Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, January 23
Kalamazoo, Mich.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
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Western Michigan
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography 2023: Licensed to Eastern Michigan University of for Official University Use Only.
EMU Traveling to WMU for Tuesday Contest
1/21/2024 8:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Tip time is 7 p.m. in Kalamazoo
| Men's Basketball at Western Michigan | |
| Date | Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. |
| Venue | University Arena (5,241) | Kalamazoo, Mich. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide (PDF) |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Listen | WEMU (89.1 FM) | The Varsity Network App |
| @EMU_MBB | @EMUAthletics | |
| Fan Information | Purchase Tickets |
ON AIR
Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan will air on ESPN+. Kenny Schierlinger (play-by-play) and Wayne Hinton (analyst) will be 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
» Eastern Michigan was topped by Ohio, 85-67, Jan. 20. EMU closed the game on a 20-1 run after trailing by 38 with seven minutes left to play. Junior Tyson Acuff netted 30 points.
» Western Michigan enters the game 7-11 overall and 4-2 in the MAC after dropping its two most recent games at Akron (Jan. 16) and at Bowling Green (Jan. 20), respectively. Notable non-conference games for the Broncos include a narrow 63-59 loss at Northwestern, Nov. 14, a 73-56 loss at Ohio State, Nov. 19, and an 86-65 loss at Notre Dame, Dec. 5.
» Acuff is averaging 22.2 points per game through 18 games, which leads the MAC and ranks fifth in the nation. Acuff's season has been highlighted by four of 30-plus point performances (31 vs. Cleveland State, Nov. 18; 31 vs. North Dakota, Nov. 26; 31 at BGSU, Jan. 2; 30 at Ohio, Jan. 20)
» Acuff has scored 23-plus points in nine 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; 31 at BGSU, Jan. 2; 30 at Ohio, Jan. 20). Acuff is one of eight players in the nation with six showings of 23 or more points.
» Eastern Michigan's Stan Heath is in his third year at the helm of the Eagles, holding a 26-54 record at EMU and 235-261 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 22.2 points per game through 18 games, which leads the MAC and is sixth in the nation. Acuff's season has been highlighted by four 30-plus point performances.
National scoring leaders:
1. Tommy Bruner 25.2 Denver
2. Zach Edey 23.3 Purdue
3. Xavier Johnson 23.2 Southern Illinois
4. Tyler Thomas 22.3 Hofstra
5. Tyson Acuff 22.2 Eastern Michigan
TYSON ACUFF: 5TH IN PROGRAM HISTORY PPG
Junior Tyson Acuff's 22.2 ppg would rank fifth 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
5. Tyson Acuff 22.2 2023-24
6. Derrick Dial 20.9 1997-98
TYSON ACUFF: SURPASSED 1000+ CAREER POINTS
Junior Tyson Acuff is at 1,045 career points, surpassing the 1,000 mark with a 21-point performance against Ball State, Jan. 16. He surpassed 100 career three-point makes with his five made three-pointers against North Dakota, Nov. 26, and sits at 115 career three-pointers made. Acuff netted 38 three-pointers and 239 points in his two seasons at Duquesne.
TYSON ACUFF: RISING IN EMU RECORDS
Junior Tyson Acuff is at 806 points in his EMU career.
EMU all-time leaders in points:
1. Kennedy McIntosh 2,219 1967-71
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46. Kareem Carpenter 860 1993-95
47. Dave Parks 838 1954-57
48. Percy Cooper 836 1983-86
49. Derek Thompson 834 2010-13
50. MikeTalley 815 2013-15
Gary Green 815 1977-79
52. Noah Farrakhan 808 2021-23
53. Tyson Acuff 806 2022-24
54. Jack Brusewitz 804 1977-82
James "Boo" Jackson 804 2001-05
If Acuff can reach 1,000 points scored at EMU, he would be the 32nd player in program history to do so and the first since Tim Bond surpassed 1,000 in 2018.
