Eastern Michigan Men's Hoops Opening 2024-25 Season at Texas State

Men's Basketball at Texas State
Date	Monday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m. ET
Venue	Strahan Arena (10,000) \| Ypsilanti, Mich.
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF)
Live Stats	Live Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Listen	WEMU (89.1 FM) \| The Varsity Network App
Twitter	@EMU_MBB \| @EMUAthletics

SAN MARCOS, Texas (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team will open the 2024-25 season at Texas State, Nov. 4, with an 8 p.m. ET tip at Strahan Arena in the opening leg of the Mid-American Conference-Sun Belt Conference Challenge.

OPENING TIPS
»Eastern topped Central State, 85-63, in exhibition play, Oct. 30. Junior Christian Henry scored 21 points, highlighted by 18 in the first half while senior Da'Sean Nelson netted 18 points. EMU forced 25 CSU turnovers while outscoring the Marauders 38-7 in points off turnovers.
»The Eagles were picked 10th in the MAC preseason poll. Ohio received 11 first-place votes.
»EMU added 11 newcomers to its 2024-25 roster including seniors Jalen Terry (DePaul), Da'Sean Nelson (DePaul), John Shanu II (UTRGV), and Cooper Smith (Michigan), juniors Christian Henry (Panola College), Julian Lewis (Miami), and Trey Pettigrew (Salt Lake CC), and freshmen Mario Brunetto (Classical Gymnasium), Mbaye N'Diaye (SEED Academy), Godslove Nwabude (Zion Prep), and Dillon Tingler (Huntington Prep).
»Eastern returns 29 of its 80 (36.3%) double-digit scoring games from the 2023-24 season as Arne Osojnik (10), Jalin Billingsley (10), and Yusuf Jihad (9) highlight the Eastern returnees.
»Sophomore Arne Osojnik was first in the MAC in scoring by a true freshman in 2023-24, averaging 8.8 points per game. Osojnik was named to the Freshman All-MAC Team, shooting 36.5% from three-point range while converting a team-high 65 three-pointers.
»Eastern Michigan's Stan Heath is in his fourth year at the helm of the Eagles, holding a 31-62 record at EMU and a 240-269 record over 16 years as a head coach. Heath is entering his 17th year as a head coach.

HOOPING HENRY
Junior Christian Henry scored 21 points in the 85-63 exhibition win over Central State, Oct. 30, with 18 coming in the first half. Henry netted 18 points in the opening 20 minutes and was 4-for-8 from three-point range for the game. Henry tallied a game-high +32 plus/minus rating.

QUAD DOUBLE-DIGITS
Three Eagles joined Henry to deliver double digit points against Central State. Senior Da'Sean Nelson netted 18 points in the 85-63 exhibition win over Central State, Oct. 30. Nelson was 9-for-12 from the floor while adding three assists. Senior Jalin Billingsley shot 6-for-6 from the field to contribute 13 points, and senior Yusuf Jihad was 2-for-4 from three-point range for 10 points.

FORCED 25 TURNOVERS VS. CENTRAL STATE
Eastern forced 25 CSU turnovers, in the 85-63 exhibition win over Central State, Oct. 30. The Eagles outscored the Marauders 38-7 in points scored off turnovers. Against Central State, the Eagles surpassed last season's game-high mark in steals (10), taking the ball 14 times. The team turned defense into offense consistently, scoring 38 points off turnovers and winning the battle in the paint. Redshirt sophomore Trey Pettigrew grabbed a team-high four steals.

2024-25 PRESEASON ALL-MAC TEAMS
First Team
Payton Sparks, Senior, Center, Ball State
Anthony Pritchard, Senior, Guard, Central Michigan
VonCameron Davis, R-Senior, Forward, Kent State
AJ Clayton, Senior, Forward, Ohio
Javan Simmons, Sophomore, Forward, Toledo

Second Team
Isaiah Gray, Senior, Guard, Akron
Jalen Sullinger, Senior, Guard, Kent State
Shereef Mitchell, Graduate Student, Guard, Ohio
AJ Brown, R-Sophomore, Guard, Ohio
Isaiah Adams, Fifth Year, Guard, Toledo

PRESEASON PICKED 11TH
After finishing 10th in 2023-24, EMU was picked ninth in the MAC preseason coaches' poll.

