GAME FACTS – The Emory men's basketball team looks to maintain a share of and possibly move into sole possession of first place in the University Athletic Association this weekend when it faces a pair of conference foes on the road. On Friday (Feb. 20), the Eagles battle Case Western Reserve University before travelling to Pittsburgh for a Sunday afternoon matchup against Carnegie Mellon University.
Adelbert Gym on the CWRU campus will be the setting for the 46th meeting between the Eagles and Saprtans and tip is scheduled for approximately 8:00 pm. On Sunday, the venue shifts to Skibo Gymnasium on the Carnegie Mellon campus for the 55th clash between Emory and the Tartans, with the contest tipping at noon.
THE COACHES - Leading the Emory program is eighth-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, he ranks as the program's winningest coach, compiling a school and career record of 127-75. In games played at the Woodruff PE Center, Zimmerman posts a 73-24 ledger and a 54-51 mark in road/neutral settings. He has guided the program to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances (2013 & 2014) with the Eagles advancing to their first-ever berth in the Round of Eight last season. After going 17-33 his first two years with the Eagles, Zimmerman has guided Emory to a won-lost slate of 110-42 (.723) since the 2009-10 season.
In his 12th year as the head coach at Case Western Reserve is Sean McDonnell (Boston College, '96). Prior to his current stint, McDonnell served as the head coach Hiram College for three seasons.
Tony Wingen (Springfield, '82) is in his 25th season patrolling the sidelines at Carnegie Mellon. Heading into a Friday home date against Rochester, Wingen posts a school slate of 279-343. In 27 campaigns as a head coach, which includes a two-year stint at Sewanee, Wingen has a career mark of 300-371.
2014-15 RECORDS – Emory, ranked No. 18 in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, posts an overall record of 17-5, including a 7-4 effort in the UAA that is good for a first-place tie with New York University and the University of Chicago. The Eagles swept home contests last weekend, battling to a 93-87 decision over No. 14 Washington on Friday, before registering an 85-82 triumph over Chicago on Sunday.
Junior Davis Rao (Ft. Wayne, IN) came through with a huge performance in the Wash U contest, leading all players with a career-high 27 points on eight-of-11 field goal shooting, including four-of-five from three-point range. Senior Alex Foster contributed 18 points to the cause while sophomore Jonathan Terry chipped in 16 points along with a team-high nine rebounds. The team's 93 points represented its second-highest output of the year. Foster paced the Eagles with 27 points, 18 coming in the second half, against Chicago, converting nine-of-15 from the floor, including three triples, and knocked down all six of his free throw opportunities. Junior Will Trawick turned in a 13-point afternoon while Terry closed out a strong weekend with 10 points and team-best eight rebounds.
Emory is 12-1 at home and 5-4 in road/neutral contests this season.
Case Western Reserve will meet Emory with an overall effort of 15-7 with its 6-5 mark in the conference good for a fourth-place tie with Washington University. The Spartans split a pair of road games last weekend, losing to NYU, 94-73, before defeating Brandeis, 71-55. CWRU is 8-2 in home games, 7-5 in road/neutral contests.
Carnegie Mellon will square off against Rochester with a 12-10 overall record, 3-8 in the conference. The Tartans lost both of their road endeavors last weekend, 68-57 to Brandeis and 94-82 to NYU. CMU begins the weekend with wins in eight of its 11 home games this season.
SERIES RECORDS – Emory holds a 26-19 all-time record against Case Western and claims a nine-game win streak against the Spartans. Emory won the first meeting of this year back on Jan. 23 in Atlanta by a 78-65 margin. Alex Foster headed up the Emory scoring attack with 24 points while Jonathan Terry chalked up eight rebounds. Each team has recorded 11 wins in contests played on CWRU's home court.
In the series that began in November of 1987, Emory posts an all-time mark of 32-22 against Carnegie Mellon. The Eagles have captured four of the last five meetings including a 79-53 decision earlier this season (Jan. 25) in Atlanta. The Tartans have won 17 of the 27 meetings that have been played on their home floor.