TYSON ACUFF: 37.5 MINUTES/GAME
Junior Tyson Acuff, who played at least 37 minutes in 11-straight games before playing just 31 minutes at Miami, Jan. 13, is averaging 37.5 minutes per game. He played 40 minutes against Ball State, Jan. 16, his third time playing the entirety of the game this season. The 37.5 mark leads the MAC and ranks sixth in the country. Acuff narrowly trails Ricky Cottrill's mark of 37.7 minutes per game for the most by an Eagle since 2000.
National minutes per game leaders:
1. Ethan Taylor 39.0 Air Force
2. Kareem Thompson 38.4 Oral Roberts
3. Isaac McBride 38.2 Oral Roberts
4. Kino Lilly Jr. 37.9 Brown
5. Tyler Thomas 37.7 Hofstra
6. Tyson Acuff 37.5 Eastern Michigan
TYSON ACUFF, 2ND IN THE NATION IN FGM/GAME
Junior Tyson Acuff ranks second in the nation in field goals made per game.
National field goals made per game leaders:
1. Hunter Dickinson 8.11 Kansas
2. Tyson Acuff 8.06 Eastern Michigan
3. Tommy Bruner 8.05 Denver
TYSON ACUFF: SIX GAMES WITH 10+ FGM
Junior Tyson Acuff has converted 10-plus field goals in six games this season (11 vs. Cleveland State, Nov. 18; 10 at Detroit Mercy, Nov. 21; 12 vs. North Dakota, Nov. 26; 10 vs. Lake Superior State, Dec. 1; 10 at Michigan, Dec. 16; 13 at BGSU, Jan. 2).
Games with 10-plus field goals made in 2023-24:
1. Tommy Bruner 8 Denver
2. Tyson Acuff 6 Eastern Michigan
Marcus Hill 6 Bowling Green
Tucker DeVries 6 Drake
Zach Edey 6 Purdue
TYSON ACUFF, 9 GAMES WITH 23+ POINTS
Junior Tyson Acuff has scored 23-plus points nine times this season (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; 31 at BGSU, Jan. 2; 30 at Ohio, Jan. 20). Acuff is one of six players in the nation with nine showings of 23 or more points.
Games with 23-plus points in 2023-24:
1. Tommy Bruner 13 Denver
2. Zach Edey 11 Purdue
3. Tyson Acuff 9 Eastern Michigan
Xander Rice 9 Monmouth
Xavier Johnson 9 Southern Illinois
Elijah Pepper 9 UC-Davis
TYSON ACUFF GOES FOR 30+ POINTS (x4)
Junior Tyson Acuff has four games with 30-plus points this season as he netted 30 at Ohio, Jan. 20, and 31 against BGSU, Jan. 2. He also had 31 against North Dakota, Nov. 26, on a blistering 12-for-19 showing from the floor and 31 in EMU's 69-62 victory over Cleveland State, Nov. 18, in an 11-for-17 shooting performance. Acuff is one of eight players in the nation and the only player in the MAC with four-plus 30-point showings.
Games with 31-plus points in 2023-24:
1. Tommy Bruner 6 Denver
2. Zach Edey 5 Purdue
Xavier Johnson 5 Southern Illinois
4. Tyson Acuff 4 Eastern Michigan
Jayden Epps 4 Georgetown
Noah Reynolds 4 Green Bay
Landon Glasper 4 North Carolina A&T
Wade Taylor IV 4 Texas A&M
EASTERN MICHIGAN VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN
Eastern Michigan trails in the series against Western Michigan, 55-64. The teams have played every calendar year since 1974, making 2024 the 51st-straight calendar year that the teams have played. EMU is seeking back-to-back wins after topping WMU, 66-59, in the teams' most recent meeting, Feb. 21, 2023. Despite WMU holding a 36-19 advantage in games played in Kalamazoo, EMU has won four of the last six contests on the road.
