Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 15
Ypsilanti, Mich.
3:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Toledo
Eastern Taking On Toledo in Saturday Home Doubleheader
2/13/2025 3:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Eagles, Rockets set for approximate 3:30 p.m. start time after EMU women battle Ball State at 1 p.m.
| Men's Basketball vs. Toledo | |
| Date | Saturday, Feb. 15, at 3:30 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 | |
| Tickets | Purchase Tickets |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team hosts the University of Toledo for a Mid-American Conference contest Saturday, Feb. 15, at 3:30 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The game follows the EMU women's game against MAC-leading Ball State, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. Click here to purchase tickets.
The first 200 students and 300 fans will receive a free green T-shirt. Fans can also receive $3 off all beers until the tip-off of the men's game. Click here to purchase tickets.
ON AIR
Eastern Michigan and Toledo will air on ESPN+ from the George Gervin GameAbove Center as Ryan Wooley and Reggie Butler will be 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
»The Eagles dropped an overtime heartbreaker at Ball State, Feb. 11, 86-84. Senior Jalen Terry scored 25 points to go with five rebounds and five assists, becoming the first Eagle to register 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a MAC game since March 5, 2011.
»In the game at Ball State, Feb. 11, senior Da'Sean Nelson added 17 points with eight assists and six rebounds, becoming the first Eagle to achieve that statline in a MAC game since at least the 2001-02 season.
»Eastern Michigan improved to 2-0 in the MAC-SBC Challenge home games, Feb. 8, after knocking off Old Dominion, 76-70. Eastern, which led the contest for more than 33 minutes, received 22 points from senior Da'Sean Nelson and 18 from senior Jalen Terry.
»During conference play, junior Christian Henry tops the MAC in scoring with 17.3 points per game while senior Da'Sean Nelson is tied for fourth with 16.7 points per game.
»Eastern Michigan, which sits at 4-7 in the MAC for the first time since the 2018-19 season, is seeking a 5-7 start in conference play against Toledo, Feb. 15.
»EMU is one of only six teams in the nation to have at least 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 42-75 record at EMU and a 251-282 record over 17 years as a collegiate head coach.
JALEN TERRY 25 POINTS, 5 REBOUNDS, 5 ASSISTS
At Ball State, Feb. 11, senior Jalen Terry scored 25 points to go with five rebounds and five assists. He is that first Eagle to achieve that statline since Noah Farrakhan had 28 points, five rebounds, and seven assists against Florida International in four overtimes, Dec. 11, 2021. Terry is the first Eagle with 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists in MAC play since March 5, 2011, when Brandon Bowdry had 27 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists against Toledo.
Terry made four three-pointers, marking the eighth time this season he has made at least four three-pointers this season and 17th time in his career.
DA'SEAN NELSON 17 POINTS, 6 REBOUNDS, 8 ASSISTS
At Ball State, Feb. 11, senior Da'Sean Nelson had 17 points, eight assists, and six rebounds and is the first Eagle to achieve that statline since Ty Toney, Nov. 18, 2015. Toney had 18 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds against Oakland. Nelson is the first Eagle to achieve that statline in a MAC game since at least the 2001-02 season.
JOHN SHANU II SEASON-HIGH 18 MINUTES AT BSU
At Ball State, Feb. 11, redshirt junior John Shanu II played a season-high 18 minutes, drawing his second-straight start. Shanu II also blocked two shots for the second time this season while scoring four points.
STATISTICAL ANOMALY IN LOSS AT BALL STATE
In the 86-84 overtime loss at Ball State, Feb. 11, Eastern held the advantage in four key categories that have historically resulted in winning the game. The Eagles held edges in field goal percentage (.559-.519), rebounding (25-24), and assists (18-14), and had fewer turnovers (12-15).
When winning all four categories, Eastern had won at least 47-straight games, dating back through the 2009-10 season. In those 47 games, EMU won by an average of 28.3 points and only three times did it win by less than 10 points. Two of those three times have come this season (vs. Northern Illinois, Jan. 4; vs. Old Dominion, Feb. 8).