2024-25 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll

(First Place Votes)

1. Ohio (11) – 121
2. Akron (1) – 106
3. Kent State – 99
4. Toledo – 95
5. Bowling Green – 73
6. Miami – 72
7. Ball State – 67
8. Central Michigan – 55
9. Eastern Michigan – 36
10. Western Michigan – 33
11. Northern Illinois – 24
12. Buffalo – 11

Tournament Champion: Ohio (8), Kent State (3), Toledo (1)

The six Ohio schools made up the top six while the bottom six was filled with the rest of the MAC schools.

MICHIGAN MATCH-UPS
The Eagles play three in-state opponents in non-conference action with contests against Siena Heights (Nov. 8), Oakland (Nov. 21), and Detroit Mercy (Nov. 30).

NEW FOE, WHO DIS?
The Eagles added competition against three first-time opponents this season; they face off against Texas State, Nov. 4, Houston Christian, Nov. 25, and Wright State, Dec. 21.

FIVE OF SIX TRUE ROAD GAMES TO START
Eastern Michigan has five true road games in its first six contests for the first time since 1936-37 when Elton J. Rynearson was the head coach. EMU's football stadium is named "Rynearson Stadium" in his honor.

TIGHT GAMES WENT TO EMU IN 2023-24
EMU found success in games decided by 10 points or less in 2023-24, holding a 12-7 record in such games. EMU was also 8-4 in games decided by four points or less.

JALIN BILLINGSLEY: INCREASED ROLE, PRODUCTION
Senior Jalin Billingsley, who started 14 of the last 15 games in 2023-24, saw an increased role while seeing positive results on the floor. Billingsley averaged 7.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 22.6 mpg for the season.

First 12 games played (averages):
Minutes             Points Rebounds
15.9     4.8        3.8

Last 16 games played (averages):
Minutes             Points Rebounds
27.5     10.3     6.4

ARNE OSOJNIK: 1ST IN MAC FRESHMEN SCORING
Sophomore Arne Osojnik was first in the MAC in scoring by a true freshman in 2023-24, averaging 8.8 points per game. Osojnik was named to the Freshman All-MAC Team.

Freshmen MAC scoring leaders (true freshmen only):
1.           Arne Osojnik                 8.8        Eastern Michigan
2.           Sonny Wilson                 8.1        Toledo
3.           Ryan Sabol                      7.6        Buffalo
4.           Anquan Boldin Jr.                         7.0        Buffalo
5.           Evan Ipsaro                     6.8        Miami

WHO'S BACK??
EMU returns four players from its 2023-24 roster including seniors Jalin Billingsley, Yusuf Jihad, and Micah Schnyders, as well as sophomore Arne Osojnik.

EAGLES WITH 10+ POINTS IN 2023-24
Eastern returns 29 of its 80 (36.3%) double-digit scoring games from the 2023-24 season.

Eagles with 10-plus points in 2023-24 and number of games:
1.           Tyson Acuff                      27
2.           Orlando Lovejoy                           12
3.           Arne Osojnik                 10
                Jalin Billingsley                           10
4.           Yusuf Jihad                     9
6.           Legend Geeter                               5
7.           Julius Ellerbe                  3
                Connor Serven                              3
9.           John McGriff                   1

In Eastern's 85-63 exhibition win over Central State, Oct. 30, junior Christian Henry (21), senior Da'Sean Nelson (18), senior Jalin Billingsley (13), and senior Yusuf Jihad (10) all reached double figures.

WHO'S GONE??
EMU lost 10 players from its 2023-24 game one roster including Tyson Acuff (Rutgers), Orlando Lovejoy (Detroit Mercy), Legend Geeter (Detroit Mercy), Conner Serven (Virginia Tech), Cyril Martynov (Eastern Kentucky), Julius Ellerbe (Coppin State), John McGriff (transfer portal - no destination), Javantae Randle (Central State), Prakash Ketterhagen (Lourdes), and Andrew Wells (graduation). The Eagles also lost Director of Operations LaMonta Stone (Assistant Coach - Detroit Mercy) and Graduate Assistant Nick Madray (graduation --> Utah Jazz).