AHEAD OF PACE: WINS BY DATE
Eastern Michigan met its 2022-23 win total as the Eagles secured their eighth win of the 2023-24 season, Jan. 6 vs. Kent State, nearly two months earlier in 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 Dec. 30 vs. Northwood
Feb. 25 vs. Ball State 8 Jan. 6 vs. Kent State
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 Dec. 30 vs. Northwood
Feb. 25 vs. Ball State 8 Jan. 6 vs. Kent State
CORRELATION AND MAYBE CAUSATION
Some statistics have provided increased insight into whether the Eagles would win or lose:
Did the Eagles.....? Yes No
Lead/tie at halftime 6-1 2-9
Hold opponent to 71 points or less 7-1 1-9
Shoot better % than opponent 8-1 0-9
Outrebound opponent 6-2 2-8
Trends were broken in EMU's 92-90 overtime loss against BGSU, Jan. 2, as the Eagles suffered their first loss in three of the above categories. EMU led, 42-34, at halftime; outshot BGSU, .500-.462; and outrebounded the Falcons, 43-41. The Eagles also limited Miami to 71 points in their 71-54 loss, Jan. 13, before outrebounding Ball State, 37-31, in a 76-62 loss, Jan. 16.
Win when trailing at the half... Half Final
Nov. 18 vs. Cleveland State 29-32 69-62
Jan. 6 vs. Kent State 26-38 71-69
Win when being outrebounded... REB Final
Nov. 25 at Central Arkansas 35-36 74-71
Jan. 6 vs. Kent State 29-35 71-69
Win when allowing 72+ points... PA Final
Nov. 21 at Detroit Mercy 72 76-72
TIGHT GAMES GOING TO EASTERN MICHIGAN
EMU has found success in games decided by 10 points or less in 2023-24, holding a 7-2 record in such games. The Eagles' losses in the category were a tight 72-70 loss to North Dakota, Nov. 26, and a 92-90 overtime loss at BGSU, Jan. 2, as EMU is also 5-2 in games decided by four points or less.
20-1 RUN AT OHIO
EMU closed the game at Ohio, Jan. 20, on an impressive 20-1 run over the course of the final 6:56 of the game. During that stretch the Eagles limited the Bobcats to 0-for-4 from the field while forcing four turnovers. EMU converted their final five field goal attempts in the game, going 7-for-11 during the 20-1 run.
JAVANTAE RANDLE: CAREER-HIGH 8 POINTS
Redshirt sophomore Javantae Randle, who had four points and 27 minutes played for the season entering the game at Ohio, Jan. 20, netted eight points in the game, matching his career high, which he set against Bowling Green, Jan. 3, 2023. Randle played a season-high 14 minutes against the Bobcats.
THREE OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS ALLOWED VS. BSU
EMU conceded just three offensive rebounds against Ball State as the Eagles hauled in 27 defensive boards. The three offensive boards allowed by the Eagles is the fewest since allowing three at Niagara in a 67-60 loss, Dec. 11, 2023. The game against the Cardinals marks the first time the Eagles have allowed three or fewer offensive rebounds against a MAC opponent since giving up three against Northern Illinois in a 55-52 loss, March 5, 2012.
JALIN BILLINGSLEY: 11 POINTS, 8 REBOUNDS
In his second start of the season and first since Nov. 14 at 10th-ranked Florida Atlantic, junior Jalin Billingsley netted 11 points and hauled in eight rebounds against Ball State, Jan. 16. Billingsley's 11 points equaled his season high, which he previously achieved against Lake Superior State, Dec. 1. His eight rebounds matched a career high, which he did against Northwood, Dec. 30.
ORLANDO LOVEJOY: 14+ POINTS IN 6-OF-9
Sophomore Orlando Lovejoy has scored at least 14 points in six of his last nine games as he scored 16 points at Michigan, Dec. 16; 15 points against Hampton, Dec. 21; 17 points against Northwood, Dec. 30; 14 points at BGSU, Jan. 2; 16 points against Kent State, Jan. 6; and 16 points against Central Michigan, Jan. 9. Lovejoy's streak was snapped with a two-point showing at Miami, Jan. 13, tallying 13 total points in his three most recent games. Lovejoy had just two games of 14-plus points in his previous 32 games (18 vs. Wayne State, Nov. 7, 2022; 15 at BGSU, Feb. 28, 2023).
ARNE OSOJNIK: 4TH IN MAC FRESHMEN SCORING
Freshman Arne Osojnik is fourth in the MAC in scoring by true freshmen, averaging 7.4 points per game.
