Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, January 30
Ypsilanti, Mich.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Akron
Photo by: Jonathan Knight
EMU Hosting MAC-Leading Akron in Tuesday Whiteout
1/28/2024 8:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Fans encouraged to wear white for 7 p.m. contest
| Men's Basketball vs. Akron | |
| Date | Tuesday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. |
| Venue | George Gervin GameAbove Center (8,754) | Ypsilanti, 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 Akron will air on ESPN+. Ryan Wooley (play-by-play) and Claire Dau (analyst) will be on the call. Tom Helmer will have the call live on WEMU Radio (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network App.
OPENING TIPS
» Eastern Michigan topped Buffalo, 75-65, Jan. 27. EMU snapped a five-game losing skid, improved to 8-2 in games decided by 10 points or fewer, and moved to 7-3 at home. Junior Tyson Acuff led the way with 19 points while freshman Arne Osojnik poured in 16 points.
» Akron enters the game 15-5 overall and 7-1 in the MAC after suffering a narrow 70-68 loss at Miami in its most recent contest, Jan. 27. Notable non-conference games for the Zips include a 65-62 loss to Utah State, Nov. 20, a 79-59 loss to Drake, Nov. 21, and a 67-52 win over Bradley, Dec. 5.
» Acuff is averaging 21.6 points per game through 20 games, which leads the MAC and ranks sixth in the nation. Acuff's season has been highlighted by four 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 11 players in the nation with nine showings of 23 or more points.
» Eastern Michigan's Stan Heath is in his third year at the helm of the Eagles, holding a 27-55 record at EMU and 236-262 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.
EASTERN MICHIGAN VS. AKRON
Eastern Michigan trails in the series against Akron, 36-23. The teams have played every calendar year since 1993, making 2024 the 32nd-straight calendar year that the teams have played. EMU dropped the most recent contest between the two teams by a 78-51 decision in Ypsilanti, Feb. 14, 2023. The Eagles and Zips are tied at 13 wins apiece in EMU home games, but EMU has dropped three of the last four in Ypsilanti. The Zips have won eight of the last nine with the lone EMU win the stretch being a 71-59 result in Ypsilanti, Jan. 9, 2021.
TYSON ACUFF: MAC SCORING LEADER AND MORE
Junior Tyson Acuff is averaging 21.6 points per game through 20 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 26.1 Denver
2. Xavier Johnson 23.0 Southern Illinois
3. Zach Edey 22.9 Purdue
4. Jordan Johnson 22.0 New Orleans
5. David Jones 21.7 Memphis
6. Tyson Acuff 21.6 Eastern Michigan
TYSON ACUFF: 5TH IN PROGRAM HISTORY PPG
Junior Tyson Acuff's 21.6 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 21.6 2023-24
6. Derrick Dial 20.9 1997-98
TYSON ACUFF: RISING IN EMU RECORDS
Junior Tyson Acuff is at 839 points in his EMU career.
EMU all-time leaders in points:
1. Kennedy McIntosh 2,219 1967-71
.
44. Ron Gulyas 891 1958-61
45. Theron Wilson 875 1992-96
46. Kareem Carpenter 860 1993-95
47. Tyson Acuff 839 2022-24
48. Dave Parks 838 1954-57
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.
Acuff is at 1,078 career points, surpassing the 1,000 mark with a 21-point performance against Ball State, Jan. 16. He sits at 116 career three-pointers made. Acuff netted 38 three-pointers and 239 points in his two seasons at Duquesne.
TYSON ACUFF: 37.8 MINUTES/GAME
Junior Tyson Acuff, who played at least 37 minutes in 15 of the last 16 games, is averaging 37.8 minutes per game. He played 40 minutes against Buffalo, Jan. 27, his fifth time playing the entirety of the game this season. The 37.8 mark leads the MAC and ranks fifth in the country. Acuff edges 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 38.8 Air Force
2. Kareem Thompson 38.4 Oral Roberts
3. Isaac McBride 38.3 Oral Roberts
4. Kino Lilly Jr. 37.8 Brown
5. Tyson Acuff 37.8 Eastern Michigan
TYSON ACUFF, 4TH IN THE NATION IN FGM/GAME
Junior Tyson Acuff ranks fourth in the nation in field goals made per game.
National field goals made per game leaders:
1. Tommy Bruner 8.3 Denver
2. Hunter Dickinson 8.0 Kansas
3. Tai'reon Joseph 7.94 Southern
4. Tyson Acuff 7.89 Eastern Michigan
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 9 Denver
2. Tyson Acuff 6 Eastern Michigan
Marcus Hill 6 Bowling Green
Tucker DeVries 6 Drake
Noah Reynolds 6 Green Bay
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 11 players in the nation with nine showings of 23 or more points.
Games with 23-plus points in 2023-24:
1. Tommy Bruner 14 Denver
2. Zach Edey 12 Purdue
3. Tyson Acuff 9 Eastern Michigan
Marcus Hill 9 Bowling Green
Noah Reynolds 9 Green Bay
Tyler Thomas 9 Hofstra
Xander Rice 9 Monmouth
Jordan Johnson 9 New Orleans
R.J. Davis 9 North Carolina
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 11 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 7 Denver
2. Noah Reynolds 5 Green Bay
Zach Edey 5 Purdue
Xavier Johnson 5 Southern Illinois
Wade Taylor IV 4 Texas A&M
4. Tyson Acuff 4 Eastern Michigan
Jayden Epps 4 Georgetown
Noah Reynolds 4 Green Bay
Jordan Johnson 4 New Orleans
Landon Glasper 4 North Carolina A&T
Dalton Knecht 4 Tennessee
TYSON ACUFF: DOUBLE-DIGITS IN 22-STRAIGHT
Junior Tyson Acuff has netted at least 11 points in 22-straight contests, extending back through the final three games of the 2022-23 season.
