Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, December 30
Ypsilanti, Mich.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Northwood
EMU Closing 2023 by Hosting Northwood Saturday
12/28/2023 12:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Eagles' final tune-up before starting MAC-play at BGSU, Jan. 2
| Men's Basketball vs. Northwood | |
| Date | Saturday, Dec. 30, at 1 p.m. |
| Venue | George Gervin GameAbove Center (8,754) | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide (PDF) | Digital Programs |
| Live Stats | Fan Stats | Media Stats |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Listen | n/a |
| @EMU_MBB | @EMUAthletics | |
| Fan Information | Purchase Tickets |
ON AIR
Eastern Michigan and Hampton will air on ESPN+. Ryan Wooley and Reggie Butler will be on the call.
OPENING TIPS
» Eastern Michigan topped Hampton, 72-69, Dec. 21, in a game that EMU led by 19 in the first half. Hampton hit a three with 40 seconds left to cut the Eagle lead to three as EMU held off the Pirates. Junior Tyson Acuff scored 29 points while sophomore Orlando Lovejoy netted 15 points.
» Northwood enters Saturday's game at 3-8 after losing to Northern Michigan, 80-64, Dec. 19.
» Junior Tyson Acuff is averaging 23.0 points per game through 11 games, which leads the MAC and ranks fourth in the nation. Acuff's season has been highlighted by a pair of 31-point performances (31 vs. Cleveland State, Nov. 18; 31 vs. North Dakota, Nov. 26).
» Junior Tyson Acuff has scored 23-plus points in seven games (31 vs. Cleveland State, Nov. 18; 25 at Detroit Mercy, Nov. 21; 23 at Central Arkansas, Nov. 25; 31 vs. North Dakota, Nov. 26; 24 vs. Lake Superior State, Dec. 1; 24 at Michigan, Dec. 16; 29 vs. Hampton, Dec. 21). Acuff is one of four players in the nation with seven showings of 23 or more points.
» Eastern Michigan is 5-0 all-time against Northwood with the most recent game coming Dec. 5, 2021, a 101-63 win for EMU. The Eagles have won all five contests by at least 14 points and scored more than 100 points in a trio of games. Saturday's game is considered an exhibition for the Timberwolves.
» Eastern Michigan's Stan Heath is in his third year at the helm of the Eagles, holding a 24-49 record at EMU and 233-256 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, MAC SCORING LEADER AND MORE
Junior Tyson Acuff is averaging 23.0 points per game through 11 games, which leads the MAC and ranks fifth in the nation. Acuff's season has been highlighted by a pair of 31-point performances. Acuff is the first Eagle since Brandon Bowdry to score at least 13 points in each of the team's first 11 games. Bowdry started the 2009-10 season with 13-straight contests with 14-plus points.
National scoring leaders:
1. Tommy Bruner 23.2 Denver
2. Xavier Johnson 24.1 Southern Illinois
3. Zach Edey 24.0 Purdue
4. Jalen Blackmon 23.3 Stetson
5. Tyson Acuff 23.0 Eastern Michigan
TYSON ACUFF, T-4TH IN PROGRAM HISTORY PPG
Junior Tyson Acuff's 23.0 ppg would rank tied for fourth in program history for a single season.
1. George Gervin 29.5 1971-72
2. Earl Boykins 25.7 1997-98
3. Kennedy McIntosh 25.4 1970-71
4. Grant Long 23.0 1987-88
Tyson Acuff 23.0 2023-24
6. Derrick Dial 20.9 1997-98
TYSON ACUFF 100+ CAREER THREE-POINTERS
Junior Tyson Acuff surpassed 100 career three-point makes with his five made three-pointers against North Dakota, Nov. 26, and sits at 110 career three-pointers made. Acuff is at 920 career points. Acuff netted 38 three-pointers and 239 points in his two seasons at Duquesne. Acuff saw a streak of seven-straight games with multiple made three-pointers come to an end at Michigan, Dec. 16, after an 0-of-7 showing from deep. With two made triples against Hampton, Dec. 21, Acuff has made multiple threes in eight of the last nine contests.
TYSON ACUFF, 36.6 MINUTES/GAME
Junior Tyson Acuff, who has played at least 37 minutes in each of the last eight games, is averaging 36.6 minutes per game. The 36.6 mark leads the MAC and ranks 13th in the country. Acuff's minutes average is the most by an Eagle since 2001-02 when Ricky Cottrill averaged 37.7 minutes per game.
TYSON ACUFF, 7 GAMES WITH 23+ POINTS
Junior Tyson Acuff has scored 23-plus points in seven of the last eight games (31 vs. Cleveland State, Nov. 18; 25 at Detroit Mercy, Nov. 21; 23 at Central Arkansas, Nov. 25; 31 vs. North Dakota, Nov. 26; 24 vs. Lake Superior State, Dec. 1; 24 at Michigan, Dec. 16; 29 vs. Hampton, Dec. 21). Acuff is one of four players in the nation with seven showings of 23 or more points.
