GAME FACTS -  The Emory men's basketball team, ranked No. 4 nationally among D-III programs, gears up for its opening University Athletic Association road swing this weekend.  On Friday (Jan. 13), the Eagles take on New York University before battling Brandeis on Sunday (Jan. 15).   The Coles Sports Center on the NYU campus will be the site for the 50^th meeting between the Eagles and Violets and tip is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.   Auerbach Arena on the Brandeis campus will be the venue for the 49^th clash between Emory and Brandeis with that affair slated for a noon start.

Both the NYU and Brandeis games will have a video stream provided.  The web address for the NYU stream is www.nyuathletics.tv while the Brandeis stream can be accessed by going to http://livestats.prestosports.com/brandeisjudges/.

THE COACHES - Leading the Emory program is fifth-year Head Coach Jason Zimmerman (Davidson, 1994). Named head coach in April of 2007, Zimmerman came to Emory after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Evansville (2003-04 through 2006-07).  Prior to his stint with the Aces, Zimmerman was an assistant at Davidson College for seven years (1996-97 through 2002-03).  During his tenure with the Eagles' program, he has compiled a school and career record of 64-48.

Last season, Zimmerman directed the Eagles to an overall record of 20-5, the program's first 20-win campaign since 1989-90.  In addition, Emory placed second in the University Athletic Association with an 11-3 slate, the second-highest league-play total in school annals.  

Joe Nesci (Brooklyn College, 1979) is in his 24th season as head coach of the NYU program.  During his distinguished tenure with the Violets, he has manufactured a 413-197 won-lost record that includes seven trips to the NCAA Tournament.

In his 10^th campaign in calling the shots at Brandeis is Brian Meehan (Clark University, 1986).  Heading into a Friday home contest against Rochester, Meehan posts a record of 144-83.  In 17 seasons as a head coach, which includes a seven-year stint at Salem State College, Meehan claims a career mark of 304-112.  

RECORDS – Emory starts the weekend with a 12-0 record, just one of seven unbeaten teams in the Division III ranks (games through Jan. 10).  The Eagles, ranked No. 4 in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, opened UAA play with a dramatic 83-81 victory over defending conference champion Rochester on Saturday.  Senior guard Austin Claunch came through with a career-high tying 27 points, along with eight assists, in the triumph while sophomore forward Jake Davis contributed 20 points and a team-high 11 rebounds, his fourth double-double of the season.

NYU hosts Emory with an overall effort of 10-1 (0-1 UAA).  In their most recent outing, the Violets topped Hunter College, 84-62, on Tuesday (Jan. 10).  NYU opened the UAA portion of its schedule with a 52-49 setback at home to Brandeis last Saturday.  The Violets stand 8-1 on their home floor this season.

Brandeis will start the weekend with an overall slate of 7-5 (1-0 UAA).  The Judges will host Rochester with a five-game winning streak to their credit that includes the three-point decision over NYU last weekend.

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Zimmerman  

SERIES RECORDS – In a series that dates from December of 1986, NYU claims a 31-18 all-time mark against Emory.  The Eagles swept the two meetings last season,  87-78 at NYU and 93-85 in Atlanta, and have won four of the past five meetings between the schools.  The Violets enjoy a 16-9 edge over Emory in games played on their home floor, though the Eagles have captured the last three affairs played in the Big Apple.

Brandeis holds a 26-22 advantage in the all-time series that began in January of 1988.  The teams split last year's contests with the Judges earning an 86-82 overtime decision at home before Emory bounced back to record an 85-70 victory in Atlanta.  Brandeis has won 16 of the 24 games against Emory played on its home court.

EMORY CAPTURES WHITE KNUCKLER vs. ROCHESTER – Emory's two-point win over Rochester on Saturday, precipated by Jake Davis' put-back at the buzzer, was the Eagles' closest outcome of the year and just their second that was decided by six or fewer points.  After building a 19-point lead during the opening 20 minutes of action, Emory saw Rochester battle its way back into the contest and trailed by a four-point margin, 63-59, with 8:35 remaining.  The four-point obstacle was Emory's largest deficit that it has faced in the second half this year (previous was one point at Oglethorpe with 17:17 left).   

With an 11-0 record when leading at the half this year, Emory has trailed in the second half of play just a total of 4:26 heading into the weekend.   The Eagles have led by at least 15 points at some point in every game this season which has help the team to a 16.7 per-game edge in scoring margin.

CLAUNCH RECOGINZED FOR STELLAR PLAY – Austin Claunch was recognized by both the UAA and D3hoops.com for his outstanding efforts in last week's wins over Piedmont College and Rochester.  Claunch was tabbed as the league's Co-Player of the Week while D3hoops selected him to its Team of the Week for the third time in his career.   Claunch averaged 25.0 points, 6.5 assists and 2.0 steals per outing in helping the Eagles boost their record to 12-0.  Included in his totals was a career-high tying 27 points against the Yellowjackets of UR.  His performance against Rochester represented his 13^th career effort of 20 or more points with Emory claiming a 12-1 record in those contests.

Claunch has scored in double figures in all 12 Emory games and has reached or surpassed the 20-point plateau on six occasions.  Heading into the NYU clash, he holds down the No. 2 spot on the team and the conference in scoring with an 18.3 per-game mark.  He is dishing out a league-best 7.1 assists per game and also tops the conference in free throw percentage (.906,  48-of-53) and assist/turnover ratio (3.4). 

