Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
EMU Basketball Puts On Successful 2015-16 Campaigns
3/30/2016 10:28:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
EMU Athletics will be selling commemerative MAC Tournament t-shirts to celebrate the season
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Following the completion of a successful 2015-16 Eastern Michigan University basketball season, the EMU Athletics Department will be selling limited edition 2016 Mid-American Conference Tournament t-shirts for just $12. The Eagles proved to be successful on the court this year and you too can help the success of these programs, as all proceeds will go to the men's and women's basketball programs. Click here to purchase a shirt, which are available in limited quantities.
The EMU men's basketball team finished the 2015-16 season with a record of 18-15, including a 9-9 record in MAC play, along with three wins of Michigan MAC opponents. As a team, the EMU men's basketball team etched itself in the record book, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The 2015-16 squad set the EMU record for most steals in a season (312), while averaging an Eastern Michigan record 9.5 steals per game. Those numbers ranked third in all of NCAA Division I men's basketball. Additionally, the Green and White posted 123 blocks on the season, good for sixth in the all-time EMU record book. On the offensive end, the Eagles made an EMU record 616 free throws this year, while being extremely efficient from the charity stripe, shooting 72.1 percent, good for third-best in Eastern Michigan history.
Individually, the Eagles saw multiple student-athletes earn honors from the conference office. James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) was named the MAC Freshman of the Year after averaging 14.8 points per game and a conference high 10.7 rebounds per game. He became just the second EMU student-athlete to earn the MAC's highest honor for a freshman men's basketball player. Thompson shot 64.5 percent from the floor which ranked in the top-10 in the NCAA in large part to the Baton Rouge, La. native tying a then-NCAA record of 26-straight field goal makes. In addition to his MAC Freshman of the Year honor, Thompson is the first Eagle to be named both Second Team All-MAC and All-Freshmen team since Brandon Bowdry. Bowdry was named to the second team in 2009, 2010 and 2011, while earning All-Freshmen honors in 2007-08. He is just the fourth All-Freshmen team award-winner in EMU history. It was also the second consecutive season that Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) has earned postseason accolades from the MAC. The Detroit, Mich. native averaged 15.1 points per game, while connecting on 82.1 percent of his free throw attempts, which is the fifth-best mark in the MAC. Additionally, the 6-foot-3 combo guard posted a career-best 46 points versus Miami, Feb. 2. That number not only ranks second all-time in EMU history, but was the most points scored by any student-athlete in NCAA Division I basketball this season at the time. Lee continued his rise to greatness in the EMU scoring record book as he has 1,418 points to his name, ranking 15th-most in the Eastern Michigan laurels. In addition, Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) earned MAC All-Defensive Team accolades following an exceptional season for the Green and White. The sophomore led the Mid-American Conference in steals at two per game and 67 in total. The 67 steals ranks as the second-most in EMU single season history. The Baltimore, Md. native recorded three-or-more steals in seven games this season, while picking the opponent's pocket at least twice in 20 games. On the year, the sophomore recorded a steal in all but two games, and versus Toledo, March 4, Bond swiped the ball on eight occasions which ties for the second most in a game in EMU history. In addition to his ability to intercept on the defensive end, the 6-foot-7 guard has become a prolific shot blocker for the Eagles. Bond averages 0.7 blocked shots per game.
The EMU women's basketball team's season came to a close in the second round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). The Eagles posted a record of 22-12 overall, including a 10-8 mark in conference play, notching their second consecutive season with 20 wins. As a team, the Green and White made its mark in the record books. Defensively, the Eagles totaled the fourth-most rebounds in a single season with 1,364 boards, while the team ranks seventh all-time in blocks (92) and third in steals (386). EMU's high-tempo offense poured in 2,445 points, the third-most in a single season in school history, along with dishing out 435 assists, good for seventh-most. Additionally, the Eagles converted 218 three-pointers, ranking fourth all-time and marking the third consecutive season in which EMU has made 200 or more triples.
Individually, the Eagles had juniors Cha Sweeney (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) and Janay Morton (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo) land on the conference's postseason awards teams. Sweeney nabbed Second Team All-MAC honors after leading the Eagles in scoring (18.3 ppg). The Toledo, Ohio product also added 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. Sweeney finished the season with the seventh highest scoring average and fifth highest point total in school history. With 622 points scored this year, Sweeney moved into third all-time for career points scored with 1,815. Meanwhile, Morton was named All-MAC Honorable Mention and earned a spot on the conference's first-ever All-Defensive Team. Offensively, Morton broke into the 1,000 point club, becoming the 20th player in EMU history to do. She currently sits 12th all-time with 1,341 points scored in her first three seasons with the Eagles. Defensively, Morton swiped 96 steals, good for third-most in program history and top in the conference. While Sweeney and Morton garnered conference attention, graduate transfer Chanise Baldwin (Pontiac, Mich.-Martin Luther King-Providence College) played a vital role in the Green and White's success. Baldwin made the most of her final year of eligibility posting career-highs in nearly every statistical category. The 6-foot-3 center registered 54 rejections on the season, the fourth-most in a single season and highest total since 2011-12. Leading the Eagles' effort on the glass, Baldwin pulled down a team-best 268 rebounds which ranks as the third-most in EMU history and most since the 1984-85 campaign. Her dominant effort patrolling the paint catapulted her into the top-three in two career categories. The Pontiac, Mich. native ranks third all-time in career rebounds per game with 7.9, while her 3.4 offensive rebounds per contest are the most in EMU laurels.
