Eagles Set to Avenge Double OT Setback This Weekend

Men's Basketball at Ball State
Date	Saturday, Feb. 27 \| 2 p.m.
Venue	Muncie, Ind. \| John E. Worthen Arena (11,500)
Game Notes	EMU Game Notes
Live Stats	BallStateSports.com
Watch	ESPN 3
Listen	89.1 FM WEMU
Twitter	@EMUHoops \| @EMUAthletics

MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) -- After winning its second consecutive Mid-American Conference game, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team will look to make it three in a row Saturday, Feb. 27, when it travels to Muncie, Ind. to square off with Ball State University at 2 p.m. from John E. Worthen Arena. Trailing BSU by just two games, EMU is looking to gain ground in a battle for the MAC West Division Championship.

The Eagles (15-13, 7-8 MAC) have won four of their last five contests, including its most recent victory, Feb. 23. In that game, Eastern defeated Western Michigan University, 73-62, at the Convocation Center.

The Cardinals (18-10, 9-6 MAC) come into Saturday's matchup following a 10-point, 77-67, setback at Savage Arena in Toledo, Ohio. Although Ball State is coming off of a tough loss, the Cardinals were rolling prior to that, winning five of their previous six contests, losing to just Ohio, Feb. 9.

FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eastern Michigan versus Ball State matchup will have both audio and video on Wednesday night. Fans can dial into 89.1 FM or listen over the internet at WEMU.org to hear the smooth sounds of veteran play-by-play voice, Chad Bush. Coverage on 89.1 WEMU will begin 10 minutes prior to the tip of each game this year.

In addition to the WEMU broadcast, the Eagles' contest will air live on ESPN3. On the call will be Ball State Director of Broadcasting Joel Godett, while David Eha will provide analysis for the MAC opener.

ALL-TIME VERSUS BALL STATE: The Eagles trail in the series with Ball State by a 16-game margin, at a tally of 42-58. Last season, the Eagles split a pair of MAC West battles between these two squads. First, the Green and White dropped an overtime contest in the MAC opener at the Convocation Center, before returning the favor at BSU toward the end of the regular season. This year, EMU fell following controversial no calls which led to a Ball State three-pointer with just over a second left to ice a double overtime, 88-87, loss to BSU.

In that game, Ty Toney and James Thompson IV, who both finished with 23 points apiece. That marked a career-high for Toney, who also swiped a career-high six steals, which ties for the fourth-most in a single game in EMU history. Meanwhile, Thompson recorded 14 rebounds, notching his 11th double-double of the season.

LIKELY LOOK FOR THE CARDINALS...

#	Name	Pos.	Cl.	Ht.	Wt.	ppg	rpg	apg	Hometown-Previous School
0	Francis Kiapway	G	Jr.-Jr.	6-3	195	9.1	1.2	1.4	Hamilton, Ontario-St. Thomas More
1	Naiel Smith	G	So.-So.	6-4	200	2.8	2.7	2.8	Brooklyn, N.Y.-San Jacinto College
12	Bo Calhoun	F	Sr.-Sr.	6-6	245	11.2	8.7	1.3	South Bend, Ind.-Washington HS
15	Franko House	F	Jr.-Jr.	6-6	247	11.5	5.3	2.0	Elkhart, Ind.-Concord
33	Ryan Weber	F	Sr.-Jr.	6-6	226	11.0	4.3	1.5	Indianapolis, Ind.-Youngstown State

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS: It is safe to say that revenge was on the minds of all of the Eagles Tuesday, Feb. 23, when they took care of Western Michigan, 73-62, at the Convocation Center. EMU put together another stellar offensive performance, shooting 51.9 percent from the floor, but it was the Eagles' defense that showed up versus the Broncos. Eastern Michigan forced WMU into 18 turnovers, while picking the Broncos' pocket on 10 occasions and blocking five shots. In addition, EMU held Western to just a 21.4 percent three-point clip. In the first meeting between the two schools, the Broncos shot 70-plus percent from beyond the arc.

DO YOU KNOW THE MUNCIE MAN?: Although winning on the road is no easy task in college basketball, EMU Head Coach Rob Murphy has made a habit of winning in Muncie, Ind. In fact, Murphy is a perfect 4-0 when taking on Ball State inside of John E. Worthen Arena. In his first year, Murphy led the eventual MAC West Champion Eagles to Muncie and saw senior Antonio Green raise for a three-pointer with a tie score. The Inkster, Mich. native connected on the longball with just 1.5 seconds on the clock to give the Eagles a three-point, 51-48 victory.

WILLIE'S WAY: Junior college transfer Willie Mangum IV has been on fire as of late for Eastern Michigan. The Richmond, Va. native has scored at least 16 points in each of the last three games, while knocking down at least three shots from the long line. Overall, Mangum is averaging 18 points per game with a 57.1 field goal percentage, to go along with a 60 percent three-point clip in the last three games. In addition, the junior is averaging 1.3 asists and 1.7 steals per contest over that span.