FOSTER KEEPS THREE-POINT STREAK ALIVE – Alex Foster drained a pair of three pointers against the Bears of Wash U before knocking down three against Chicago, raising his streak to 22 games with at least triple to his credit.
Foster's current streak is the seventh longest in program history. Career-wise, Foster is tied for 9th all-time at Emory with 128 three pointers, His 59 treys during the '14-15 campaign ties for ninth on Emory's seasonal chart.
EAGLES STRONG IN THE SECOND HALF – Entering this weekend, Emory has outscored its opponents in the second half in 16 games with seven of those being double-figure differentials.
On the year, the Eagles are averaging 42.5 points in the second stanza vs. 37.5 for the opposition. All totaled, Emory has outscored its opponents in 32 halves this year while being outpointed in 11. One half is tied.
DID YOU KNOW – That Alex Foster begins the weekend with 994 career points … That Foster's 21.0 points-per-game average this year currently stands as the No. 2 mark on the program's seasonal chart, trailing only the mark of 22.6 per-game effort set by Jake Davis in 2013-14 … That entering Friday's game at Case Western, Emory has sank at least one three-point field goal in its last 456 consecutive games. The last time the Eagles failed to convert from beyond the arc came on Feb. 14, 1997, vs. Washington University (0-of-6) … That Michael Florin's nine-game streak of scoring in double figures is the longest of his career … In the team's last six contests, Florin is shooting 52.8 percent (28-of-53) from the field, good for the No. 2 spot on the club … Florin is the Division III active leader in career assists (477). Holding down the No. 2 spot on that list is Aaron Walton-Moss of Cabrini with 465.
TERRY ENERGIZES EMORY – Jonathan Terry came through with solid back-to-back performances in the Wash U and Chicago games, concluding the weekend No. 1 on the team in both field goal shooting (56.7%, 10-of-15) and rebounding (8.5 rpg) and No. 3 in scoring average (13.0 ppg).
Terry came off the bench and totaled 16 points in the 93-87 verdict over Wash U and then chipped in 10 points, his sixth double-digit effort of the season, while registering a career-high four steals in the three-point triumph over Chicago. In addition, Terry topped the club in rebounding in both contests, pulling down nine boards (second-highest career total) vs. WU and eight caroms against Chicago. Terry, who is second on the team and 13th among UAA players in rebounding, has paced the Eagles in that category in six games this year.
FOSTER TOPS UAA SCORING LADDER – Alex Foster continues to pace the UAA in overall scoring average, heading into Friday's Case Western encounter with a 21.0 points-per-game average, good for the No. 19 spot in the Division III ranks.
A double-figure scorer in 20 games this year, Foster has led or shared for team scoring honors in 14 of the last 19 and in a total of 16 games this season. The owner of 12 games of 20 or more points, the 6-foot-8 Foster finds himself in the No. 15 spot on UAA ladder in field goal percentage (.465, 165-of-355) while ranking seventh in free throw percentage (.783, 72-of-92). Through 11 conference games, he ranks as the league's No. 3 scorer (18.2 ppg).
While Foster's scoring exploits are well documented, he has been a force when it comes to rebounding with his 8.2 per-game effort on the glass in overall action leading the team, placing fourth among UAA performers and 93rd nationally. He has been the squad's top rebounder on 11 occasions and has compiled double figures in that department six times, most recently a 13-carom effort in the Rochester (Jan. 10) game. He has recorded six double-doubles this season, boosting his career total to nine.
In Foster's 13 home games, he is averaging 22.4 points and shooting 49.5 percent (104-of-210) from the floor while pumping in 18.9 points and converting 42.1 percent (61-of-145) from the field in nine road/neutral contests.
CRASH THE GLASS IS KEY FOR EMORY – Despite being outrebounded in the Wash U (37-34) and Chicago (44-28) games, Emory came away with key victories in both outings.
