Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 25
Ypsilanti, Mich.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Buffalo
Eastern Seeking Third-Straight Win, Battling Buffalo Saturday
1/23/2025 1:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Saturday game slated for 2 p.m.
| Men's Basketball vs. Buffalo | |
| Date | Saturday, Jan. 25, 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) -- Winners of back-to-back games, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team hosts the University at Buffalo Saturday, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
ON AIR
Eastern Michigan and Buffalo will air on ESPN+ from the George Gervin GameAbove Center with Ryan Wooley and Reggie Butler 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 also be available on EMUEagles.com.
OPENING TIPS
»Eastern blitzed MAC preseason favorite Ohio, 94-87, Jan. 21, as the Eagles led for 37 minutes of the game, building a lead as large as 21 early in the second half.
»Senior Da'Sean Nelson registered 21 points, seven rebounds, and a career-high six assists against Ohio, Jan. 21. Nelson is the first Eagle since March 5, 2011, to record at least 21 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in a game.
»Sophomore Arne Osojnik scored 16 points against Ohio, Jan. 21, including 14 points in the first half. Osojnik, who averaged 8.8 points as a freshman, has found his shot, netting 16 points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career as he also scored 16 points against Bowling Green, Jan. 21.
»Eastern led for more than 26 minutes in a 68-62 win at Bowling Green, Jan. 18. Sophomore Arne Osojnik played his best game of the season, scoring 16 points with 11 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Senior Jalen Terry drilled a dagger three with 14 seconds left to put EMU up six while junior Christian Henry led the team in scoring with 17 points.
»Eastern Michigan and Oklahoma are the nation's only two teams to have four different players to score 28 points in separate games this season.
»EMU has six wins in games decided by four points or fewer, which is tied for the second-most in the nation behind Princeton's eight wins by four points or less.
»Eastern Michigan's Stan Heath is in his fourth year at the helm of the Eagles, holding a 40-71 record at EMU and a 249-278 record over 17 years as a collegiate head coach. With a win against Buffalo, Jan. 25, Heath would reach 250 wins.
ALL TIME SERIES VS. BUFFALO
Eastern Michigan and Buffalo will meet for the 38th time Saturday, Jan. 25, as Buffalo leads the all-time series 22-15, despite EMU's 10-8 advantage in Ypsilanti.
The Eagles dropped a 78-69 decision in the teams' most recent meeting, Feb. 20, 2024, in Buffalo.
EMU won the most recent contest in Ypsilanti, 75-65, Jan. 27, 2024. Current sophomore Arne Osojnik scored 16 points in that game behind a 4-for-6 showing from three-point range.
Eastern is 2-10 in the last 12 meetings against Buffalo.
The Eagles are seeking back-to-back home wins against the Bulls for the first time since Feb. 12, 2011, and Feb. 6, 2013.
BIGGEST WIN OF THE SEASON VS. OHIO
By defeating MAC preseason favorite Ohio Tuesday, Jan. 21, 94-87, Eastern's seven-point win marked its largest win of the season against a Division I foe. The Eagles reset the mark of six points set in their previous game at Bowling Green, Jan. 18, which was won, 68-62.
HEATH SEEKING WIN NO. 250
Head Coach Stan Heath is seeking his 250th win as a collegiate head coach in the game against Buffalo Saturday, Jan. 25. Heath has 40 wins at Eastern Michigan, 97 at South Florida, 82 at Arkansas, and 30 at Kent State.
Complete year-by-year of Heath's career as a collegiate head coach can be found on page 14.
4-3 IN THE MAC...?
Eastern Michigan, which sits at 3-3 in the MAC for the first time since time since the 2016-17 season, is seeking a 4-3 start in conference play against Buffalo, Jan. 25. The 2016-17 team started 4-1 in MAC play before settling for a 4-3 start through seven games.
THREE-STRAIGHT MAC WINS...?
The Eagles, which have won back-to-back games, are seeking three-straight wins in MAC play against Buffalo, Jan. 25. EMU has not won three-straight conference games since the 2019-20 season.
Date Against Score
Feb. 11, 2020 at Central Michigan W, 73-70
Feb. 15, 2020 Western Michigan W, 69-51
Feb. 18, 2020 Ball State W, 70-49
EYEING THE MAC TOURNAMENT
Eastern Michigan, which has not qualified for the MAC Tournament since 2019, sits at 3-3 in conference play and is tied for fifth in the MAC standings.
Eastern is expected to need at least five more MAC wins to be safely in the field.