SCORING FROM EVERYWHERE: Eastern Michigan's offense has taken a significant step up from previous years, averaging 78.1 points per game this season, good for second-best in the Mid-American Conference. A large part of that has to do with the fact that the Eagles are not a one or two man offensive operation. EMU is the only team with four players averaging 12-or-more points this season, while they've also had five different players score 20-or-more points in a game this year. James Thompson IV leads the Green and White at 15.2 points per game, followed by Raven Lee (14.7 ppg), Willie Mangum IV (12.4 ppg) and Ty Toney (12.1 ppg). In addition, Brandon Nazione has also scored 20-plus points on a pair of occasions this season, and 12-or-more in eight different games.

FIGHTING FOR A HOME GAME: Although it is mathematically possible, it is unlikely that the Green and White will nab one of the top-four seeds for the 2016 Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, the Eagles are still vying for a home game in the first round of the tournament. Currently holding a 7-8 record, EMU is tied with Northern Illinois for the No. 8 seed, while trailing Central Michigan and Toledo, who hold the six and seven seeds, by just a single game. For the entire MAC Tournament outlook, turn to page 13 of these notes.

EMU SETS SIGHTS ON THE MICHIGAN MAC TROPHY: Eastern has not yet won the Michigan MAC Trophy under Head Coach Rob Murphy. In fact, EMU has yet to secure the Michigan MAC Trophy since its inception. However, with its win over Western Michigan Tuesday, Feb. 23, the Green and White has positioned itself well to take home the honor for the first time. So far this season, the team has posted a pair of wins over Central Michigan, while splitting games with Western Michigan. Eastern needs Central to defeat Western in the final game of the season to claim the Michigan MAC Championship, otherwise CMU will retain the trophy.

BECOMING LEGENDARY: Although he is just a freshman at Eastern Michigan, James Thompson IV has already begun what could be a legendary career at EMU. The Baton Rouge, La. native broke his teammate, Raven Lee's, freshman record of points scored by putting up 20 in the Eagles' victory over Kent State, Feb. 13. To this point, Thompson has racked up 426 points, distancing himself from Lee's former record of 380.

TALK ABOUT EFFICIENCY: EMU redshirt junior Raven Lee has been the poster boy for offensive efficiency coming off of the bench this season. The Detroit, Mich. native is averaging the second most points on the team (14.7 ppg), but is playing just 23.5 minutes per contest. The 6-foot-3 combo guard is posting a point every 96 seconds.

THOMPSON NAMED MAC WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK: EMU freshman James Thompson IV was named MAC West Player of the Week for the period ending, Feb. 14, by the MAC office. Thompson averaged 19.5 points and 17 rebounds over the two-game span. The Baton Rouge, La. native was remarkably consistent, notching very similar stat lines. Against Central Michigan, his final stat line stood at 19 points and 15 rebounds, while against Kent State, he finished with 20 points and grabbed a career-best 19 total rebounds. Overall, he shot 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from the floor, playing nearly 40 minutes in each game. Of his 34 total rebounds, 17 of them came on the offensive end, providing solid second-chance opportunities. The freshman also picked up his 15th and 16th double-doubles of the season, which leads the MAC.

YOUNG BLOOD: It does not come as a shock to see James Thompson IV as one of the top freshmen in EMU laurels. Posting 16 double-doubles this season, the Baton Rouge, La. native has already made his mark in the Eastern Michigan record books. The 16 double-doubles are seventh-most recorded all-time in EMU history. In addition, Thompson has 302 rebounds this year, which puts him ninth in a single season in EMU history. On his current rebounding pace of 10.8 per game, at the end of the 2015-16 regular season, Thompson would accumulate 334 prior to the MAC Tournament. That rebounding number would give the 6-foot-10 center the fifth-most rebounds in EMU single season history.

HEADING TO THE CHARITY STRIPE: At 722 free throw attempts, the Eagles are second in the Mid-American Conference in that category, while also ranking 18th in the nation. In addition, the Green and White is connecting on free throws at a 72.3 percent clip. That number ranks as the second best all-time in a single season at EMU. However, the Eagles free throw percentage has been trending upwards since MAC play started, connecting on 76.3 percent in conference action.

FRESHMAN PHENOM: EMU's James Thompson IV is making a push to be the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year. Thompson is the only freshman in the conference who ranks in the top-20 in scoring, being ninth (15.2 ppg), while he is also leading the conference in rebounds (10.8 rpg) as the only freshman in the top-20 in that category as well. In addition, the Baton Rouge, La. product is third in the MAC in blocked shots (1.5 bpg) and first in field goal percentage (66.1 percent). On top of those gaudy numbers, he is the only student-athlete in the MAC to average a double-double. Not only is Thompson making waves in the Mid-American Conference, but his statistics have shown up in the national rankings as well. Currently, Thompson is fifth in the nation in field goal percentage, while he ranks 11th in rebounds per game and 10th in total rebounds (294). His 16 double-doubles rank 11th and his 4.5 offensive rebounds per game are good for third nationally.