Although non-Division I games accounted for 23 of those 47 wins, Eastern still won by an average of 20.3 points in the 24 games against Division I teams and an average of 21.1 points in the 17 contests against MAC foes.
48 PAINT POINTS AT BALL STATE
At Ball State, Feb. 11, Eastern scored 48 paint points, tied for its second-most of the season. The 48 paint points falls four short of the Eagles' season high of 52, set in the 90-77 win over Buffalo, Jan. 25.
Eastern holds a narrow 33.2-32.8 average advantage in points in the paint this season.
DA'SEAN NELSON AGAINST TOLEDO
Toledo native Da'Sean Nelson is set to face off against his hometown Toledo Rockets, Feb. 15. In the first meeting between the teams, Nelson was an efficient 9-for-14 from the floor, scoring 20 points to go with five rebounds in the narrow loss at Toledo, Jan. 7. He also had 10 turnovers, the most by an Eagle since March 1, 2006, when John Bowler had 11 against Central Michigan.
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.
5-7 IN THE MAC...?
Eastern Michigan, which sits at 4-7 in the MAC for the first time since the 2018-19 season, is seeking a 5-7 start in conference play against Toledo, Feb. 15. The 2018-19 team started 5-7 in MAC play.
EYEING THE MAC TOURNAMENT
Eastern Michigan, which has not qualified for the MAC Tournament since 2019, sits at 4-7 in conference play and is tied for eighth with Central Michigan and Western Michigan in the MAC standings.
Eastern is expected to need at least four more MAC wins to be 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 MAC Wins by No. 8 Seed: 7.52
Highest MAC Wins Needed: 10 (2004-05)
Lowest MAC Wins Needed: 6 (4x, last 2022-23)
HENRY LEADING THE MAC IN SCORING
During conference play, junior Christian Henry tops the MAC in scoring with 17.3 points per game while senior Da'Sean Nelson is tied for fourth with 16.7 points per game.
MAC Points Per Game Leaders (conference only):
1. Christian Henry (EMU) 17.3
2. Marcus Johnson (BGSU) 17.1
3. Sonny Wilson (TOL) 16.9
T4. Da'Sean Nelson (EMU) 16.7
Sam Lewis (TOL) 16.7
Jermahri Hill (Ball St.) 16.7
HENRY THREE-POINT, 10-POINT STREAKS
Junior Christian Henry had converted at least one three-pointer in 17-straight games prior to going back-to-back games without one made three-pointer. Prior to the last two games, he had also made multiple three-pointers in nine-straight games.
Henry has an active streak of 12-consecutive games with at least 10 points.
HENRY IMPROVING AT THE FREE THROW LINE
Junior Christian Henry, who leads the team in three-point percentage at 36.3%, has made 33 of his last 40 free throws (82.5%) after making just 49 of his first 82 attempts (59.8%) this season.
In total, Henry is 82-for-122 (67.2%) from the charity stripe.
NELSON/TERRY 1,000 CAREER POINTS SOON
Seniors Da'Sean Nelson and Jalen Terry are both likely to reach 1,000 career points during the 2024-25 season.
Nelson has 990 career points (262 at EMU, 628 at DePaul) and Terry has 957 career points (346 at EMU, 688 at DePaul, 57 at Oregon). Nelson is 10 points away while if Terry continues his 15.0 points per game average, he would reach the milestone against Miami, Feb. 18.
BILLINGSLEY + NELSON SHOOTING PERCENTAGES
Senior Jalin Billingsley ranks fourth in the MAC in field goal percentage, shooting 103-for-184 (.560) while senior Da'Sean Nelson is 10th in the MAC at 126-for-248 (.508).
DA'SEAN NELSON GETS FOULED A LOT
Senior Da'Sean Nelson has been fouled 145 times in 23 games played (6.3 fouls per game). During MAC play, Nelson has accumulated 76 fouls drawn in 11 games (6.9 fouls per game).
