Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 4
Ypsilanti, Mich.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Northern Illinois
Eastern Opening MAC Play Against Northern Illinois Saturday
1/2/2025 2:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Eagles hosting Huskies at 2 p.m. inside George Gervin GameAbove Center
| Men's Basketball vs. Northern Illinois | |
| Date | Saturday, Jan. 4, 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 |
| @EMU_MBB | @EMUAthletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team welcomes Northern Illinois for a 2 p.m. game Saturday, Jan. 4, at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in the teams' first Mid-American Conference game of the season.
ON AIR
Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois will air on ESPN+ from the George Gervin GameAbove Center with Ryan Wooley and Ben Braun on the call. Tom Helmer will have the call live on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network App. Live stats will also be available on EMUEagles.com.
OPENING TIPS
»After a 20-minute fire alarm delay, EMU fell behind 24-4 early at Davidson, Dec. 28. The Eagles rallied to cut the game to within 14 at 69-55 with 6:47 to play before the Wildcats extended their lead to as many as 27 in the final minute.
»At Davidson, Dec. 28, senior Da'Sean Nelson led the way with 16 points to mark his career-long eighth-straight game in double figures as all five starters made at least one three-pointer for the first time since at least 2008-09 and seven different Eagles converted one three-pointer for the first time since 2019.
»The Eagles are 19-31 in MAC openers, which includes a 9-14 mark at home.
»Eastern Michigan is the only school in the nation to have four different players score 27 points in separate games this season. A total of 10 other schools have three players to each reach 27 points as 338 different players have a 27-point performance this season.
»Eastern Michigan has four players averaging at least 11.5-plus points each for the first time since the 1990-91 season.
»Eastern Michigan's Stan Heath is in his fourth year at the helm of the Eagles, holding a 36-68 record at EMU and a 246-275 record over 17 years as a head coach.
FIVE STARTERS MADE A THREE AT DAVIDSON
Against Davidson, Dec. 28, all five Eastern starters made at least one three-pointer for the first time since at least the 2008-09 season.
SEVEN PLAYERS MADE A THREE AT DAVIDSON
Against Davidson, Dec. 28, the Eagles had seven different players make at least one three-pointer for the first time since Nov. 12, 2019, against Goshen. It marks the first time EMU has had seven players with a made three-pointer against a Division I team since Dec. 20, 2010, against Valparaiso.
DA'SEAN NELSON 10+ POINTS IN 8-STRAIGHT
After scoring 16 points at Davidson, Dec. 28, senior Da'Sean Nelson has eight-straight games with at least 10 points for the first time in his career.
DA'SEAN NELSON MAC POTW (x2)
Named MAC Player of the Week, Dec. 23, senior Da'Sean Nelson netted a career-high 27 points to go with a career-high 13 rebounds for his first career double-double as the Eagles topped Wright State, 86-82, Dec. 21, overcoming an 11-point halftime deficit. Nelson added a pair of assists and one steal, while drawing 11 fouls against the Raiders.
Nelson was named Co-MAC Player of the Week, Dec. 2, becoming the first Eagle since the 2019-20 season to earn multiple MAC Player of the Week honors in the same season as Boubacar Toure and Ty Groce each earned MAC West Division Player of the Week twice.
SLOW DEFENSIVE STRETCH, OPPONENT FG%
After Eastern foes shot just 34.1% in the season's first three games, the last nine games have resulted in 51.3% opponent shooting.
Opponents have converted more than half of their field goal attempts in five-straight games for the first time since at least the 2008-09 season.
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Eastern and Northern Illinois are meeting for the 106th time as NIU leads the all-time series, 59-46, as the Huskies have won the last three meetings by double digits, including a 76-66 decision in DeKalb, Feb. 3, 2024.
Although EMU leads the series in Ypsilanti, 39-26, despite dropping the most recent meeting, 88-67, Jan. 21, 2023.
ONLY SCHOOL WITH 27+ POINTS (x4)
With senior Da'Sean Nelson's 27 points against Wright State, Dec. 21, 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 the only team in the nation with four different players reaching 27 points this season.
Different Players Scoring 27+ Points:
T1. Eastern Michigan 4
T2. 10 Schools 3
In total, 338 different players have scored at least 27 points in a single game nationally.
SUCCESS IN CLOSE GAMES
After a four-point win against Wright State, Dec. 21, Eastern moves to 5-0 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.
FOUR EAGLES AVERAGING 11.5+ POINTS
Eastern has four players averaging 11.5 points for the first time since 1990-91.
