EMU Welcomes Madonna for Thanksgiving Eve Showdown

Men's Basketball vs. Madonna
Date	Wednesday, Nov. 23 \| 2 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center (8,784)
Game Notes	EMU Game Notes
Live Stats	EMUEagles.com
Watch	ESPN 3
Listen	No Audio Available
Twitter	@EMUHoops \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Returning to Ypsilanti for just the second home game this season, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team is set to host Madonna University in a Thanksgiving Eve matchup at the Convocation Center. The Eagles (2-3) are looking for their second win at home this year as they tip-off with the Crusaders (1-4) at 2 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 23.

The Green and White comes into the matinee contest following an 83-71 setback in the 2K Classic Saturday, Nov. 19, at the hands of IUPUI. It was IUPUI's hot shooting is what did in the Eagles, while also struggling from the floor, shooting just 36.8 percent.

FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eastern Michigan versus Madonna matchup can only be found on ESPN3 this Wednesday. Normally, fans could dial into 89.1 FM or listen over the internet to the smooth sounds of veteran play-by-play voice, Chad Bush. Joining Bush on the call this season will be analyst Assistant Athletic Media Relations Director Sean Hostetter. Coverage on 89.1 WEMU will begin 10 minutes prior to the tip of each game this year.

Following the addition of its own brand new mobile television unit a season ago, all EMU men's and women's basketball games will be streamed live on ESPN3. Ryan Wooley will provide the play-by-play coverage for the ESPN3 broadcast, while Hostetter will step away from the radio and take a seat alongside Wooley for analysis on the broadcast.

ALL-TIME VERSUS THE CRUSADERS: Wednesday's contest with the Crusaders will be the fourth time that Madonna and Eastern Michigan will square off on the hardwood. The Eagles own a 3-0 edge all-time versus the Livonia, Mich.-based institution and look to remain perfect versus the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference foe. The last time these two squads met, the Green and White notched a 79-63 victory a season ago, Nov. 28, 2015.

LIKELY LOOK FOR MADONNA...

#	Name	Pos.	Cl.	Ht.	Wt.	ppg	rpg	apg	Hometown-Previous School
3	Austin Johnson	G	Jr.-Jr.	6-1	195	13.5	4.3	1.5	Spring Lake, Mich.-Spring Lake
4	Khalil Malone	G	Sr.-Sr.	5-9	170	13.8	4.8	1.8	Pontiac, Mich.-Waterford Mott
15	Dan Hall	F	Sr.-Sr.	6-6	225	0.8	2.3	0.8	Wyandotte, Mich.-Trenton
20	Chris Dierker	F	Jr.-Jr.	6-7	210	15.3	10.5	2.0	Canton, Mich.-Salem
21	Nick Owens	G	So.-So.	6-1	188	10.5	1.3	1.3	Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston

LAST TIME OUT: The Eagles fell, 83-71, in the finale of the 2016 2K Classic Saturday, Nov. 19, when IUPUI put on a clinic from downtown, connecting on 10-of-20 three-point attempts, and shooting 47.1 percent from the floor.

EMU was led by James Thompson IV, who posted 14 points and 11 rebounds for his third straight double-double, while Ray Lee posted a game-high 20 points. Ty Toney and Willie Mangum IV each chipped in double figure scoring performances of 12 and 11 points, respectively.

FILLING IT UP: EMU combo-guard Ray Lee has already posted three 20-or-more point performances. A season ago, Lee totaled five 20-plus point games. Currently averaging 19.2 points per contest, the Detroit, Mich. native has the best scoring average by an Eagle since Brandon Bowdry averaged 19.9 points per game during the 2010-11 campaign. Additionally, Lee is on pace to score 614 points through the regular season and one Mid-American Conference Tournament game. That number would be the eighth-most scored in a single season by an Eagle. Should he keep that pace, Lee would finish his career third in Eastern Michigan scoring history.

PLENTY TO CHOOSE FROM: This 2016-17 EMU men's basketball squad has shown it is very deep from top to bottom, and Rob Murphy will have a lot of options to choose from throughout the course of the season. So far this season, Eastern Michigan has seen its entire active roster take the floor and nine student-athletes are averaging 14-or-more minutes per game.

LASER FROM LONG RANGE: EMU's Willie Mangum IV has been known to spark the Eastern Michigan offense from time to time. He did just that in the Eagles' victory over Gardner-Webb, Nov. 18. With EMU looking at a 14-0 deficit, the senior guard began his offensive onslaught throughout the game. Mangum connected on 8-of-10 shooting overall, while knocking down 6-of-7 three-point field goal attempts. The three-point shooting ranks as the best percentage in a single game with at least seven attempts in EMU history. In total, Mangum racked up 28 points in the victory.