Don't forget to grab your commemorative 2016 MAC Tournament t-shirts for just $12. Click here to buy your's today!
The EMU men's basketball team finished the 2015-16 season with a record of 18-15, including a 9-9 record in MAC play, along with three wins of Michigan MAC opponents. As a team, the EMU men's basketball team etched itself in the record book, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The 2015-16 squad set the EMU record for most steals in a season (312), while averaging an Eastern Michigan record 9.5 steals per game. Those numbers ranked third in all of NCAA Division I men's basketball. Additionally, the Green and White posted 123 blocks on the season, good for sixth in the all-time EMU record book. On the offensive end, the Eagles made an EMU record 616 free throws this year, while being extremely efficient from the charity stripe, shooting 72.1 percent, good for third-best in Eastern Michigan history.
Individually, the Eagles saw multiple student-athletes earn honors from the conference office. James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) was named the MAC Freshman of the Year after averaging 14.8 points per game and a conference high 10.7 rebounds per game. He became just the second EMU student-athlete to earn the MAC's highest honor for a freshman men's basketball player. Thompson shot 64.5 percent from the floor which ranked in the top-10 in the NCAA in large part to the Baton Rouge, La. native tying a then-NCAA record of 26-straight field goal makes. In addition to his MAC Freshman of the Year honor, Thompson is the first Eagle to be named both Second Team All-MAC and All-Freshmen team since Brandon Bowdry. Bowdry was named to the second team in 2009, 2010 and 2011, while earning All-Freshmen honors in 2007-08. He is just the fourth All-Freshmen team award-winner in EMU history. It was also the second consecutive season that Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) has earned postseason accolades from the MAC. The Detroit, Mich. native averaged 15.1 points per game, while connecting on 82.1 percent of his free throw attempts, which is the fifth-best mark in the MAC. Additionally, the 6-foot-3 combo guard posted a career-best 46 points versus Miami, Feb. 2. That number not only ranks second all-time in EMU history, but was the most points scored by any student-athlete in NCAA Division I basketball this season at the time. Lee continued his rise to greatness in the EMU scoring record book as he has 1,418 points to his name, ranking 15th-most in the Eastern Michigan laurels. In addition, Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) earned MAC All-Defensive Team accolades following an exceptional season for the Green and White. The sophomore led the Mid-American Conference in steals at two per game and 67 in total. The 67 steals ranks as the second-most in EMU single season history. The Baltimore, Md. native recorded three-or-more steals in seven games this season, while picking the opponent's pocket at least twice in 20 games. On the year, the sophomore recorded a steal in all but two games, and versus Toledo, March 4, Bond swiped the ball on eight occasions which ties for the second most in a game in EMU history. In addition to his ability to intercept on the defensive end, the 6-foot-7 guard has become a prolific shot blocker for the Eagles. Bond averages 0.7 blocked shots per game.
The EMU women's basketball team's season came to a close in the second round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). The Eagles posted a record of 22-12 overall, including a 10-8 mark in conference play, notching their second consecutive season with 20 wins. As a team, the Green and White made its mark in the record books. Defensively, the Eagles totaled the fourth-most rebounds in a single season with 1,364 boards, while the team ranks seventh all-time in blocks (92) and third in steals (386). EMU's high-tempo offense poured in 2,445 points, the third-most in a single season in school history, along with dishing out 435 assists, good for seventh-most. Additionally, the Eagles converted 218 three-pointers, ranking fourth all-time and marking the third consecutive season in which EMU has made 200 or more triples.
Individually, the Eagles had juniors Cha Sweeney (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) and Janay Morton (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo) land on the conference's postseason awards teams. Sweeney nabbed Second Team All-MAC honors after leading the Eagles in scoring (18.3 ppg). The Toledo, Ohio product also added 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. Sweeney finished the season with the seventh highest scoring average and fifth highest point total in school history. With 622 points scored this year, Sweeney moved into third all-time for career points scored with 1,815. Meanwhile, Morton was named All-MAC Honorable Mention and earned a spot on the conference's first-ever All-Defensive Team. Offensively, Morton broke into the 1,000 point club, becoming the 20th player in EMU history to do. She currently sits 12th all-time with 1,341 points scored in her first three seasons with the Eagles. Defensively, Morton swiped 96 steals, good for third-most in program history and top in the conference. While Sweeney and Morton garnered conference attention, graduate transfer Chanise Baldwin (Pontiac, Mich.-Martin Luther King-Providence College) played a vital role in the Green and White's success. Baldwin made the most of her final year of eligibility posting career-highs in nearly every statistical category. The 6-foot-3 center registered 54 rejections on the season, the fourth-most in a single season and highest total since 2011-12. Leading the Eagles' effort on the glass, Baldwin pulled down a team-best 268 rebounds which ranks as the third-most in EMU history and most since the 1984-85 campaign. Her dominant effort patrolling the paint catapulted her into the top-three in two career categories. The Pontiac, Mich. native ranks third all-time in career rebounds per game with 7.9, while her 3.4 offensive rebounds per contest are the most in EMU laurels.
Don't forget to grab your commemorative 2016 MAC Tournament t-shirts for just $12. Click here to buy your's today!
Players Mentioned
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