EMU Hosts Northern Illinois on Adopt-A-Pet Day

Men's Basketball vs. Northern Illinois
Date	Saturday, Feb. 25 \| Noon
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center (7,784)
Game Notes	EMU Game Notes \| NIU Game Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN 3
Listen	89.1 FM WEMU
Twitter	@EMUHoops \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team has dropped seven-straight games dating back to its Jan. 31 setback to Kent State University. The Eagles (13-15, 5-10 MAC) attempt to right the ship this Saturday, Feb. 25, when it hosts Northern Illinois University at the Convocation Center. The game is the first leg of a doubleheader with the EMU women's hoops team set to take the floor at 2:30 p.m.

The Green and White continue play after losing its seventh game in a row, Tuesday, Feb. 21, when EMU traveled to MAC West foe Ball State. The Eagles jumped out to a lead of as many as 19 in the first half but saw the Cardinals cut into that advantage and eventually pull away, 79-72.

The Huskies (15-13, 7-8 MAC) return to the hardwood following a dominant, 89-66, road victory over Central Michigan, Feb. 21. NIU had lost four-straight prior to their victory over the Chippewas, including a pair of home games in overtime.

FINDING THE GAME AT HOME: The Eastern Michigan versus Northern Illinois matchup will have both audio and video on Saturday. 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. 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.

For those wishing to watch the Eagles' game live, tune into ESPN3, where Justin Rose will call the NIU versus EMU contest. Greg Steiner will join Rose on the broadcast to provide analysis. Fans can also stream the game on their WatchESPN app as well.

ALL-TIME VERSUS NORTHERN ILLINOIS: The Eagles trail in the series with Northern Illinois, as Eastern looks at a tally of 53-40 in favor of the Huskies. Recent history shows that Northern Illinois has had its struggles versus the Eagles. EMU has won 10 of the last 16 games between the two MAC West foes.

Earlier this season, the Green and White dropped an 81-69 decision on the road at NIU, Feb. 4. Willie Mangum IV paced the EMU attack, totaling 17 points with four three pointers, along with four assists. Both James Thompson IV and Ty Toney notched 12 points, with Thompson also pitching in seven boards and three assists, while Toney notched two rebound and two assists..

LIKELY LOOK FOR THE HUSKIES...

#	Name	Pos.	Cl.	Ht.	Wt.	ppg	rpg	apg	Hometown-Previous School
3	Dontel Highsmith	G	Sr.-Sr.	6-2	200	8.3	2.4	1.5	Dowagiac, Mich.-Dowagiac
10	Eugene German	G	Fr.-Fr.	6-0	165	8.4	1.3	0.9	Gary, Ind.-21st Centruy Charter
23	Aaric Armstead	G	Sr.-Sr.	6-5	195	9.4	5.9	1.7	Chicago, Ill.-La Jolla Prep
34	Marin Maric	C	Sr.-Sr.	6-11	250	13.7	7.8	0.9	Split, Croatia-La Lumiere School
42	Levi Bradley	G/F	So.-So.	6-7	210	8.4	4.2	0.7	Milwaukee, Wis.-Pius XI

LAST TIME OUT: Eastern Michigan traveled to Ball State for a MAC West contest with the Cardinals. Despite leading by as many as 19, BSU was able to get the best of the Eagles, dropping them, 79-72, at Worthen Arena Saturday afternoon, Feb. 18.

The Green and White connected on a season-high 12 three pointers in the loss, including a career-best of eight triples by Willie Mangum IV. Mangum led all scorers with 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting and 8-of-13 beyond the arc and entered the top-10 all-time in three point makes with 146 on the year. Ray Lee added 22 points, while James Thompson IV notched his 15th double-double of the season and 34th of his career with 17 points and 11 rebounds. That number gives him the fourth most double-doubles in EMU history.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES: Although they're not the most potent offense in the league (72.7 ppg), ranking second to last in the MAC, the Huskies make up for their struggles on the defensive end. Northern Illinois leads the Mid-American Conference in scoring defense, allowing just 69.6 points per game. Additionally, NIU is one of the better rebounding teams in the league, outrebounding its opponents by 3.1 per game. Additionally, NIU's 7.4 steals per contest also ranks as the second-most behind EMU. The Huskies' center, Marin Maric, is a top-tier big man in the MAC, averaging a team-best 13.7 points per game, while also leading the way for Northern Illinois on the glass with 7.9 rebounds per contest.

ADOPT-A-PET AT EMU BASKETBALL: It's only fitting that the Eagles host a doubleheader with the Huskies of NIU on EMU's first ever Adopt-A-Pet game. EMU Athletics has partnered with Last Day Dog Rescue (LDDR) in Livonia, Mich. for the event. Beginning at 11 a.m. in the atrium of the Convocation Center, LDDR staff will be on-site conducting adoption applications, as well as signing up anyone interested in volunteering with the organization. Dogs and cats will be in attendance, and fans are encouraged to come prepared to find their new best friend to take home.