The Eagles have been outboarded on nine occasions this year and show a record of 4-5 in such contests. Conversely, Emory is a perfect 13-0 when it has enjoyed an advantage of rebounding.
In its 17 victories, the Eagles are outrebounding their opposition by a 40.6-35.1 per-game average while showing a 45.2-35.0 disadvantage in their losses.
EMORY MAKING USE OF THE TREY BALL – After hitting a season-low two three pointers in its home game vs. NYU (Feb. 8), Emory regained its touch from beyond the arc, converting a total of 19 triples in the two games this past weekend and finishing with a respectable 44.1 percent (19-of-43) showing from distance. Four different players combined to knocked 11 treys vs. Wash U, with the Eagles registering a 47.8 percent (11-of-23) performance, while the team chalked eight from downtown against the Maroons.
Heading into this weekend's action, Emory leads the UAA and ranks 24st nationally (through Feb. 15) with an average of 9.4 treys per outing. The Eagles have knocked down 11 or more triples in 10 contests.
Emory has three of the league's top 15 three-point shooters, led by Foster's No. 7 mark of 41.0 percent (59-of-144). Davis Rao stands 14th at 39.2 percent (29-of-74) while Will Trawick is 15th with a showing of 38.5 percent (50-of-130). 35.1 percent of Emory's 1,771 points have come as a result of three pointers.
Emory is shooting 38.0 percent (126-of-332) from long range in its 13 home outings and 34.3 percent (81-of-236) in its games away from the Woodruff PE Center.
The Eagles are 8-2 this year when draining 10 or more from beyond the arc and show a 43-5 slate in such contests since the 2010-11 campaign.
Top-scoring halves by Emory players this year.
26 points – Alex Foster vs. Rochester (2nd half), Jan. 10
19 points – Alex Foster vs. Virginia Wesleyan (2nd half), Jan. 3
18 points – Alex Foster vs. Chicago (2nd half), Feb. 15
19 points – Alex Foster vs. Oglethorpe (1st half), Nov. 18
19 points – Alex Foster vs. Oglethorpe (2nd half), Nov. 18
18 points – Alex Foster vs. Wash U (2nd half), Feb. 13
18 points – Davis Rao vs. Wash U (1st half), Feb. 13
17 points – Will Trawick vs. Trinity (1st half), Dec. 5
17 points – Michael Florin vs. Guilford (1st half), Nov. 22
16 points – Jonathan Terry vs. NYU (2nd half), Feb. 1
16 points – Alex Foster vs. Virginia Wesleyan (1st half), Jan. 3
16 points – Alex Foster vs. Bates (2nd half), Dec. 29
15 points – Will Trawick vs. Wash U (2nd half), Jan. 16
15 points – Alex Foster vs. Covenant (1st Half), Dec. 10
15 points – Alex Foster vs. Guilford (2nd half), Nov. 22
14 points – Alex Foster vs. Carnegie Mellon (1st half), Jan. 25
14 points – Will Trawick vs. LaGrange (1st half), Nov. 29
FLORIN SCORING AND DISHING – Michael Florin heads into this weekend with a career-long nine-game double-figure scoring streak after chalking up 11 points in the Wash U affair before adding a dozen against Chicago. Florin has produced 10 or more points in 15 outings this year, and his 10.7 points-per-game scoring average is good for the No. 3 spot on the squad and 17th on the UAA list.
In the assists department, he is dishing out 5.9 per game, which ranks No. 2 among UAA players and 12th nationally (through Feb. 15). His 14 assists against NYU on Feb. 1 established a school record, bettering the previous standard of 13 held by Austin Claunch. No. 27 nationally last season in assist/turnover ratio (2.6), he is solid in that category once again this year, totaling 130 assists and 45 turnovers, with his 2.89 ratio second among UAA players and 12th nationally.
Heading into the weekend, Florin, a two-time Honorable Mention All-UAA selection, has 477 career assists to his credit, good for the No. 2 position on the program's all-time list. The career leader in assists is Austin Claunch (2008-12) with 580.