Freshman MAC scoring leaders (true freshman only):
1. Evan Isparo 7.9 Miami
2. Ryan Sabol 7.8 Buffalo
3. Anquan Boldin Jr. 7.6 Buffalo
4. Arne Osojnik 7.4 Eastern Michigan
5. Sonny Wilson 6.8 Toledo
JULIUS ELLERBE: EMU LEADER IN REBOUNDS
Redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe leads the Eagles in rebounds (85, 5.0 rpg) and ranks second in assists (36, 2.1 apg). Ellerbe has shown his versatile play in 2023-24, as he has tallied six games with three-plus assists and nine games with six-plus rebounds.
YUSUF JIHAD: 6TH IN MAC 3PT%
Junior Yusuf Jihad is second in the MAC with an impressive .439 shooting percentage from deep as he is 18-for-41 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.
MAC 3PT% leaders:
1. Tyem Freeman .563 Kent State
2. Ajay Sheldon .538 Ohio
3. Derrick Butler .458 Central Michigan
4. Aidan Rubio .444 Central Michigan
5. Xavier Amos .441 Northern Illinois
6. Yusuf Jihad .439 Eastern Michigan
ONE EAGLE WITH 10+ POINTS AT OHIO
The Eagles had one player (Acuff, 30) net 10-plus points at Ohio, Jan. 20, marking the first time this season that EMU had just one player score double-digit points in a game this season. Four players (Acuff, 31; Lovejoy, 14; Geeter, 12; Osojnik, 11) scored in double figures for the first time this season at BGSU, Jan. 2.
Eagles with 10-plus points in 2023-24 and number of games:
1. Tyson Acuff 17
2. Yusuf Jihad 6
Orlando Lovejoy 6
3. Arne Osojnik 5
5. Legend Geeter 4
6. Julius Ellerbe 3
7. Jalin Billingsley 2
8. John McGriff 1
Connor Serven 1
TEN DIFFERENT PLAYERS IN THE 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 (17), redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe (12), redshirt sophomore Legend Geeter (11), freshman Arne Osojnik (10), junior Yusuf Jihad (9), sophomore Orlando Lovejoy (9), sophomore Cyril Martynov (7), redshirt junior Connor Serven (5), redshirt junior John McGriff (4)and junior Jalin Billingsley (3) have all started for EMU.
In total, the Eagles have used 14 unique lineups in 19 games. The Acuff-Ellerbe-Geeter-Jihad-Osojnik combo is one of only three lineups used multiple times, recording a 2-1 record. More information can be found on page 10.
EMU is tied for the nation's lead in unique starting lineups.
Nation's leaders in number of unique starting lineups:
1. Eastern Michigan 14
Furman 14
3. Detroit Mercy 12
BLOCK-A-SHOT STREAK, 15-STRAIGHT GAMES
EMU has blocked at least one shot in the last 15 games as the Eagles tallied two rejections at Ohio, Jan. 20. Eastern last went without a block against then-10th-ranked Florida Atlantic, Nov. 14.
THR33-POINT STR3AK, 600-STRAIGHT GAM3S
Eastern, which hit five threes against Ohio, Jan. 20, has now hit at least one triple in 600-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.
"THIS ONE'S GOING TO OVERTIME" (x2)
EMU went to overtime in its first two MAC games. The Eagles topped Kent State, 71-69, Jan. 6, after falling at Bowling Green, 92-90, Jan. 2. The games marked the first time EMU has played consecutive overtime games since Jan. 7 and Jan. 10, 2015, in losses against Ball State and Miami, respectively.
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), and 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 13.
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 doubleheaders 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.
The men's team is 3-1 in doubleheader games so far in 2023-24 but 3-0 at home.
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 25.5 points per game and has six outings of 29-plus points for the Charge. Bates later scored 38 points in a 116-104 win over the Santa Cruz Warriors, Jan. 6.
NEXT UP
Eastern Michigan is scheduled to host the University at Buffalo for a 3:30 p.m. tip Saturday, Jan. 27. The game is the nightcap of a doubleheader with the EMU's women's team.
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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