Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 24
Muncie, Ind.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Ball State
Eagles Heading to Ball State Saturday
2/22/2024 7:15:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game slated for 2 p.m. start
| Men's Basketball at Ball State | |
| Date | Saturday, Feb. 24, at 2 p.m. |
| Venue | Worthen Arena (11,500) | Muncie, Ind. |
| 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 |
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team is scheduled to travel to Ball State University for a Mid-American Conference game Saturday, Feb. 24, at 2 p.m. The teams will square off at BSU's Worthen Arena as both squads are looking to make a run into the MAC Tournament.
ON AIR
Eastern Michigan and Ball State will air on ESPN+. Tom Helmer will have the call live on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network App.
OPENING TIPS
» Eastern led for just 1:08 in its loss at Buffalo, 78-69, its most recent contest, Feb. 20. Junior Tyson Acuff led the way with 26 points as four Eagles reached double figures. UB used an 11-0 run early in the second half to take control.
» Ball State enters the game 13-13 overall and 5-8 in the MAC after pulling out a 70-63 win at Northern Illinois in its most recent game, Feb. 20. The Cardinals topped the Eagles, 76-62, in the teams' most recent meeting, Jan. 16. EMU has dropped four-straight games in Muncie and seven of the last eight games at BSU.
» Acuff is averaging 22.0 points per game through 26 games, which leads the MAC and is seventh in the nation. His season has been highlighted by five 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; 34 vs. BGSU, Feb. 17).
» Acuff has scored 23-plus points in 13 games. Acuff is one of five players in the nation with 13 showings of 23 or more points.
» Eastern Michigan's Stan Heath is in his third year at the helm of the Eagles, holding a 28-60 record at EMU and 237-267 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: ONE NATION'S TOP SCORERS
Junior Tyson Acuff is averaging 22.0 points per game through 26 games, which leads the MAC and is seventh in the nation. Acuff's season has been highlighted by five 30-plus point performances.
National scoring leaders:
1. Tommy Bruner 25.3 Denver
2. Xavier Johnson 23.3 Southern Illinois
3. Zach Edey 23.2 Purdue
4. Vonterius Woolbright 22.3 Western Carolina
5. Tyler Thomas 22.1 Hofstra
6. David Jones 22.0 Memphis
7. Tyson Acuff 22.0 Eastern Michigan
TYSON ACUFF: 5TH IN PROGRAM HISTORY PPG
Junior Tyson Acuff's 22.0 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 22.0 2023-24
6. Derrick Dial 20.9 1997-98
TYSON ACUFF: RISING IN EMU RECORDS
Junior Tyson Acuff is at 978 points in his EMU career.
EMU all-time leaders in points:
1. Kennedy McIntosh 2,219 1967-71
31. Bill Stephens 1,004 1955-60
32. Cleon Gilliam 990 1951-55
33. Elijah Minnie 989 2018-19
34. Ed Gallup 980 1960-64
35. Paul Jackson 979 2018-19
36. Tyson Acuff 978 2022-24
Ricky Cottrill 978 2000-04
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.
Including his 239 points in two seasons at Duquesne, Acuff is at 1,217 career points, passing the 1,000 mark with a 21-point performance against Ball State, Jan. 16. He sits at 136 career three-pointers made with 38 coming at Duquesne.
TYSON ACUFF: 38.2 MINUTES/GAME
Junior Tyson Acuff, who played at least 37 minutes in 21 of the last 22 games, is averaging 38.2 minutes per game. Acuff spent 1:50 on the bench at Buffalo, Feb. 20, due to a pair of first-half fouls in his 38-minute effort. Acuff has played all 40 minutes in six of the last eight games, playing the entirety of the game nine times this season. The 38.2 mark leads the MAC and ranks third 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. Isaac McBride 38.5 Oral Roberts
2. Kareem Thompson 38.2 Oral Roberts
3. Tyson Acuff 38.2 Eastern Michigan
TYSON ACUFF: NATION'S LEADER IN FGM/GAME
Junior Tyson Acuff leads the nation in field goals made per game.
National field goals made per game leaders:
1. Tyson Acuff 8.2 Eastern Michigan
2. Tommy Bruner 8.1 Denver
3. Tyler Thomas 8.0 Hofstra
TYSON ACUFF: 10 GAMES WITH 10+ FGM
Junior Tyson Acuff has converted 10-plus field goals in 10 games this season with his most recent being his 11 against Buffalo, Feb. 20.
Games with 10-plus field goals made in 2023-24:
1. Tommy Bruner 10 Denver
2. Tyson Acuff 10 Eastern Michigan
Marcus Hill 9 Bowling Green
TYSON ACUFF, 13 GAMES WITH 23+ POINTS
Junior Tyson Acuff has scored 23-plus points 13 times this season with his most recent being a 26-point effort at Buffalo, Feb. 20. Acuff is one of five players in the nation with 13 showings of 23 or more points.