Already the school's all-time leader with 485 assists, Claunch is working his way up Emory career scoring ladder with his 1,067 points good for a ninth-place tie with Nick Pastis (1989-93).  In addition, he stands eighth on the Eagles' career chart with 138 steals and is No. 2 in career free throw percentage (.881, 259-of-294).

3-POINT SHOT A KEY IN EMORY OFFENSIVE ATTACK – The Eagles have used the three-point field goal to their benefit this year with the squad averaging a league-high 9.8 treys per game.  Emory, which ranked ninth nationally in triples per game through contests played Jan. 8, has knocked down 10 or more from beyond the arc in eight games this season and has captured its last 17 outings when reaching double figures in three-point field goals.  While the senior tandem of Alex Gulotta (34) and Justin Resnick (22) have accounted for a little over 47 percent of the team's three-point field goals this season, Emory has been able to spread around its three-point attack throughout the year.  The Eagles have had five or more players ring up at least one trey in nine games, and claim seven outings where six or more have notched triples.

FRIEDBERG MAKING AN IMPACT AT BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR – Junior Michael Friedberg came up with a season-high tying six blocked shots against Rochester, tying the fourth-highest individual game total in school history.  The 6-foot-6 Friedberg will enter the NYU bout with two or more rejections in his last seven and in a total of eight games this year.  His 33 blocks already rank sixth on Emory's seasonal ladder while his 2.8 per-game average tops the UAA while ranking 10^th nationally.  Career-wise, he owns 102 rejections, good for third place on Emory's all-time ladder.

And while his formidable presence on the defensive end of the floor has played a key role in the team's success, his 10.8 per-game scoring mark ranks among the top 20 in the UAA while his 54.5 percent (48-of-88) showing from the floor ranks ninth among UAA players.  He has connected on 50 percent or better from the floor in his last five games, knocking down 64.4 percent (29-of-45) from the field in that stretch while totaling double-figure scoring in four of those contests.  So far this year, Friedberg has scored 10 or more points on six occasions.

LAST-MINUTE HEROICS BY DAVIS HELP KEEP EMORY UNDEFEATED – Sophomore Jake Davis came up with the big play as his put-back at the buzzer gave Emory the 83-81 victory over Rochester.  Davis turned in a solid effort against the Yellowjackets hitting eight-of-16 from the floor and all three of his free throw attempts en route to 20 points, second high on the squad.  Davis pounded the glass to the tune of 11 boards which represented his fourth double of the year and seventh of his career.  Along with Claunch, he has scored in double digits in all 12 contests and has produced five outings of 20 or more points. 

Davis continues to top the UAA in scoring with a 19.6 per-game average while his 57.5 percent (92-of-160) mark from the field ranks fourth.  The 6-foot-5 forward has hit 50 percent or better of his field goal attempts in eight contests and is shooting a solid 59.8 percent (52-of-87) in away/neutral games.   His team-high 7.3 rebounds per game places him fourth in the league and he also ranks among the top 10 UAA cagers in free throw percentage (3^rd, .894) and steals (t-5^th, 1.3 spg).  He will enter the Rochester game having made his last 27 free throws, the sixth longest streak in school annals.  

NOTES –  Alex Gulotta has hit two or more three-point field goals in his last seven and in a total of 10 games this year … Gulotta is averaging 2.8 treys per game, good for the No. 2 position in the league with that mark ranking 50^th nationally … Career-wise, Gulotta holds down fourth place on the school's all-time ladder with 167 three pointers, just two shy of tying Kevin Felner (1989-93) for third place … Senior Justin Resnick came off the bench to score a season-high tying 11 points in the Rochester game, his second game of double-figure scoring this year … Through games played Jan. 10, Resnick is tied for eighth among UAA players in three-point field goals per game (1.8 tpg) … The Eagles converted all nine of their free throw attempts in the Rochester game and hitting at an 81.9 percent clip (50-of-61) from the charity stripe in the last three games … Emory wound up the Rochester game with eight turnovers, the third time this season that it finished a contest with fewer than 10 miscues … After 12 games, the Eagles are averaging 12.3 turnovers compared to the opposition's mark of 17.3 … Over the last four games, Emory is shooting 40.5 percent (45-of-111) from three-point range vs. the opposition's mark of 35.0 percent (28-of-80) … Heading into the weekend, the Eagles top the conference with a 5.08 turnover margin and ranked 20^th nationally at the start of the week in that category … Emory has scored 50 or more points in six of 24 halves this year … Through 12 games, the Eagles are averaging 45.4 points during the first half of play and 40.4 points in the second stanza … Opponents are scoring at a 32.1 points pace during the opening 20 minutes of action and 37.0 in the second half … Emory has outscored the opposition in 19 of 24 halves … Emory trailed at halftime of the Oglethorpe game, the first time this year it had enjoyed a lead at intermission … The Eagles stand 11-0 when leading at the break this season, 48-8 during Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach … Emory has turned the ball over on fewer occasions than the opposition in 10 games this season … Emory has scored 90 or more points under Zimmerman on 23 occasions and posts a 21-2 slate in those contests … Emory has outshot 10 opponents from the floor this year … The Eagles are shooting 46.3 percent (197-of-425) from the floor during the first half and 47.0 percent (173-of-368) in the second stanza …  Opponents are shooting 40.1 percent (154-of-384) in the opening half and 44.0 percent (165-of-384) over the final 20 minutes.