feb. 17 (Bowling Green). The EMU men are also scheduled to have a home double-header with the Eagles volleyball team, Nov. 11, as the Eagles open their home slate against Georgia Southern at 12 p.m. before volleyball battles Kent State at 6 p.m.
EMONI BATES NBA
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.
NEXT UP
Eastern Michigan is scheduled to travel to 10th-ranked Florida Atlantic in a 7 p.m. start Tuesday, Nov. 14.
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 Georgia Southern will air on ESPN+. Brent Balbinot and Justin Rose are on the call. Tom Helmer and Greg Steiner will have the call live on WEMU Radio (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network App.
OPENING TIPS
» Saturday's game will be the first-ever meeting between Eastern Michigan and Georgia Southern.
» Eastern Michigan's Stan Heath is in his third year at the helm of the Eagles, holding an 18-45 record at EMU and 227-252 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.
» Freshman Arne Osojnik was 3-for-6 from three-point range in his collegiate debut, netting 13 points against Butler, Nov. 6.
» Eastern Michigan has won 15-straight non-conference openers at home with its last non-conference, home-opening loss coming to Brown University, Nov. 9, 2007 in a 74-55 final. EMU has won 14-of-15 home openers as the Eagles dropped a 91-74 decision to the University of Toledo, Dec 4, 2020.
» The first game of the MAC-SBC Challenge occurs from Wednesday, Nov. 8, to Saturday, Nov. 11, with the match-ups determined based on projected NET rankings heading into the season. The second contest will take place on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 with the match-ups set based on real-time NET rankings and announced in January. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests will be considered in determining the matchups. The MAC-SBC Challenge is confirmed through the 2024-25 season.
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)
ARN333 OSOJNIK
Freshman Arne Osojnik was 3-for-6 from three-point range in his collegiate debut, netting 13 points against Butler, Nov. 6. The freshman hit triples in back-to-back possessions in the first half to put EMU ahead 12-11 through seven and a half minutes of action. Osojnik's 13 points off the bench were the most by a reserve in the season opener since Chris James scored 14 points, Nov. 8, 2019 against Siena Heights University. The last freshman to score 13-plus off the bench was Ty Groce, who netted 15 points, Nov. 10, 2017 against Spring Arbor University. Current sophomore Orlando Lovejoy scored 18 points in his freshman debut, Nov. 7, 2022 against Wayne State University but was in the starting lineup.
HOME OPENER SUCCESS
Eastern Michigan has won 15-straight non-conference openers at home with its last non-conference, home-opening loss coming to Brown University, Nov. 9, 2007 in a 74-55 final. EMU has won 14-of-15 home openers as the Eagles dropped a 91-74 decision to the University of Toledo, Dec 4, 2020 in a COVID-19-effected season. Under head coach Stan Heath, EMU has secured home-opening wins against Wayne State (75-66), Nov. 7, 2022 and against Illinois State (103-98, 2 OT), Nov. 12, 2021.
SUN BELT, FUN BELT
Eastern Michigan is 8-17 all-time against Sun Belt opponents, having played Marshall more than any other Sun Belt school. EMU is 4-12 in the 16 meeting between the two programs. The most recent EMU contest against a Sun Belt school was the Eagles' 75-59 win against Arkansas State, Nov. 16, 2017. Eastern has never played Georgia Southern.
SERVEN SUCCESS
Redshirt junior Connor Serven set career-highs against Butler, Nov. 6, in his first career start in the following categories: points (6), rebounds (3), field goals made (2), field goals attempted (4), free throws attempted (3), and minutes (13).
JULIUS ELLERBE ASSISTING
Redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe showed flashes of his athleticism despite a scoreless outing at Butler, Nov. 6. Ellerbe found success getting into the lane, dropping off a team-high four assists, in addition to hauling in four rebounds. Only three players in the MAC had more than four assists opening night.
MARTYNOV MINUTES MATCHING
Sophomore Cyril Martynov played 18 minutes in the season opener at Butler, Nov. 6, matching the total number of minutes played during his freshman season at Georgia Tech. Martynov played 18 minutes over seven games played as a Yellow Jacket. The seven-footer had two points, a pair of rebounds, and one steal in his Eagle debut.
MT. MARTYNOV
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 7'1 while Bowling Green's Jason Spurgin, Central Michigan's Hunter Harding, and Western Michigan's Javonte Brown are all 7'0.
ACUFF MILESTONES COMING SOON-ISH
Junior Tyson Acuff has a pair of milestones on the horizon as the transfer from Duquesne sits at 91 career three-point makes and 680 career points. Acuff netted 38 three-pointers and 239 ponts in his two seasons at Duquesne.
THR33-POINT STR3AK
Eastern, which buried eight threes against Butler, Nov. 6, has now hit at least one triple in 583-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.
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 94-56 decision against Butler.
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 (49.8%) from the 2022-23 season, most notably being the program's 15th NBA draftee as Emoni Bates was picked in the second roundof the 2023 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers (49th overall).
FRESH FACES
EMU added six newcomers to its 2023-24 roster inlcuding 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).
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 (Kent State), Jan. 20 (at Ohio), Jan. 27 (Buffalo), Feb. 17 (Bowling Green). The EMU men are also scheduled to have a home double-header with the Eagles volleyball team, Nov. 11, as the Eagles open their home slate against Georgia Southern at 12 p.m. before volleyball battles Kent State at 6 p.m.
EMONI BATES NBA
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.
NEXT UP
Eastern Michigan is scheduled to travel to 10th-ranked Florida Atlantic in a 7 p.m. start Tuesday, Nov. 14.
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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