Games with 23-plus points in 2023-24:
1. Tommy Bruner 16 Denver
2. Zach Edey 15 Purdue
3. Tyson Acuff 13 Eastern Michigan
Tyler Thomas 13 Hofstra
David Jones 13 Memphis
TYSON ACUFF GOES FOR 29+ POINTS (x7)
Junior Tyson Acuff has seven games with 29-plus points this season, most recently providing a 34-point outing against BGSU, Feb. 17. Acuff is one of three players in the nation and the only player in the MAC with seven-plus 29-point showings.
Games with 29-plus points in 2023-24:
1. Tommy Bruner 9 Denver
2. Tyson Acuff 7 Eastern Michigan
Xavier Johnson 7 Southern Illinois
TYSON ACUFF: DOUBLE-DIGITS IN 28-STRAIGHT
Junior Tyson Acuff has netted at least 11 points in 28-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 28 2022-24
2. John Bowler 21 2005-06
3. Carlos Medlock 20 2007-10*
*Medlock missed the 2008-09 season with a broken foot.
TYSON ACUFF: 34 POINTS, 10 REBOUNDS VS. BGSU
Junior Tyson Acuff poured in a season-high 34 points to go with a career-high 10 rebounds for his first career double-double against BGSU, Feb. 17. Acuff netted 22 points in the first half. His 34 points are tied for the 10th-most by a player inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center (since 1998-99). His career high of 36 points against the University of Toledo, Feb. 11, 2023, ranks as the sixth-highest scoring total in George Gervin GameAbove Center history. Acuff was 12-for-21 from the field, converting nine field goals in the first half. His nine field goals made in the opening half are tied for the most field goals made in a half against a Division I foe in George Gervin GameAbove Center history.
Acuff's efforts earned him MAC Player of the Week. Acuff is the first Eagle since Bryce McBride to receive the honor outright and the first since Emoni Bates was named MAC Co-Player of the Week, Feb. 27, 2023. McBride did so Dec. 13, 2021.
JIHAD BROTHERS PLAYING AGAINST EACH OTHER
Eastern Michigan's Yusuf Jihad and Ball State's Basheer Jihad played against each other for the sixth time in their collegiate careers, Feb. 24.
Yusuf Jihad vs. Ball State Points REB
L, 62-76: Jan. 16, 2024 at EMU 8 4
W, 75-68: Feb. 25, 2023 at EMU 3 4
L, 90-91: Feb. 3, 2023 at BSU 2 2
L, 64-75: Feb. 26, 2022 at BSU DNP DNP
L, 72-78: Jan. 8, 2022 at EMU 1 1
TOTAL 14 11
AVERAGE 3.5 2.8
Basheer Jihad vs. Eastern Mich. Points REB
W, 76-62: Jan. 16, 2024 at EMU 14 5
L, 68-75: Feb. 25, 2023 at EMU 9 8
W, 91-90: Feb. 3, 2023 at BSU 2 0
W, 75-64: Feb. 26, 2022 at BSU 2 1
W, 78-72: Jan. 8, 2022 at EMU 0 0
TOTAL 27 14
TOTAL 5.4 2.8
PATH TO THE PLAYOFFS: MAC TOURNEY OUTLOOK
Eastern Michigan sits tied for 10th in the MAC standings with six games to play as the MAC Tournament looms. The Eagles are three games back of three teams for eighth place and the final spot in the eight-team tournament field. EMU, which is expected to need at least four wins in the final five games to make the field, will seek to gain ground in its next three contests as daunting road match-ups loom at first-place Akron (March 5) and third-place Central Michigan (March 8) to close Eastern's 2023-24 regular season slate. EMU is seeking its first postseason trip since 2019-20.
Akron was the first team to clinch a trip to the MAC Tournament, which is played in Cleveland, Ohio, from March 14-16. The Zips are one of three teams to secure a spot while no teams have officially been eliminated. Complete MAC standings are available on page 11.
AHEAD OF PACE: WINS BY DATE
Eastern Michigan surpassed its 2022-23 win total as the Eagles secured their ninth win of the 2023-24 season, Jan. 27 vs. Buffalo, about one month earlier in the season compared to the Eagles' eighth win of 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 8-2 2-14
Hold opponent to 71 points or less 9-1 1-15
Shoot better % than opponent 10-2 0-14
Outrebound opponent 8-3 2-13
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. EMU dropped a 76-66 decision at NIU, Feb. 3, after leading 32-28 at the break. The Eagles lost to Toledo, 91-87, Feb. 6, despite outrebounding UT, 34-28, while also outshooting the Rockets, .559-.542, Feb. 6.
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 9-6 record in such games. EMU is also 5-3 in games decided by four points or less.
CONNOR SERVEN: CAREER HIGHS AT BUFFALO
Redshirt junior Connor Serven tallied a career-high nine rebounds, which included a career-high four offensive boards. Serven, who was 2-for-3 from three-point range, converted multiple three-pointers for the first time in his career. Serven also scored 10 points at Buffalo, Feb. 20, falling just one rebound short of his first career double-double.