DIALED IN FROM LONG RANGE: Eastern Michigan knocked down 12 three pointers in the Eagles' loss at Ball State, Feb. 21. The Green and White used eight triples from Willie Mangum IV and four from Ray Lee to record the most long balls made in a game by the Eagles this year. Mangum's eight three's were a career-best, while four of them came in four straight possessions in the first half.

PROTECTING THE RIM: As a team, Eastern Michigan has recorded 124 blocked shots this season, averaging 4.4 per game, which is the top in the MAC. That average would rank sixth all-time in EMU history, while their 124 blocks are already the sixth-most in a single season since 1987. On pace to record 142 blocks, the 2016-17 squad would take the No. 5 spot on the single season block list and would be the fifth team under Rob Murphy to earn a spot in the top 10.

EMU forward James Thompson IV has made waves in the Eastern Michigan record book for both his scoring and his rebounding, but his shot blocking has gone somewhat unnoticed. The Baton Rouge, La. native has recorded 71 blocked shots in under two seasons donning the Green and White. With those 71 blocks, the sophomore has tied Karrington Ward for the ninth-most in a career at EMU.

LEE THE LONGEST TENURED: With the game played at Western Michigan, Feb. 18, EMU redshirt senior Ray Lee became the longest tenured Eagle in Eastern Michigan history. Lee recorded his 129th game played donning the Green and White, surpassing Jamell Harris' (2009-13) 128 games played for EMU. Lee has now appeared in 130 games as a member of the EMU men's basketball program.

TIM B, PLAYING D: After being named to the All-MAC Defensive Team a season ago, EMU junior guard Tim Bond has continued to prove why he is such a hot defensive commodity through the 2016-17 season. The Baltimore, Md. native is currently leading the Mid-American Conference in steals with 62 and an average of 2.2 per game. Last year, Bond racked up 67 steals, which ranked third all-time in a single season. Bond is on pace to surpass that total this season. Currently, the 6-foot-7 guard has amassed 146 steals in almost three seasons, which ranks eighth in the EMU career record book.

It's not just Bond's ability to pick the opponent's pocket that shows his defensive prowess. He is also a stellar shot blocker. With 20 blocks this year, the junior has racked up 62 blocks in his career, a number that puts him just seven blocks away from the EMU career top-10.

IN RARE COMPANY: Earlier this year, James Thompson IV became just the 26th EMU student-athlete to record 500-or-more rebounds in a career. The sophomore currently has 643 career rebounds, which ties him for 11th on the all-time list. Thompson is on pace to pull down 334 rebounds this season. That number, coupled with his 352 from a year ago, would give him 686. To crack the top-10, he would need to catch E-Club Hall of Famer Derrick Dial who recorded 692 rebounds in his career.

In addition to his rebounding, Thompson is on his way to becoming the 30th player to record 1,000 career points in EMU history. The Baton Rouge, La. native currently has 880 career points. He is one of just 13 student-athletes at EMU to notch 800 points and 600 rebounds in a career.

WILLIE TAKES IT DOWNTOWN: Senior guard Willie Mangum IV is on pace to have one of the best three-point shooting seasons in Eastern Michigan history. Averaging nearly three three-point makes per game, Mangum is on pace to knock down 92 triples. That number would be the most in EMU single season history. Additionally, the Richmond, Va. native entered the top-10 all-time in career three-point makes. With 146 triples, Mangum currently ranks 10th all-time.

CHECK OUT THIS CREW: Eastern Michigan has seen the offensive numbers pick up this season and a large part of that outburst has to do with the fact that EMU has five of the top-100 all-time scorers in EMU history on the roster. Ray Lee is fifth all-time with 1,751 points, while James Thompson IV comes in at 38th with 880 points. Willie Mangum IV's 838 points is tied for 42nd, while Tim Bond is tied for 67th with 691 points and Ty Toney's 609 is good for the 81st-most points scored in a career.

WHERE THEY STAND: If the 2017 Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament were to start today, the Eagles would hold the No. 11 overall seed. With a 5-10 record in Mid-American Conference play, the Eagles would be heading to Kent State for a First Round MAC Tournament game, Monday, March 6, in Kent, Ohio.

ON THE HORIZON: Following their Saturday contest with Northern Illinois, the Eagles continue Mid-American Conference action on the road, Tuesday, Feb. 28. Eastern Michigan will travel to Mount Pleasant, Mich. to square off with Central Michigan at McGuirk Arena. The Eagles and Chippewas will hit the floor at 7 p.m.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tim Bond

Ray Lee

Willie Mangum IV

James Thompson IV

Ty Toney

Eastern Michigan Athletics