Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, January 28
Oxford, Ohio
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Miami
Eastern Seeking Fourth-Straight Win at Second-Place Miami
1/26/2025 11:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Tuesday, Jan. 28, game set for 7 p.m. start
| Men's Basketball at Miami | |
| Date | Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. |
| Venue | Millett Hall (9,200) | Oxford, Ohio |
| 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 | |
OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- Winners of three-straight games, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team travels to second-place Miami University Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m. inside Millett Hall.
ON AIR
Eastern Michigan and Miami will air on ESPN+ from Millett Hall. 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
»Despite trailing 57-47 with less than 16 minutes to play, Eastern Michigan used a 43-18 run to beat Buffalo, 90-77, Jan. 25, to extend its winning streak to three games.
»The Eagles had five players in double figures for the first time this season as senior Yusuf Jihad provided a key boost off the bench, netting a season-high 15 points, which included 12 in the first half.
»EMU has won three-straight games in MAC play for the first time since the 2019-20 season. A fourth-straight win would be the Eagles' longest win streak in MAC play since the 2017-18 season.
»Eastern Michigan, which sits at 4-3 in the MAC for the first time since time since the 2016-17 season, is seeking a 5-3 start in conference play against Miami, Jan. 28.
»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.
»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.
»Eastern Michigan, Austin Peay, and Oklahoma are the nation's only three teams to have four different players to score 28 points in separate games this season.
»Eastern Michigan's Stan Heath is in his fourth year at the helm of the Eagles, holding a 41-71 record at EMU and a 250-278 record over 17 years as a collegiate head coach. With the win against Buffalo, Jan. 25, Heath reached 250 career wins.
BIGGEST WIN OF THE SEASON (x3)
Eastern Michigan has won three-straight games, resetting its largest victory margin of the season against a Division I foe in each of the contests. The Eagles had four wins by four points apiece as the high in the category prior to its three most recent games. Eastern also topped the NAIA's Siena Heights, 83-58, Nov. 8.
Date Against Score
Jan. 18, 2025 at Bowling Green W, 68-62 (6)
Jan. 21, 2025 Ohio W, 94-87 (7)
Jan. 25, 2025 Buffalo W, 90-77 (13)
HEATH WINS NO. 250
By defeating Buffalo, Jan. 25, Head Coach Stan Heath earned his 250th win as a collegiate head coach in the game against. Heath has 41 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.
5-3 IN THE MAC...?
Eastern Michigan, which sits at 4-3 in the MAC for the first time since time since the 2016-17 season, is seeking a 5-3 start in conference play against Miami, Jan. 28. The 2016-17 team started 4-1 in MAC play before settling for a 5-3 start through eight games and then dropped seven-straight games.
FOUR-STRAIGHT MAC WINS...?
The Eagles, which have won three-straight games for the first time since the 2019-20 season, are seeking four-straight wins in MAC play against Miami, Jan. 28. EMU has not won four-straight conference games since the 2017-18 season.
Last time with four-straight MAC wins:
Date Against Score
Feb. 13, 2018 Miami W, 58-57
Feb. 17, 2018 at Central Michigan W, 72-67
Feb. 20, 2018 Toledo W, 85-79
Feb. 24, 2018 Northern Illinois W, 82-53
Feb. 27, 2018 at Western Michigan W, 74-58
March 3, 2018 at Toledo W, 71-69
Last time with three-straight MAC wins (prior to current streak):
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 4-3 in conference play and is fifth in the MAC standings.
Eastern is expected to need at least four 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
YUSUF JIHAD 15 POINTS AGAINST BUFFALO
Despite seeing just 12:31 of court time against Buffalo, Jan. 25, senior Yusuf Jihad netted a season-high 15 points on a 6-for-7 showing from the field. Jihad scored 12 points in the first half, helping the Eagles stay in the game while senior Da'Sean Nelson was limited in the opening 20 minutes due to foul trouble.
43-18 SECOND-HALF RUN AGAINST BUFFALO
Over the course of 15:27 of gametime in the second half, Eastern outscored Buffalo, 43-18, to help the Eagles earn their third-straight win, Jan. 25.
Eastern trailed, 57-47, with 15:27 to play before leading, 90-75, with nine seconds left.
Over that stretch of 15:27, Buffalo was just 6-for-20 (30.0%) from the field. Even though Eastern made just one second-half three-pointer, the Eagles held the Bulls without a made three in the final 15:56 of the game after UB converted 11 in the first 24:04.
21-FOR-22 AT THE FREE THROW LINE
Against Buffalo, Jan. 25, Eastern was 21-for-22 (95.5%) from the free throw line, the second-best mark in program history (minimum 10 attempts). The 95.5% conversion rate is shy of the 13-for-13 effort by EMU at Central Michigan, Jan. 16, 2021.
