Eastern Men's Basketball Hosting Purdue Fort Wayne Sunday

Men's Basketball vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
Date	Sunday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m.
Venue	George Gervin GameAbove Center (8,754) \| Ypsilanti, Mich.
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF)
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Listen	WEMU (89.1 FM) \| The Varsity Network App
Twitter	@EMU_MBB \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team will take on Purdue Fort Wayne Sunday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center as the Eagles are set for a two-game homestand.

ON AIR
Eastern Michigan and Purdue Fort Wayne will air on ESPN+ from the George Gervin GameAbove Center with Brent Balbinot and Grant Long on the call. Tom Helmer and John Motherwell will have the call live on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network App. Live stats will be available on EMUEagles.com.

OPENING TIPS
»Eastern Michigan dropped a 76-54 decision to unbeaten Loyola Chicago, Dec. 3, before embarking on a 12-day break from competition.
»Junior Christian Henry scored 21 points to highlight the Eagles' efforts while senior Da'Sean Nelson netted 13 points.
»Senior Da'Sean Nelson was named MAC Co-Player of the Week, Dec. 2, after averaging 21.0 points per game over three games, which included a pair of Eastern wins at the Houston Christian MTE, Nov. 25-26.
»Eastern Michigan, Missouri, and New Mexico are the only three schools in the nation to have three different players score 28 points in separate games this season. PFW is one of 29 schools that has two players to reach 28 points this year.
»Even though senior Jalen Terry leads the team with 14.9 points per game, perhaps his most impressive statistic relates to his relentless attention to rebounding as the 6'0 guard leads the team in rebounding with 6.0 rebounds per game and is the only player in the country 6'1 or shorter on the NCAA's list of the top 360 rebounders nationally (6.0 rpg or higher).
»Eastern Michigan's Stan Heath is in his fourth year at the helm of the Eagles, holding a 36-66 record at EMU and a 245-273 record over 17 years as a head coach.

HENRY WITH 21 POINTS AT LOYOLA CHICAGO
Junior Christian Henry led the Eagles with 21 points at unbeaten Loyola Chicago, Dec. 3. After trailing 15-2, Eastern cut the deficit to as few as five points before the Ramblers pulled away in the final 25 minutes.

COOPER SMITH SCORES AT LOYOLA CHICAGO
Senior Cooper Smith played a career-high 5:51 at Loyola Chicago, Dec. 3, scoring his first points as an Eagle by converting a first-half lay-up.

13 STEALS AGAINST LOYOLA CHICAGO
Led by a career-high six steals by senior Da'Sean Nelson at Loyola Chicago, Dec. 3, Eastern tallied 13 steals for the first time since Jan. 7, 2023, against Central Michigan (15).

DA'SEAN NELSON MAC CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Earning MAC Co-Player of the Week honors, Dec. 2, senior Da'Sean Nelson was on a tear around Thanksgiving, averaging a team-high 21.0 ppg to go with 5.3 rpg and 2.7 apg during a three-game stretch, which included games against Houston Christian, Nov. 25; Northern Arizona, Nov. 26; and Detroit Mercy, Nov. 30. Nelson, who averaged 6.8 ppg over his first four games of the season, is up to 12.9 ppg in 2024-25.

Nelson matched his career high with 24 points in the overtime loss to Detroit Mercy, Nov. 30, making a career-high nine free throws while also converting his first three-pointer as an Eagle. That performance comes after a 20-point effort against Northern Arizona, Nov. 26, and a 19-point showing at Houston Christian, Nov. 25.

HENRY CAREER HIGHS AGAINST DETROIT MERCY
Junior Christian Henry scored a career-high 28 points against Detroit Mercy, Nov. 30, tied for the second-highest scoring output by an Eagle this season. He also set career high marks in minutes played (44), made field goals (9), made free throws (6), and made three-pointers (4) in the game.

28+ POINTS (x3) WITH NEW MEXICO
With junior Christian Henry's 28-point showing against Detroit Mercy, Nov. 30, senior Jalen Terry's 28 points against IU Indy, Nov. 14, and senior Jalin Billingsley's 32 points against Siena Heights, Nov. 8, Eastern Michigan is one of three teams in the nation with three different players reaching 28 points this season.