EMU consecutive games in double-digits since 2000:
1. Tyson Acuff 22 2022-24
2. John Bowler 21 2005-06
3. Carlos Medlock 20 2007-10*
*Medlock missed the 2008-09 season with a broken foot.
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 will win or lose:
Did the Eagles.....? Yes No
Lead/tie at halftime 7-1 2-10
Hold opponent to 71 points or less 8-1 1-10
Shoot better % than opponent 9-1 0-10
Outrebound opponent 7-2 2-9
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 8-2 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.
JAVANTAE RANDLE: 4 OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS (x2)
Redshirt sophomore Javantae Randle has secured four offensive rebounds in each of the last two games. Randle also hauled in six total rebounds against Buffalo, Jan. 27, and at Western Michigan, Jan. 23, respectively.
JAVANTAE RANDLE: FIRST START AT WMU
Redshirt sophomore Javantae Randle made his first start of the 2023-24 season at Western Michigan, Jan. 23. Randle played 10 minutes, scoring four points and securing six rebounds. His six boards are one off his career high of seven set at South Carolina, Dec. 30, 2022.
JAVANTAE RANDLE: CAREER-HIGH 8 POINTS AT OU
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 and converted a career-high four field goals.
ARNE OSOJNIK: 16 POINTS, 4 TRIPLES VS. BUFFALO
Freshman Arne Osojnik netted 16 points, 12 of which came from four made three-pointers in the 75-65 win over Buffalo, Jan. 27. His 16 points are his most since a 20-point outing at Central Arkansas, Nov. 25.
ARNE OSOJNIK: 2ND IN MAC FRESHMEN SCORING
Freshman Arne Osojnik is second in the MAC in scoring by a true freshmen, averaging 7.7 points per game.
Freshmen MAC scoring leaders (true freshmen only):
1. Evan Isparo 7.71 Miami
2. Arne Osojnik 7.65 Eastern Michigan
3. Ryan Sabol 7.5 Buffalo
4. Anquan Boldin Jr. 7.2 Buffalo
5. Sonny Wilson 7.0 Toledo
6. Mekhi Cooper 6.7 Miami
JULIUS ELLERBE: EMU LEADER IN REBOUNDS
Redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe leads the Eagles in rebounds (87, 4.8 rpg) and ranks second in assists (36, 2.0 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: 3RD IN MAC 3PT%
Junior Yusuf Jihad is third in the MAC with an impressive .447 shooting percentage from deep as he is 21-for-47 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. Ajay Sheldon .542 Ohio
2. Tyem Freeman .513 Kent State
3. Yusuf Jihad .447 Eastern Michigan
4. Aidan Rubio .439 Central Michigan
JALIN BILLINSGLEY: INCREASED ROLE, PRODUCTION
Junior Jalin Billingsley, who has started four-straight games, has seen an increased role while seeing positive results on the floor. Billingsley is averaging 6.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, and 18.0 mpg for the season.
First 12 games played (averages):
Minutes Points Rebounds
15.9 4.8 3.8
Last five games played (averages):
Minutes Points Rebounds
23.0 9.4 5.8
ORLANDO LOVEJOY: CAREER-HIGH 6 ASSISTS
Sophomore Orlando Lovejoy dished out a career-high six assists against Buffalo, Jan. 27, topping his previous best of four dimes, which he achieved twice in 2023-24. Lovejoy added 10 points in the win.
ORLANDO LOVEJOY: 10-STRAIGHT WITH A STEAL
After tallying one steal against Buffalo, Jan. 27, sophomore Orlando Lovejoy has recorded 10-straight games with at least one steal. Lovejoy has five games with multiple steals in 2023-24.
THREE EAGLES WITH 10+ POINTS VS. BUFFALO
The Eagles had three players (Acuff, 19; Osojnik, 16; Lovejoy, 10) netted 10-plus points against Buffalo, Jan. 27. 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 19
2. Yusuf Jihad 7
Orlando Lovejoy 7
4. Arne Osojnik 6
5. Legend Geeter 4
6. Julius Ellerbe 3
Jalin Billingsley 3
8. John McGriff 1
Connor Serven 1
11 DIFFERENT PLAYERS IN THE STARTING LINEUP
Eastern Michigan has used 11 different players in the starting lineup this season. Junior Tyson Acuff (19), freshman Arne Osojnik (13), redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe (12), redshirt sophomore Legend Geeter (11), sophomore Orlando Lovejoy (11), junior Yusuf Jihad (9), sophomore Cyril Martynov (8), redshirt junior Connor Serven (6), junior Jalin Billingsley (5), redshirt junior John McGriff (4), and redshirt sophomore Javantae Randle (2) have all started for EMU.
In total, the Eagles have used 15 unique lineups in 20 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 15
2. Detroit Mercy 14
Furman 14
THR33-POINT STR3AK, 602-STRAIGHT GAM3S
Eastern, which hit seven threes against Buffalo, Jan. 27, has now hit at least one triple in 602-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 4-1 in doubleheader games so far in 2023-24 and 4-0 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 travel to Northern Illinois University Saturday, Feb. 3, for a 4 p.m. CT tip inside the NIU Convocation Center.
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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