Player PPG 2024-25
Jalen Terry 15.8
Da'Sean Nelson 14.2
Christian Henry 13.2
Jalin Billingsley 11.6
Player PPG 1990-91
Marcus Kennedy 20.0
Carl Thomas 14.1
Lorenzo Neely 11.6
Kory Hallas 11.5
Eastern is the only team in the MAC with four players averaging at least 11.5 points per game.
DOUBLE-DIGIT ASSISTS
Eastern Michigan has 11 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 seventh in the MAC.
10+ TURNOVERS FORCED STREAK SNAPPED
Eastern Michigan had 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 before forcing nine against PFW, Dec. 15, and nine against Wright State, Dec. 21. The 2020-21 Eagles forced at least 10 turnovers in all 18 games, making EMU's nine-game streak the longest to start a season since 2020-21.
The 12.8 turnovers per game by EMU opponents ranks third in the MAC.
YUSUF JIHAD SHOOTING FROM DOWNTOWN
Senior Yusuf Jihad has converted at a solid rate so far this season, making 8-of-21 (.381) of his three-point attempts.
Jihad was 27-for-71 (.380) from downtown in 2022-23.
JALEN TERRY, A BIT OF EVERYTHING
Senior Jalen Terry is averaging 15.8 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, and 3.5 assists per game.
Terry is one of 21 players nationally to average at least 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.
Adding in his 1.5 steals per game, Terry is one of just seven players to average at least 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals.
Players with 15.0+ ppg, 5.0+ rpg, 3.5+ apg, 1.5+ spg:
Player School
Jalen Terry EMU
Devontae Blanton EKU
Cooper Flagg Duke
Jaland Lowe Pittsburgh
P.J. Haggerty Memphis
Max Shulga VCU
Blaise Threatt Weber St.
JALEN TERRY MAC MINUTES LEADER
Senior Jalen Terry leads the MAC in minutes, averaging 36.9 minutes per game.
National Minutes Leaders:
1. Bennett Stiritz (Drake) 38.0
2. Luke Barrett (St. Mary's) 37.8
3. Kino Lilly, Jr. (Brown) 37.1
4. P.J. Haggerty (Memphis) 37.0
5. Jacobi Wood (Murray St) 36.9
6. Jalen Terry (EMU) 36.9
With former Eagle Tyson Acuff ranking fourth in the nation in minutes per game at 37.9 in 2023-24, EMU is the first school since Stony Brook (2021-23) to have different players rank inside the top six in minutes nationally.
JALEN TERRY REBOUNDING AT 6-FEET TALL
Despite standing at 6-feet-0, senior Jalen Terry is averaging 5.2 rebounds per game, which ranks 19th in the MAC. Terry ranks fifth in the MAC in defensive rebounds per game at 4.8.
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. If he can accomplish the feat again, he would be the first in that time frame to record three such games in one season.
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.
76 POINTS IN A LOSS
Despite scoring 76 points against PFW, Dec. 21, EMU suffered its first regulation loss when scoring 76 points since Feb. 10, 2024, an 82-76 loss at Louisiana-Monroe.
BELOW THE CENTURY MARK
In 375 games at the George Gervin GameAbove Center since opening in 1998-99, only one team has reached 100 points against the Eagles as 2022-23 Florida Atlantic, which reached the 2023 Final Four, scored 101 at EMU, Dec. 4, 2022.
Horizon League preseason favorite Purdue Fort Wayne fell one point shy becoming the second Eagle foe to reach 100 points at the George Gervin GameAbove Center as Eastern fell, 99-76, Dec. 15.
Top Point Totals by Foes at the George Gervin GameAbove Center
Date School Points
12/4/2022 Florida Atlantic 101
12/15/2024 Purdue Fort Wayne 99
11/30/2024 Detroit Mercy 98
11/12/2023 Illinois State 98
THR33-POINT STR3AK, 625-STRAIGHT GAM3S
Eastern, which hit nine threes against Davidson, Dec. 28, has now hit at least one triple in 625-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 13-consecutive games, dating back to the final game of the 2023-24 season. The 12-game streak is EMU's longest since a 15-game streak extending from the 2020-21 to the 2021-22 season.
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.
EASTERN HADN'T PLAYED WRIGHT STATE?
Despite being separated by 174 miles, Eastern Michigan and Wright State have never competed against each other in men's basketball, prior to Eastern's 86-82 win, Dec. 21.
Of the 44 Division I schools within 300 miles (straight line on map) of Ypsilanti, Eastern had played all but four of them, meeting 37 of the 44 multiple times.
Schools Within 300 Miles Eastern Had Not Played:
School Distance
Wright State 174
Northwestern 211
West Virginia 264
Morehead State 279
NEXT UP
Eastern Michigan travels to Toledo for a 7 p.m. game, Jan. 7.
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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