Different Players Scoring 28+ Points:
T1. Eastern Michigan              3
T1. Missouri    3
T1. New Mexico            3
T4. 29 schools (includes PFW)           2

SUCCESS IN CLOSE GAMES
After another pair of tight games at the Houston Christian MTE, Nov. 25-26, against HCU and Northern Arizona, respectively, Eastern moves to 4-0 in games decided by four points or less. The trend has continued from the 2023-24 season when the Eagles were 8-3 in games decided by four points or less.

DOUBLE-DIGIT ASSISTS
Eastern Michigan has eight-consecutive games with at least 10 assists for the first time since a 13-game streak during the 2017-18 season.

The 13.2 assists per game by the Eagles ranks sixth in the MAC.

DOUBLE-DIGIT TURNOVERS FORCED
Eastern Michigan has forced double-digit turnovers by its opponents in nine-straight games for the first time since a nine-game streak in the 2021-22 season. The 2020-21 Eagles forced at least 10 turnovers in all 18 games, making EMU's current nine-game streak the longest to start a season since 2020-21.

The 14.1 turnovers per game by EMU opponents ranks second in the MAC.

YUSUF JIHAD SHOOTING BETTER THAN 50%
Senior Yusuf Jihad has converted at an impressive rate so far this season, making 7-of-13 (.538) of his three-point attempts.

Jihad was 27-for-71 (.380) from downtown in 2022-23.

2ND HALF LEADS THAT EMU HAD AND DIDN'T KEEP
Despite the two wins at the Houston Christian MTE, the Eagles looked prime to win each game by much more as they were unable to hold significant second-half leads, surrendering big runs late in the game.

Against Northern Arizona, Nov. 26, Eastern led by 17 with 13:51 to go before NAU outscored EMU, 23-2, to lead by four with 5:34 remaining. Against Houston Christian, Nov. 25, Eastern led by 16 with 7:59 left before HCU launched a 22-4 run to lead by two with 2:15 to go.

OUTREBOUNDED BY 15, STILL WON VS. NAU
Despite being rebounded by a robust 46-31 margin against Northern Arizona, Nov. 26, Eastern Michigan found a way to win. The Eagles had not won a game when being outrebounded by at least 15 since topping Buffalo, 81-69, Jan. 12, 2016, when being outrebounded by 17 in that game. Entering that contest on a 22-game losing streak when being outrebounded by 15, only three of those 22 games were single-digit losses.

DILLON TINGLER AGAINST NAU
Freshman Dillon Tingler scored a career-high six points against NAU, Nov. 26, as he produced a game-best +21 plus-minus rating over a career-high 17 minutes played.

JT REBOUNDING AT 6-FEET TALL
Despite standing at 6-feet-0, Jalen Terry is averaging a team-high 6.0 rebounds per game, which ranks 12th in the MAC. Terry ranks second in the MAC in defensive rebounds per game at 5.6. He is one of two players 6'1 or shorter listed in the NCAA top 360 rebounders (6.0 rpg or higher).

NCAA Rankings Total Rebounds (Per Game)
Rank    Player Height RPG      School
T327.   Kentrell Pullian             6-0        6.1        Milwaukee
T329.   Jalen Terry      6-0        6.0        EMU

NCAA Rankings Defensive Rebounds (Per Game)
Rank    Player Height RPG      School
T88.      Jalen Terry      6-0        5.6        Eastern Michigan
T147.   Brayden Fagbemi        6-0        5.1        Central Arkansas

JT 25+ POINTS, 6+ THREE-POINTERS
Senior Jalen Terry posted back-to-back games with at least 25 points and six made three-pointers at IU Indy, Nov. 14, and at Cleveland State, Nov. 16. He is one of five MAC players to accomplish that feat and the first to do so since Jordan Dartis for Ohio University in 2019.