Games with 23-plus points in 2023-24:
1. Tyson Acuff 7 Eastern Michigan
Tommy Bruner 7 Denver
R.J. Davis 7 North Carolina
Zach Edey 7 Purdue
TYSON ACUFF GOES FOR 31 POINTS (x2)
Junior Tyson Acuff has a pair of 31-point performances in 2023-24 as he netted 31 against North Dakota, Nov. 26, on a blistering 12-for-19 showing from the floor. He also scored 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 four times in his career, all of which have come at EMU. Acuff is one of 17 players in the nation and the only player in the MAC with multiple 31-point showings.
Games with 31-plus points in 2023-24:
1. Xavier Johnson 4 Southern Illinois
2. Tommy Bruner 3 Denver
3. Tyson Acuff 2 Eastern Michigan
Touko Tainamo 2 Denver
Tucker DeVries 2 Drake
Jayden Epps 2 Georgetown
Ken Evans, Jr. 2 Jacksonville
Shahada Wells 2 McNeese State
Dug McDaniel 2 Michigan
Wynston Tabbs 2 Morehead State
Landon Glasper 2 North Carolina A&T
Clark Slajchert 2 Pennsylvania
Zach Edey 2 Purdue
Jalen Blackmon 2 Stetson
Wade Taylor IV 2 Texas A&M
Eric Dixon 2 Villanova
Trey Calvin 2 Wright State
ORLANDO LOVEJOY: 16 POINTS THEN 15 POINTS
Sophomore Orlando Lovejoy scored 16 points, including 12 in the second half, at Michigan, Dec. 16, following up the performance with a 15-point effort against Hampton, Dec. 21. Against UM, Lovejoy was two points short of his career high against Wayne State, Nov. 7, 2022. Lovejoy made six field goals against the Wolverines, equaling a career high. The Hampton game marked Lovejoy's fourth career game with 15-plus points.
EASTERN MICHIGAN VS. NORTHWOOD
Eastern Michigan is 5-0 all-time against Northwood with the most recent game coming Dec. 5, 2021, a 101-63 win for EMU. The Eagles have won all five contests by at least 14 points and scored more than 100 points in a trio of games.
Per Northwood's athletics website, Saturday's game will be considered an exhibition for the Timberwolves.
LONNIE GRIFFIN CONNECTION
Northwood Head Coach Lonnie Griffin graduated from Eastern Michigan in 2001. Prior to his time at Northwood, Griffin spent four seasons as the Head Coach at Delta College, where EMU junior Kevin-David Rice started his collegiate career. Since Griffin was at Delta College from 2010-14, Griffin did not coach Rice.
JALIN BILLINGSLEY CONNECTION
Junior Jalin Billingsley was high school teammates with Northwood's Collin Albert at Lutheran East in Cleveland, Ohio, winning the state title in 2021.
AHEAD OF PACE: WINS BY DATE
Eastern Michigan is well ahead of its 2022-23 win pace as the Eagles secured their fifth win of the 2023-24 season, Dec. 1 vs. Lake Superior State, nearly two months earlier into the season compared to the 2022-23 season.
2022-23 Date Win Number 2023-24 Date
Nov. 7 vs. Wayne State 1 Nov. 11 vs. Georgia Southern
Nov. 30 at FIU 2 Nov. 18 vs. Cleveland State
Dec. 18 vs. Detroit Mercy 3 Nov. 21 at Detroit Mercy
Jan. 7 vs. Central Mich. 4 Nov. 25 at Central Arkansas
Jan. 28 at Miami 5 Dec. 1 vs. Lake Superior State
Jan. 31 vs. Ohio 6 Dec. 21 vs. Hampton
Feb. 21 vs. Western Mich. 7 ???
Feb. 25 vs. Ball State 8 ???
Nov. 30 at FIU 2 Nov. 18 vs. Cleveland State
Dec. 18 vs. Detroit Mercy 3 Nov. 21 at Detroit Mercy
Jan. 7 vs. Central Mich. 4 Nov. 25 at Central Arkansas
Jan. 28 at Miami 5 Dec. 1 vs. Lake Superior State
Jan. 31 vs. Ohio 6 Dec. 21 vs. Hampton
Feb. 21 vs. Western Mich. 7 ???
Feb. 25 vs. Ball State 8 ???
YUSUF JIHAD, 9+ POINTS IN 7-OF-11 GAMES
Junior Yusuf Jihad has scored at least nine points in seven of the team's 11 contests, highlighted by a 15-point showing against his former school, Oakland, Dec. 8. Jihad had just four performances of nine-plus points, all of which came in 2022-23, in his previous 65 games played.