STREAKING AT THE CONVO: In the metaphorical sense, the Eagles have been streaking at the Convo, winning its last eight contests in their home building. Eastern's home win streak dates back to Feb. 2, 2016, when it posted a 25-point, 94-69, win over Miami. Since that win, the Eagles have a perfect record at home.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE: EMU sophomore James Thomspon IV has proven to be one of the premier frontcourt players in the Mid-American Conference and country through his short time at Eastern Michigan. The Baton Rouge, La. native has racked up 22 double-doubles in just 38 games donning the Green and White. That number ranks as the seventh-most double-doubles recorded in EMU history.

DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK: After trailing by as many as 14 points early on in their contest with Gardner-Webb, Nov. 18, the Eagles were able to turn the tide thanks in large part to its hot three-point shooting. Trailing 14-3, the Green and White went on a 21-6 run and eventually went up by two, 31-29, before an 11-1 run pushed the lead to 42-30. EMU was able to hold on to that lead through the final 20 minutes of play, eventually winning the game, 76-68.

NATIONALLY SPEAKING: As of the NCAA's most recent statistical update through Nov. 22, the Eagles are near the top of the country in multiple categories. As a team, Eastern Michigan is third in the nation in total steals (52), while Ray Lee is the 10th active leading scorer in the country. Lee also ranks eighth in the country in free throws made (33) and sits in 24th in free throw attempts (36). Additionally, James Thompson IV is the best rebounder in the country with 59 total rebounds. In addition, Thompson's three double-doubles tie for the second-most in NCAA Division I basketball, while his 11.8 rebounds per game ranks 11th in the country.

As a team, the Eagles are third in the country in total steals with 52, while ranking 14th in steals per game (10.4).

MURPHY AND NON-DI OPPONENTS: Eastern Michigan's men's basketball program has been perfect in its games versus non-NCAA Division I opponents since Rob Murphy took over prior to the 2011-12 campaign. Currently, the Eagles are 15-0 versus opponents from outside the NCAA Division I ranks since the 2011-12 season.

CHARITY CHAMPIONS: A season ago, EMU converted 72.1 percent of its free throw attempts, marking the third-best free throw percentage as a team in Eastern Michigan history. Through this point, the 2016-17 Eagles are hitting their free throws at an 76.3 percent clip, which would break the EMU all-time record of 72.9 percent.

In addition, EMU's Ray Lee has continued to show his worth at the free throw line in the early goings of this year. The Detroit, Mich. native ranks ninth overall in EMU history for free throws made (389), while also ranking ninth in career free throw percentage (.787). This season, the 6-foot-3 combo guard connected on his first 19 free throw attempts this year.

CHASING 100: EMU Head Men's Basketball Coach Rob Murphy is in his sixth season at the helm of the Eagles' men's basketball program. After five seasons and into this year, he has amassed a record of 93-83 for Eastern Michigan. Should Murphy and his 2016-17 squad win nine games this season, the Detroit, Mich. native will become just the fourth coach in Eastern Michigan history to cross the 100-win mark.

AMONG THE ELITE IN EMU SCORING HISTORY: EMU redshirt senior guard Ray Lee put together another stellar offensive season during the 2015-16 campaign. Lee, who led the Eagles in scoring last year (15.1 ppg), has scored 1,514 points in his career. That number ranks him as the 10th-most prolific scorer in Eastern Michigan history. Currently, Kennedy McIntosh is the all-time scoring leader with 2,219 and Earl Boykins is second with 2,211. Lee needs to score 706 more points this year to become EMU's all-time leading scorer.

MID-MAJOR SUCCESS: Since taking over the EMU men's basketball program, head coach Rob Murphy has shown sustained success versus other NCAA Division I mid-major programs. Over the last four seasons, Murphy holds a 24-12 record versus mid-majors in non-conference matchups. The last three seasons, Murphy was 16-5 against other mid-major programs outside of the MAC and is currently 1-1 this year.

ON THE HORIZON: Following their midweek contest with Madonna, the Eagles remain in Ypsilanti for a Saturday afternoon battle with Omaha, Nov 26. The game is slated to begin at 1 p.m. at the Convocation Center.

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Players Mentioned

Ray Lee

Willie Mangum IV

James Thompson IV

Ty Toney

Eastern Michigan Athletics