No. 8 in MAC Standings Wins by Year (last 10 shown):
Year Wins School
2023-24 8 Kent State
2022-23 6 Miami
2021-22 6 CMU/BGSU/NIU
2020-21 8 Ball St. (no tournament)
2019-20 8 Toledo/Ohio
2018-19 8 Akron/NIU
2017-18 7 BGSU/Ohio/CMU
2016-17 7 EMU/BGSU/NIU
2015-16 9 EMU/NIU
2014-15 8 EMU/Miami/NIU
Data Since 1997-98 (first season with 12 MAC teams)
Average Wins by No. 8 Seed: 7.52
Highest Wins Needed: 10 (2004-05)
Lowest Wins Needed: 6 (4x, last 2022-23)
EASTERN MICHIGAN HAS FOUR ROAD WINS
Eastern has accumulated four road wins already in the 2024-25 season, which matches its total from last season. If the Eagles can secure another road win this season, it would mark their first time reaching five road wins in one season since tallying seven in the 2017-18 campaign.
BACK-TO-BACK MAC ROAD WINS...?
After winning at Bowling Green, Jan. 18, Eastern will be seeking back-to-back road wins in the MAC at Miami, Jan. 28, which it has not done since in the same season since the 2017-18 campaign.
Date Against Score
Feb. 17, 2018 at Central Michigan W, 72-67
Feb. 27, 2018 at Western Michigan W, 74-58
The Eagles did win back-to-back MAC road games extending from the final game of the 2020-21 season to their first MAC road game of the 2021-22 campaign.
Date Against Score
March 5, 2021 at Western Michigan W, 64-63
Jan. 4, 2022 at Western Michigan W, 85-79
DA'SEAN NELSON 21-7-6 AGAINST OHIO
Senior Da'Sean Nelson registered 21 points, seven rebounds, and a career-high six assists against Ohio, Jan. 21.
Nelson is the first Eagle since March 5, 2011, to record at least 21 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in a game. Brandon Bowdry posted 27 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists against Toledo in a 69-50 win.
ARNE OSOJNIK 16 POINTS AGAINST OHIO
Sophomore Arne Osojnik scored 16 points against Ohio, Jan. 21, including 14 points in the first half. Osojnik, who averaged 8.8 points as a freshman, has found his shot, netting 16 points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career as he also scored 16 points against Bowling Green, Jan. 21.
ARNE OSOJNIK DOUBLE-DOUBLE AT BGSU
Sophomore Arne Osojnik netted 16 points while bringing in a career-high 11 rebounds for his first career double-double in the win at Bowling Green, Jan. 18. Osojnik was very efficient as he converted 6-of-7 attempts from the floor, including a 4-of-5 rate from three-point range.
Osojnik's 16 points equaled his season high set at Oakland, Nov. 21. Osojnik's night against the Falcons was highlighted by three-pointers on back-to-back possessions to put EMU up by four in the second half, in addition to a corner three with 6:50 left that pushed Eastern's lead to six. He added three steals and two blocks.
NEW STARTING FIVE AGAINST OHIO
AEastern Michigan deployed its sixth unique lineup of the season against Ohio, Jan. 21. Seniors Jalen Terry and Da'Sean Nelson, junior Christian Henry, redshirt sophomore Trey Pettigrew, and freshman Godslove Nwabude made up the Eastern starting unit as Pettigrew and Nwabude each made their first starts as Eagles.
As a result of the lineup change, senior Jalin Billingsley made his first appearance off the bench this season.
BACK-TO-BACK WITH 10+ THREE-POINTERS
Against Ohio, Jan. 21, Eastern's robust 10-of-17 (58.8%) shooting mark from three-point range is the third-best in program history (minimum 10 makes), topping only by a 65% showing against Central Michigan, Jan. 6, 2016, and a program-record 68.8% effort against Toledo, Feb. 20, 2016.
Adding in the 10 made three-pointers against Bowling Green, Jan. 18, EMU has back-to-back games with 10 three-pointers for the first time since Jan. 31 and Feb. 3, 2023, in a win against Ohio and an overtime loss to Ball State. Those games also marked the last time the Eagles shot 50 percent from three-point range while making 10 of them in consecutive games.
TOP BENCH SCORING MARK OF THE SEASON
With its sixth unique lineup of the season against Buffalo, Jan. 21, Eastern notched 28 bench points, its highest bench total of the season, topping the previous high of 26, set in its last game at Bowling Green, Jan. 18.
Sophomore Arne Osojnik scored 16 points to lead the way while senior Jalin Billingsley had eight points while senior Yusuf Jihad and redshirt junior John Shanu II each scored two points.
The Eagles have been outscored by an average of 20.3-14.2 in bench points this season.