YUSUF JIHAD, 3RD IN MAC 3PT%
Junior Yusuf Jihad ranks third in the MAC with an impressive .519 shooting percentage from deep as he is 14-for-27 on three-point attempts. Jihad does not meet the 2.5 three-pointers made per game qualifier, so is therefore not ranked nationally. Jihad was 16-for-44 (.374) on three-point attempts in 2022-23.
CORRELATION AND MAYBE CAUSATION
Some statistics have provided increased insight into whether the Eagles would win or lose:
Are the Eagles.....? Yes No
Winning/tied at halftime 5-0 1-5
Shooting better than opponent 6-0 0-5
Outrebounding opponent 5-0 1-5
EMU's lone win when trailing at the half was a 69-62 win over Cleveland State, Nov. 18, when the Eagles overcame a 32-29 halftime deficit. The Eagles' lone win when being outrebounded was a 74-71 win at Central Arkansas, Nov. 25, as EMU was narrowly outrebounded, 36-35.
TIGHT GAMES GOING TO EASTERN MICHIGAN
EMU has found success in games decided by 10 points or less in 2023-24, holding a 5-1 record in such games. The Eagles' lone loss in the category was a tight 72-70 loss to North Dakota, Nov. 26, as EMU is also 3-1 in games decided by four points or less.
JULIUS ELLERBE, LEADER IN ASSISTS/REBOUNDS
Redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe leads the Eagles in both assists (31, 3.1 apg) and rebounds (53, 5.3 rpg). Ellerbe has shown his versatile play in 2023-24, as he has tallied six games with three-plus assists and six games with six-plus rebounds, including an active three-game streak with at least six boards.
CYRIL MARTYNOV: CAREER-HIGH MIN./BOARDS
Sophomore Cyril Martynov played a career-high 29 minutes against Hampton, Dec. 21 after playing a then-career-high 25 minutes at Michigan, Dec. 16. Martynov scored five points while hauling in a career-high seven rebounds in the 72-69 win against the Pirates, Dec. 21.
TEN DIFFERENT PLAYERS IN STARTING LINEUP
Eastern Michigan, which used five different lineups in the opening five games of the 2023-24 season, has used 10 different players in the starting lineup this season. Junior Tyson Acuff is the lone Eagle to start every game while freshman Arne Osojnik has started eight games after not starting the season-opening game at Butler, Nov. 6, and the two most recent games. Redshirt sophomore Legend Geeter started the season's first seven games and is at eight total starts. Redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe and junior Yusuf Jihad are tied for fourth on the team with seven starts. Redshirt junior John McGriff and sophomore Cyril Martynov each have four starts while redshirt junior Connor Serven has three starts and sophomore Orlando Lovejoy has two starts.Junior Jalin Billingsley has one start.
In total, the Eagles have used nine unique lineups in 11 games. The Acuff-Ellerbe-Geeter-Jihad-Osojnik combo is the only lineup used multiple times, recording a 2-1 record. More information can be found on page nine.
THREE EAGLES WITH 10+ POINTS, 6-OF-8 GAMES
The Eagles, which had two players in double-digits in points in each of the first three games, put together six-straight games of having a trio of Eagles score double-digit points before having the streak snapped at Michigan, Dec. 16, and having two Eagles with 10-plus against Hampton, Dec. 21.
Eagles with 10-plus points in 2023-24 and number of games:
1. Tyson Acuff 11
2. Yusuf Jihad 5
3. Arne Osojnik 4
4. Legend Geeter 3
5. Orlando Lovejoy 2
6. Jalin Billingsley 1
Julius Ellerbe 1
John McGriff 1
THR33-POINT STR3AK, 593-STRAIGHT GAM3S
Eastern, which hit six threes against Hampton, Dec. 16, has now hit at least one triple in 593-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.
MICHIGAN MATCH-UPS
The Eagles are scheduled to play five in-state opponents in non-conference action with contests against 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. EMU topped Detroit Mercy, 76-72, Nov. 21. The Eagles won, 68-53, over LSSU, Dec. 1, before moving to 2-2 in such games after a 77-63 loss to Oakland, Dec. 8, and an 83-66 loss at Michigan, Dec. 16.
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 played three first-time opponents as they met 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. The Eagles edged Central Arkansas, 74-71.
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).
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 12.
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, 3-0, 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. Bates is averaging 24.8 points per game and has five outings of 29-plus points for the Charge.
NEXT UP
Eastern Michigan is scheduled to open MAC play at Bowling Green State University, Jan. 2, after closing out the 2023 calendar year against Northwood. EMU is also scheduled to play at a to-be-determined Sun Belt Conference opponent, Feb. 10, in the second leg of the MAC-SBC Challenge.
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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