WHAT'S GONE??
EMU lost 1,332 of its 2,047 points (65.07%) from the 2023-24 season, most notably leading scorer Tyson Acuff, who averaged 21.7 ppg (8th in the nation) on 43/29/81 shooting splits and transferred to Rutgers.

FRESH FACES
EMU added 11 newcomers to its 2024-25 roster including seniors Jalen Terry (DePaul), Da'Sean Nelson (DePaul), John Shanu II (UTRGV), and Cooper Smith (Michigan) juniors Christian Henry (Panola College), Julian Lewis (Miami), and Trey Pettigrew (Salt Lake CC), and freshmen Mario Brunetto (Classical Gymnasium), Mbaye N'Diaye (SEED Academy), Godslove Nwabude (Zion Prep), and Dillon Tingler (Huntington Prep).

DEPAUL DUO TO YPSILANTI
Jalen Terry and Da'Sean Nelson both come to Ypsilanti from DePaul and are expected to have big roles for the Eagles in 2024-25. Terry averaged 8.5 ppg and Nelson scored 9.7 ppg for the Blue Demons in 2023-24.

INTERNATIONAL INFLUX
International student-athlete representation doubled on the Eagles 15-player roster this season, as they added three true freshmen from Senegal (Mbaye N'Diaye), Nigeria (Godslove Nwabude), and Italy (Mario Brunetto), respectively. The trio joins sophomore Arne Osojnik who represented Slovenia twice as a member of the U18 national team at the Euro Championships. A complete breakdown of the EMU roster can be found on page 11.

Most international true freshmen in the nation:
1. Buffalo - 6
t2. Eastern Michigan - 3
                Manhattan - 3
                UT-Martin - 3

EMU is the only known school with two true freshmen from the African continent.

AWAY FROM HOME
Eastern Michigan has just four players (Yusuf Jihad, Farmington Hills; Jalen Terry, Flint; Cooper Smith, Mio; and Julian Lewis, Ypsilanti) from the Mitten State on its 2024-25 roster, EMU's fewest since 2020-21 (four).

LED NATION IN UNIQUE LINEUPS IN 2023-24
EMU led the nation in unique starting lineups in 2023-24 as the Eagles amassed 20 different starting groups in 31 games. Overall, 11 different players received at least one start.

Nation's leaders in number of unique starting lineups:
1.           Eastern Michigan                       20
2.           Milwaukee                        19
3.           Siena                   17

THR33-POINT STR3AK, 613-STRAIGHT GAM3S
Eastern, which hit five threes against Central Michigan, March 8, 2024, has now hit at least one triple in 613-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.

DOUBLEHEADER DAY
The Eagles are scheduled to play three 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 Jan. 11 (vs. Akron), Feb. 15 (men vs. Toledo, women vs. Ball State), and Feb. 22 (Northern Illinois).

The men's team was 5-0 at home in doubleheader games in 2023-24.

EMONI BATES NBA + G-LEAGUE
Former Eagle Emoni Bates was named a G-League All-Star with the Cleveland Charge in 2023-24, averaging 24.8 ppg. Bates also appeared in 15 games with the Cavaliers during the 2023-24 season. He underwent surgery in early October to repair a torn meniscus and is expected to return to action at some point during the 2024-25 season.

NEXT UP
Eastern Michigan will host Siena Heights Friday, Nov. 8, in a 12 p.m. tip.

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).

Eastern Michigan Men's Hoops Opening 2024-25 Season at Texas State

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Players Mentioned

Tyson Acuff

Jalin Billingsley

Mario Brunetto

Julius Ellerbe

Legend Geeter

Christian Henry

Yusuf Jihad

Julian Lewis

Orlando Lovejoy

Cyril Martynov

John McGriff

Mbaye N'Diaye

Da'Sean Nelson

Godslove Nwabude

Arne Osojnik

Trey Pettigrew

Javantae Randle

Micah Schnyders

Connor Serven

John Shanu II

Cooper Smith

Jalen Terry

Dillon Tingler

Andrew Wells

Eastern Michigan Athletics