TREY PETTIGREW AGAINST OHIO
Redshirt sophomore Trey Pettigrew made his second start as an Eagle against Ohio, Jan. 21, playing 20:13, his third-highest minute total this season. Pettigrew scored a season-high eight points, going 3-for-3 from the floor and 2-for-2 from three-point range. He added a career-high five rebounds.
BILLINGSLEY + NELSON SHOOTING PERCENTAGES
Senior Jalin Billingsley ranks sixth in the MAC in field goal percentage, shooting 80-for-146 (.548) while senior Da'Sean Nelson is seventh in the MAC at 96-for-179 (.536). Eastern is the MAC's only team with two players ranked in the top seven in the category.
DA'SEAN NELSON 10+ POINTS IN 14-STRAIGHT
After scoring 21 points against Ohio, Jan. 21, senior Da'Sean Nelson has 14-straight games with at least 10 points for the first time in his career.
With 13 regular-season games remaining, Nelson would need the Eagles to qualify for the MAC Tournament to have the opportunity to top Tyson Acuff's 27-game double-digit scoring streak from the 2023-24 season.
DA'SEAN NELSON GETS FOULED A LOT
Senior Da'Sean Nelson has been fouled 100 times in 17 games played (5.9 fouls per game). During MAC play, Nelson has accumulated 38 fouls drawn in four games (6.3 fouls per game).
Nelson has drawn at least eight fouls in six games this season, all of which have come in the last 11 games.
Eastern Michigan Leaders in Fouls Drawn:
Player Total Average
Da'Sean Nelson 100 5.9
Christian Henry 84 4.9
Jalen Terry 41 2.6
Jalin Billingsley 41 2.4
JALEN TERRY, A BIT OF EVERYTHING
Senior Jalen Terry is averaging 15.3 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, and 3.5 assists per game.
If Terry were to finish with those numbers, he would be the only player in program history to achieve those marks in a single season since assists became an official stat (1976-77).
Adding in his 1.4 steals per game, Terry is one of just 29 players nationally to average at least 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.0 steals. Terry is the only MAC player on the list of 25 players, which also includes former Eagle Orlando Lovejoy.
ONE OF TWO SCHOOLS WITH 28+ POINTS (x4)
With senior Da'Sean Nelson's 32 points against Northern Illinois, Jan. 4, 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 and Oklahoma are the only teams in the nation with four different players reaching 28 points this season.
Different Players Scoring 28+ Points:
1. Eastern Michigan 4
Oklahoma 4
Oklahoma and Texas State are the only other teams in the nation to have four players with a 27-point showing. Four of OU's players have at least one 29-point performance.
In total, 454 different players have scored at least 27 points in a single game nationally while 358 different players have a 28-point performance this season.
SUCCESS IN CLOSE GAMES
After junior Christian Henry swished in a half-court shot at the buzzer in the game at Toledo, Jan. 7, to cut the margin to three points, Eastern moved to 6-1 in games decided by four points or less. Eastern's six wins by four or fewer is tied for the second-most in the nation. The trend has continued from the 2023-24 season when the Eagles were 8-3 in games decided by four points or less.
National Leaders in Wins by Four Points or Less:
1. Princeton 8
T2. Eastern Michigan 6
T2. Northeastern 6
T2. UC-Riverside 6
T4. Nicholls 5
T4. UNC 5
T4. Wyoming 5
THREE EAGLES AVERAGING 14+ POINTS
Eastern has three players averaging 14.0 points for the first time since 2015-16 and four players averaging 10.0 points for the first time since 2017-18.
Player PPG 2024-25
Da'Sean Nelson 15.9
Jalen Terry 15.3
Christian Henry 14.7
Jalin Billingsley 10.9
Player PPG 2015-16
Elijah Minnie 16.8
Paul Jackson 14.9
James Thompson 14.5
Player PPG 2017-18
Ray Lee 15.1
Elijah Minnie 14.8
Willie Mangum 12.0
Ty Toney 11.0
SECOND-HALF SCORING
Eastern is averaging 39.4 points in the second half while averaging 33.0 points in the first half.
Nine of the Eagles' 11 top half totals have come in the second half.
Date Against Half Total (Half)
Dec. 21 Wright State 59 (2nd)
Jan. 7 Toledo 54 (2nd)
Nov. 30 Detroit Mercy 52 (2nd)
Jan. 21 Ohio 50 (1st)
Nov. 14 IU Indy 45 (1st)
Jan. 21 Ohio 44 (2nd)
Nov. 8 Siena Heights 43 (2nd)
Dec. 28 Davidson 43 (2nd)
Jan. 11 Akron 43 (2nd)
Dec. 15 Wright State 42 (2nd)
Jan. 4 Northern Illinois 42 (2nd)
JALEN TERRY MAC MINUTES LEADER
Senior Jalen Terry leads the MAC in minutes, averaging 37.1 minutes per game.