STEALING THEIR WAY TO THE TOP: Currently, EMU has 263 steals on the season. That is just 43 shy of the all-time Eastern Michigan single season record. At their current pace (9.4 spg), which would mark a single season record, the Eagles are set to amass 282 steals, which would put them at third all-time.

THE DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: A season ago, senior Brandon Nazione averaged just 3.6 points per game, while pulling down just 3.5 rebounds per contest. In addition, the Howell, Mich. native converted shots at a 39.6 percent clip. EMU was not even half way through the 2015-16 season and Nazione had recorded more field goal makes than a year ago. In addition, he is hitting shots at a 54.9 percent clip, while averaging nearly three times as many points per game (9.5) and twice as many rebounds per contest (6.4).

KING OF THIEVES: The Eagles not only lead the Mid-American Conference in steals per game (9.4), but the Green and White are fifth in the NCAA in that category, while also ranking sixth in total steals (263).

TIC-TAC-TURNOVER: Although Eastern Michigan averages 13 turnovers per game, which ranks 197th in the country, EMU is 17th in the nation in turnover margin at a +3.2 difference. The Green and White force the opposition into 16.3 turnovers per contest which ranks as the 11th-most of any defense in the country.

ONE OF THE BEST IN THE MAC: EMU's Raven Lee has made his stamp not only in the Eastern Michigan history books, but he has one of the best careers of any active player in the Mid-American Conference. Currently, the Detroit, Mich. native is third in scoring (1,333 pts) by any active player in the conference. Just Central Michigan's Chris Fowler (1,647) and Toledo's Nathan Boothe (1,410) rank ahead of Eastern's redshirt junior.

THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG: Head Coach Rob Murphy is in his fifth season at the helm of the Eastern Michigan men's basketball program. Since taking over prior to the 2011-12 season, Murphy has amassed 88 wins which is the fourth-most by an EMU coach. Murphy is now 39 wins shy of James D. Dutcher for the third-most in school history.

ALL-TIME COACHING RECORDS

Rank	Coach	Years	Wins/yr.	Record
1.	Ben Braun	1986-96	16.8/yr	185-132 (.570)
2.	Elton J. Rynearson	1917-21; 1925-32 1935-40; 1944-46	8.8/yr	160-129 (.554)
3.	James D. Dutcher	1966-72	21.2/yr	127-49 (.770)
4.	Rob Murphy	2011-Present	18.3/yr (Four-year total)	88-78 (.530)
5.	Jim Boyce	1979-86	14/yr	84-96 (.467)

CLIMBING THE CHARTS: EMU redshirt junior guard Raven Lee continues to make his way up the all-time Eastern Michigan men's basketball scoring chart. Heading into the 2015-16 campaign, Lee had recorded 1,010 career points. The Detroit, Mich. native has accumulated 323 points during this season, totaling 1,333 for his career. That number puts him at the No. 16 spot in all-time EMU scorers. Lee now trails Marlow McClain (1979-83) for the 15th spot by three points.

BEST OFFENSE IN THE MAC: Since beginning Mid-American Conference play, the EMU offense has been at the top of the conference in points per game (78.6). In addition, the Eagles are connecting on 76.3 percent of their free throws which is second best in the conference. A large part of the Green and White's offensive success in MAC games has a lot to do with the Eagles' scoring trio of Raven Lee (15.5 ppg), James Thompson IV (15.9 ppg) and Ty Toney (13.5 ppg), each of which ranks in the top-15 in the conference. In addition, that trio has shot a combined 78.4 percent (204-of-260) from the free throw line since beginning conference action.

THE EERIE NUMBER 80: Since taking over the EMU men's basketball team, Head Coach Rob Murphy has prided himself on his team's defense and for good reason, considering his squad has only allowed the opposition to score 80-or-more points on 20 occasions in over five seasons. On the flip side, all but two times the Green and White have allowed 80-plus, they've ended up on the wrong side of the ledger, including 12 losses this season.

A LOOK AHEAD: Following the Saturday contest with Ball State, Feb. 27, the Eagles head into the final week before the 2016 Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament. EMU will begin the final week with its annual Senior Day game at the Convocation Center, March 1, when the Northern Illinois Huskies come to the Convocation Center. The Eagles will look to avenge their heartbreaking 80-63 loss in DeKalb, Ill., Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night in Ypsilanti.

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Players Mentioned

Ray Lee

Willie Mangum IV

Brandon Nazione

James Thompson IV

Ty Toney

Eastern Michigan Athletics