Eastern entered the contest ranked 10th in the MAC with a 69.3% free throw percentage.
The free throw performance was highlighted by 6-for-6 outings from senior Jalen Terry and junior Christian Henry.
TOP BENCH SCORING MARK OF THE SEASON
Against Buffalo, Jan. 25, Eastern notched 40 bench points, its highest bench total of the season, topping the previous high of 28, set in its last game against Ohio, Jan. 21.
Despite the 40-point bench output, only three reserves scored as senior Da'Sean Nelson netted 17 points, senior Yusuf Jihad scored 15 points and sophomore Arne Osojnik had eight points.
The Eagles have been outscored by an average of 19.8-15.5 in bench points this season.
TOP PAINT SCORING MARK OF THE SEASON
Against Buffalo, Jan. 25, Eastern notched 52 paint points, its paint point total of the season, topping the previous high of 48, set at Houston Christian, Nov. 25.
The Eagles have outscored their opponents by an average of 33.1-32.5 in paint points this season.
FORCED 20 TURNOVERS AGAINST BUFFALO
Against Buffalo, Jan. 25, Eastern forced 20 turnovers, the most by an EMU foe since Central Michigan had 23 turnovers, Jan. 7, 2023.
BACK-TO-BACK GAMES WITH 16+ ASSISTS
Eastern tallied 19 assists against Ohio, Jan. 21, prior to registering 16 dimes against Buffalo, Jan. 25.
The back-to-back games with 16-plus assists marks the first time EMU has done so in MAC games since a three-game streak in the 2017-18 season.
JULIAN LEWIS IN OXFORD
Redshirt junior Julian Lewis returns to his former school as EMU takes on Miami, Jan. 28. Lewis, who spent two seasons in Oxford, highlighted by his 5.8 points per game in the 2022-23 season, has appeared in one game (Jan. 14 at Central Michigan, 6:09 of court time) since the start of the calendar year.
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.
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.
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 15-STRAIGHT
After scoring 17 points against Buffalo, Jan. 25, senior Da'Sean Nelson has 15-straight games with at least 10 points for the first time in his career.
With 12 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 104 times in 18 games played (5.8 fouls per game). During MAC play, Nelson has accumulated 42 fouls drawn in seven games (6.0 fouls per game).
Nelson has drawn at least eight fouls in six games this season, all of which have come in the last 12 games.
Eastern Michigan Leaders in Fouls Drawn:
Player Total Average
Da'Sean Nelson 104 5.8
Christian Henry 90 4.7
Jalen Terry 44 2.4
Jalin Billingsley 44 2.3
JALEN TERRY, A BIT OF EVERYTHING
Senior Jalen Terry is averaging 15.1 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game, and 3.4 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 1.5 steals per game, Terry is one of just 22 players nationally to average at least 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals. Terry is the only MAC player on the list of 22 players, which also includes former Eagle Orlando Lovejoy.
ONE OF THREE 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, Austin Peay, 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
Austin Peay 4
Oklahoma 4
Four of OU's players have at least one 29-point performance.
In total, 487 different players have scored at least 27 points in a single game nationally while 382 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 third-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
2. UC-Riverside 7
T3. Eastern Michigan 6
Northeastern 6
T5. Nicholls 5
North Carolina 5
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 11.0 points for the first time since 2017-18.
Player PPG 2024-25
Da'Sean Nelson 15.9
Jalen Terry 15.1
Christian Henry 14.7
Jalin Billingsley 11.3
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 39.8 points in the second half while averaging 33.5 points in the first half.
Eight of the Eagles' 10 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)
Jan. 25 Buffalo 48 (2nd)
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)
JALEN TERRY MAC MINUTES LEADER
Senior Jalen Terry leads the MAC in minutes, averaging 37.0 minutes per game.
National Minutes Leaders:
1. Bennett Stiritz (Drake) 38.5
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. Mitch Macari (Drake) 37.1
7. Ethan Taylor (Air Force) 37.0
6. Jalen Terry (EMU) 37.0
With former Eagle Tyson Acuff ranking fourth in the nation in minutes per game at 37.9 in 2023-24, if Terry can move back up into the top six, EMU would be 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 being out-rebounded, 34-26, against Buffalo, Jan. 25, Eastern moved to 2-8 when being out-rebounded this season. The Eagles are 8-1 when recording the same amount or more rebounds as its opponent.
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 other 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.
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 379 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, 632-STRAIGHT GAM3S
Eastern, which hit five threes against Buffalo, Jan. 25, has now hit at least one triple in 632-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 20-consecutive games, dating back to the final game of the 2023-24 season. The 20-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
UP NEXT
Eastern plays at Western Michigan Saturday, Feb. 1, in a 2 p.m. game.
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