MAC Players With 25 Points AND 6 Three-Pointers in CONSECUTIVE Games (Since 2002-03):
MOH    Michael Bramos                          4             Dec. 3-13, 2008
EMU     Jalen Terry                      2             Nov. 14-16, 2024
OU        Jordan Dartis                  2             Nov. 24-30, 2019
CMU    Marcus Keene                                2 (x2)   Dec. 3-6, 2016; Jan. 17-21, 2017
BSU      Skip Mills                          2             March 4-6, 2006

Terry is one of just five Eagles since 2002-03 to record multiple games with at least 25 points and six made three-pointers in a season. He would be the first in that time frame to record three such games.

EMU Players With 25 Points AND 6 Three-Pointers TOTAL Games in One Season (Since 2002-03):
                Jalen Terry                      2             2024-25
                Tyson Acuff                      2             2022-23
                Emoni Bates                   2             2022-23
                Elijah Minnie                   2             2018-19
                Willie Mangum                             2             2016-17

Terry was also the first Eagle since Carlos Medlock, Feb. 11-15, 2006, to knock down six three-pointers in back-to-back games.

J-BILL STUFFS THE STAT SHEET IN HOME OPENER
Senior Jalin Billingsley recorded a career-high 32 points in the 83-58 win over Siena Heights, Nov. 8. He also hauled in 10 rebounds to give him the second double-double of his career, with his other coming via a 13-point, 10-rebound performance at Miami, March 2, 2024.

Top MAC Scoring Efforts in 2024-25:
1.           AJ Clayton (Ohio)                        34          Portland (Nov. 22)
2.           Jalin Billingsley (EMU)           32          Siena Heights (Nov. 8)
3.           Javontae Campbell (BGSU) 30          Davidson (Nov. 8)
t4.        Jalen Terry (EMU)                 28          IU Indy (Nov. 14)
t4.          Ryan Sabol (UB)                  28          Fredonia (Nov. 8)

THR33-POINT STR3AK, 622-STRAIGHT GAM3S
Eastern, which hit seven threes against Loyola Chicago, Dec. 3, has now hit at least one triple in 622-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.

The Eagles have converted at least five three-pointers in 10-consecutive games, dating back to the final game of the 2023-24 season. The 10-game streak is EMU's longest since a 15-game streak extending from the 2020-21 to the 2021-22 season.

FOUR ROAD NON-CONFERENCE WINS?
With road wins at IU Indy, Nov. 14, at Oakland, Nov. 21, and at Houston Christian, Nov. 25, Eastern has three non-conference true road wins for the first time since the 1996-97 season. With a win at Davidson, Dec. 28, the 2024-25 Eagles would match the 1996-97 squad's mark of four non-conference true road wins. The wins against both Houston Christian, Nov. 25, and Northern Arizona, Nov. 26, equaled the 2019-20 team with four non-conference wins away from home. The 2019-20 team had four non-conference wins away from (two road, two neutral site).

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 NINTH
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 is 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 (L, 44-64), Houston Christian, Nov. 25 (W, 74-73), and Wright State, Dec. 21.

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.

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 came 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.

STAYING 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).

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
2. Florida Atlantic - 5
t3. Eastern Michigan - 3
                Manhattan - 3
                Oregon State - 3
                San Francisco - 3
                Seattle - 3
                UT-Martin - 3
                Weber State - 3

Most African true freshmen in the nation:
t1. Eastern Michigan - 2
                Seton Hall - 2

Osojnik is one of five players from Slovenia in the country.

Slovenian MBB Players at NCAA Division I:
Arne Osojnik - Eastern Michigan
Klemen Vuga - UAPB
Urban Klavzar - Florida
Jan Vide - LMU (Calif.)
Sasa Ciani - UIC

Brunetto is one of 17 Italians players while N'Diaye is one of 32 Senegalese players and Nwabude is one of 38 Nigerian players.

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 hosts Wright State, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. It marks the first-ever meeting between the schools.

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).

Next Event

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

John Shanu II

Cooper Smith

Jalen Terry

Dillon Tingler

Andrew Wells

Eastern Michigan Athletics