National Minutes Leaders:
1. Bennett Stiritz (Drake) 38.1
2. Brooks Barnheizer (NW) 37.7
3. Gibson Jimerson (SLU) 37.6
4. Nicholas Martinelli (NW) 37.3
5. Johnathan Lawson (UALR) 37.2
6. Jalen Terry (EMU) 37.1
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 in different seasons.
IMPORTANCE OF REBOUNDING
After holding a 33-24 advantage on the glass against Ohio, Jan. 21, Eastern moved to 8-1 when recording the same amount or more rebounds as its opponent. The Eagles are 1-8 when being out-rebounded.
EMU's loss when out-rebounding its foe came at Cleveland State, Nov. 16, as Eastern held a 34-29 advantage on the glass.
The win when being out-rebounded came against Northern Arizona, Nov. 26, as the 46-31 Lumberjack rebounding edge marked EMU's first win when being out-rebounded by at least 15 since topping Buffalo, 81-69, Jan. 12, 2016, when being out-rebounded by 17 in that game. Entering that contest on a 22-game losing streak when being out-rebounded by 15, only three of those 22 games were single-digit losses. Since, Eastern has been out-rebounded by at least 15 twice (at Loyola Chicago, Dec. 3, -27 rebounding margin; vs Akron, Jan. 11, -15 rebounding margin). Both games produced 20-plus point losses.
GODSLOVE NWABUDE AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Freshman Godslove Nwabude produced his best game as an Eagle at Central Michigan, Jan. 14, scoring a career-high five points to go with a career-high nine rebounds in 13 minutes of action.
RETURN OF JAY (AND COOPER) SMITH
With the game, Jan. 14, at Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan Assistant Coach/Director of Player Development Jay Smith returned to Mount Pleasant, as well as his son and EMU senior Cooper Smith.
Smith was Head Coach of Central Michigan from 1997-2006. His time at the helm of the program was highlighted by 2001 and 2003 MAC Championships.
The Smiths also returned to CMU, Dec. 18, 2010 (W, 75-49), and Dec. 23, 2008 (W, 67-55), while Jay was an assistant coach at the University of Detroit Mercy.
THREE PLAYERS WITH 20+ POINTS AT TOLEDO
Against Toledo, Jan. 7, the Eagles had three players scoring 20-plus points in the same game for the first time since Dec. 6, 2017, as junior Christian Henry (25), senior Jalen Terry (23), and senior Da'Sean Nelson (20).
In the Dec. 6, 2017, game against Oakland, Paul Jackson, Elijah Minnie, and James Thompson IV all netted 24 points in the 95-89 win.
DA'SEAN NELSON MAC POTW (x3)
Senior Da'Sean Nelson, who was named MAC Player of the Week Dec. 2 and Dec. 23, won his third conference weekly honor of the season after an impressive 32-point, nine-rebound showing against Northern Illinois, Jan. 4.
By earning the recognition for the third time, Nelson is the first player in the MAC to accomplish that feat since former Akron Zip and current Indiana Pacer Enrique Freeman earned the honor eight times in 2023-24.
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 Six 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 Six 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.
BELOW THE CENTURY MARK
In 378 games at the George Gervin GameAbove Center since opening in 1998-99, only two teams have reached 100 points against the Eagles as 2022-23 Florida Atlantic, which reached the 2023 Final Four, scored 101 at EMU, Dec. 4, 2022. The second team was Akron, Jan. 11, 2025, in a 105-81 EMU loss.
Top Point Totals by Foes at the George Gervin GameAbove Center:
Date School Points
Jan. 11, 2025 Akron 105
Dec. 4, 2022 Florida Atlantic 101
Dec. 15, 2024 Purdue Fort Wayne 99
Nov. 30, 2024 Detroit Mercy 98
Nov. 12, 2023 Illinois State 98
THR33-POINT STR3AK, 631-STRAIGHT GAM3S
Eastern, which hit 10 threes against Ohio, Jan. 21, has now hit at least one triple in 631-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 19-consecutive games, dating back to the final game of the 2023-24 season. The 19-game streak is EMU's longest since at least the 2008-09 season.
DOUBLEHEADER DAY
The Eagles are scheduled to play three double-headers with the EMU women's basketball team in 2024-25 with two of the three doubleheaders taking place in Ypsilanti. Both the EMU men's and women's teams play Jan. 11 (both lost 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 the 2023-24 season but fell to 0-1 in such games this season after the 105-81 loss to Akron, Jan. 11.
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.
Next Up
Eastern Michigan travels to conference-leading Miami for a 7 p.m. game Tuesday, Jan. 28.
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