SIX REJECTIONS VS. BGSU
Led by freshman Arne Osojnik and junior Jalin Billingsley's two blocks, the Eagles' six blocks recorded against BGSU, Feb. 17, are a season high and the most by EMU since recording six against Akron, Jan. 22, 2022. Junior Yusuf Jihad and sophomore Cyril Martynov turned away one shot apiece against the Falcons.
LEGEND GEETER: CAREER-HIGHS VS. BGSU
Redshirt sophomore Legend Geeter played a career-high 35 minutes against BGSU, Feb. 17, matching his career high with 13 points, which he has achieved three times in his career. He also scored 13 points once earlier in the 2023-24 season, at 10th-ranked Florida Atlantic, Nov. 14. Geeter, who dished out three assists for the second time this season, also matched his season high with seven rebounds against the Falcons, which he had most recently achieved against Kent State, Jan. 6.
ORLANDO LOVEJOY: ONE STEAL IN 14-OF-15 GAMES
Sophomore Orlando Lovejoy has secured at least one steal in 14 of the last 15 games. Lovejoy also has multiple steals in eight of his last 13 games. He had three-straight games with at least three steals with three at ULM, Feb. 10, three against Toledo, Feb. 6, and a career-high four against Northern Illinois, Feb. 3, but recorded just one at Buffalo, Feb. 20.
ARNE OSOJNIK: 3 ASSISTS, 2 BLOCKS VS. BGSU
Freshman Arne Osojnik dished out a career-high three assists while matching his career-best with two blocked shots against BGSU, Feb. 17. Osojnik scored seven points in his 1-of-5 performance from downtown.
ARNE OSOJNIK: 1ST IN MAC FRESHMEN SCORING
Freshman Arne Osojnik is first in the MAC in scoring by a true freshman, averaging 8.3 points per game.
Freshmen MAC scoring leaders (true freshmen only):
1. Arne Osojnik 8.3 Eastern Michigan
2. Sonny Wilson 8.2 Toledo
3. Ryan Sabol 7.7 Buffalo
4. Anquan Boldin Jr. 7.3 Buffalo
5. Trent Middleton Jr. 6.7 Ball State
Evan Isparo 6.7 Miami
YUSUF JIHAD: 8TH IN MAC 3PT%
Junior Yusuf Jihad is eighth in the MAC with an impressive .400 shooting percentage from deep as he is 26-for-65 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 .522 Ohio
2. Davion Bailey .440 Ball State
3. Andrew Lorentsson .433 Toledo
4. AJ Clayton .421 Ohio
8. Yusuf Jihad .400 Eastern Michigan
JALIN BILLINSGLEY: INCREASED ROLE, PRODUCTION
Junior Jalin Billingsley, who has started 10-straight games, has seen an increased role while seeing positive results on the floor. Billingsley is averaging 6.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, and 19.7 mpg for the season.
First 12 games played (averages):
Minutes Points Rebounds
15.9 4.8 3.8
Last 10 games played (averages):
Minutes Points Rebounds
24.0 8.7 5.9
FOUR EAGLES WITH 10+ POINTS AT BUFFALO
The Eagles had four players (Acuff, 26; Osojnik, 11; Lovejoy, 10; Serven, 10) net 10-plus points against Buffalo, Feb. 20. 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 25
2. Orlando Lovejoy 11
3. Yusuf Jihad 9
Arne Osojnik 9
5. Jalin Billingsley 6
6. Legend Geeter 5
7. Julius Ellerbe 3
8. Connor Serven 2
John McGriff 1
11 DIFFERENT PLAYERS IN THE STARTING LINEUP
Eastern Michigan has used 11 different players in the starting lineup this season. Junior Tyson Acuff (25), freshman Arne Osojnik (19), redshirt sophomore Legend Geeter (16), sophomore Orlando Lovejoy (15), redshirt junior Julius Ellerbe (12), junior Jalin Billingsley (11), junior Yusuf Jihad (9), sophomore Cyril Martynov (8), redshirt junior Connor Serven (8), redshirt junior John McGriff (4), and redshirt sophomore Javantae Randle (3) have all started for EMU.
In total, the Eagles have used 17 unique lineups in 26 games. The Acuff-Ellerbe-Geeter-Jihad-Osojnik combo is one of only six lineups used multiple times, recording a 2-1 record. More information can be found on page 10.
EMU leads the nation in unique starting lineups.
Nation's leaders in number of unique starting lineups:
1. Eastern Michigan 17
Milwaukee 17
3. Detroit Mercy 15
UMKC 15
THR33-POINT STR3AK, 608-STRAIGHT GAM3S
Eastern, which hit six threes against Buffalo, Feb. 20, has now hit at least one triple in 608-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.
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 5-1 in doubleheader games in 2023-24 and 5-0 at home.
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.
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. Bates has been named a G-League All-Star.
NEXT UP
Eastern Michigan is scheduled to host Western Michigan University, Feb. 27, for a 7 p.m. tip inside the George Gervin GameAbove 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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