Nelson has drawn at least eight fouls in 10 games this season, all of which have come in the last 17 games.
Eastern Michigan Leaders in Fouls Drawn:
Player Total Average
Da'Sean Nelson 145 6.3
Christian Henry 110 4.6
Jalin Billingsley 56 2.3
Jalen Terry 53 2.3
ONE OF SIX 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 is one of six teams in the nation with at least four different players reaching 28 points this season. Austin Peay leads the nation with five different players achieving the mark.
Different Players Scoring 28+ Points:
1. Austin Peay 5
2. Eastern Michigan 4
Oklahoma 4
New Orleans 4
Prairie View A&M 4
San Jose State 4
In total, 441 different players have a 28-point performance this season.
SUCCESS IN CLOSE GAMES
After the Eagles fell, 86-84, at Ball State, Feb. 11, Eastern moved to 6-2 in games decided by four points or less. Eastern's six wins by four or fewer is tied for the fourth-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 9
UC-Riverside 9
3. Texas A&M 7
4. Eastern Michigan 6
14 other schools 6
TWO EAGLES AVERAGING 15 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.5 APG
Eastern is the only team in the nation to have multiple players averaging at least 15 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 steals.
Senior Da'Sean Nelson is averaging 15.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.0 steals while senior Jalen Terry is averaging 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.6 steals.
In total, 48 different players nationally are averaging 15 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 steals.
Nelson is one of just three players nationally to average at least 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks, and shoot above 50.0% from the floor. Nelson, who averages 1.0 blocks and is shooting 50.8%, is joined by South Carolina's Collin Murray-Boyles and UAB's Yaxel Lendeborg on the list.
Terry is one of 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.
THREE EAGLES AVERAGING 15+ POINTS
Eastern has not had three players averaging 15.0 points since at least the 1972-73 season. EMU is one of six teams in the nation to have three players scoring at least 15 points per game.
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 15.7
Christian Henry 15.0
Jalen Terry 15.0
Jalin Billingsley 10.7
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
TWO EAGLES AVERAGING 3.0+ ASSISTS
Eastern has two players averaging 3.0 assists for the first time since 2017-18.
Player APG 2024-25
Christian Henry 3.4
Jalen Terry 3.2
Player APG 2017-18
Paul Jackson 4.6
Tim Bond 3.5
SECOND-HALF SCORING
Eastern is averaging 39.5 points in the second half while averaging 32.4 points in the first half.
In EMU's 24 games, the Eagles have scored more points in the second half than the first in 17 games.
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)
Jan. 25 Buffalo 48 (2nd)
Feb. 8 Old Dominion 47 (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) 39.0
2. Mitch Macari (Drake) 37.8
3. Nicholas Martinelli (NW) 37.7
4. Gibson Jimerson (SLU) 37.5
5. Johnathan Lawson (UALR) 37.1
6. Brooks Barnheizer (NW) 37.0
7. 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.
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.
BELOW THE CENTURY MARK
In 381 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, 637-STRAIGHT GAM3S
Eastern, which hit five threes against Ball State, Feb. 8, has now hit at least one triple in 637-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.
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.
EASTERN MICHIGAN ROAD CLOSURE
Eastern Michigan will close the season at Ohio, March 4, and at Kent State, March 7.
The 2024-25 season will mark the third-straight year in which the Eagles' final two regular season games are on the road while EMU will play its last regular season competition away from home for the eighth-straight season. Eastern's last two regular season contests have been road games five of the last seven years.
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.
NEW FOE, WHO DIS?
The Eagles added competition against three first-time opponents this season; they faced off against Texas State, Nov. 4 (L, 44-64), Houston Christian, Nov. 25 (W, 74-73), and Wright State, Dec. 21 (W, 86-82).
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).
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.
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 second-place Miami Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 6:30 p.m. 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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