Florin has seen action in all of the team's 102 games during his four years and has drawn a team-leading 77 starts in that stretch. He has scored in double figures on 40 occasions, 17 of which came during the 2013-14 campaign were he averaged a personal-best 9.8 points per outing.
SCHATTIE MAKES HIS PRESENCE FELT – Josh Schattie has been one the team's unsung contributors with his play at both ends of the floor playing a key role in the team's success.
Schattie's 10-point afternoon vs. Chicago on Sunday represented his ninth double-figure scoring outing of the year, and he starts the weekend No. 4 on the club and 26th among UAA players in scoring average (8.4 ppg). Schattie also finds himself in the No. 8 spot on the UAA ladder with a 51.7 percent showing in field goal shooting, converting 76 of his 147 opportunities.
In addition, Schattie was extremely active on the defensive end of the floor, accumulating a team-high 11 steals including a career-high six thefts against Chicago, tying the ninth-highest individual game total in program history.
Schattie holds down the top spot on the team with 42 steals, claiming 12 games of two or more thefts, and his 1.9 per-game average in that category ties for first in the league. When it comes to rebounding, his 5.4 per-game showing is third on the team and 14th on the conference chart. He has recorded six or more rebounds on 10 occasions this year.
EMORY PICKED FOR FOURTH IN UAA PRESEASON POLL – Emory was picked to finish in fourth place in the UAA according to a preseason poll conducted by the league's coaches. The Eagles did receive one of the eight first-place votes that were cast. The University of Chicago was chosen as the team to beat while New York University and Washington University were slotted in the Nos. 2 and 3 positions, respectively.
The Eagles have compiled a UAA record of .500 or better in each of the past five seasons as well as finishing third or higher. Emory has churned out a 52-29 won-lost ledger in conference play over the past six campaigns with the victory total second best among league squads in that stretch.
NOTES – Davis Rao saw a 14-game streak with three-point goals to his credit come to an end last Sunday vs. Chicago … Rao's streak of triples tied the program's 16th-longest mark … Alex Foster (2.7 tpg) and Will Trawick (2.3 tpg) stand 2nd and 4th , respectively, among UAA players in three pointers per game … Emory leads the UAA and stands 24th nationally (through Feb. 15) in the D-III ranks in scoring offense (80.5 ppg) … The Eagles also pace the conference in scoring for league play (79.6 ppg) … The Eagles have registered five contests of single-digit turnovers this year and leads the UAA, while standing 52nd nationally, in fewest turnovers per game (11.8 tpg) … Emory is averaging 8.0 turnovers over the past four contests vs. the opposition's mark of 16.3 miscues … Emory leads the UAA in steals in both overall (7.6 spg) and conference (8.8 spg) contests …The Eagles have three straight and six contests this year of 10 or more steals … Emory is averaging 12.9 rebounds per contest on the offensive end of the floor, good for third place in the UAA, and has double figures in that category in 19 games … Will Trawick's 12.2 per-game scoring mark ranks 13th on the UAA ladder, and he will enter the weekend with 14 double-digit scoring performances this year (23 during his career)… Trawick is second on the team with 50 three pointers, good for a 16th-place ton the program's seasonal list … Trawick has recorded 10 games with 10 or more triples … Since the 2012-13 season, the Eagles are 50-1 when outshooting the opposition from the floor (14-0 in '14-15) … The Eagles stand 16-0 when leading at the break this season, 102-15 during Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach … Emory is 55-8 over its last 63 home contests and has won 21 of its last 22 regular-season non-conference home games … Jonathan Terry has treys in nine of his last 10 and in 16 of his last 19 contests … Terry has converted two or more three pointers on 10 occasions this year … Freshman Whit Rapp (Noblesville, IN) is averaging 2.5 assists per game, good for 11th place on the UAA ladder … In UAA action, Rapp is seventh in assists (2.8 apg) … Over his last 10 outings, Rapp has 30 assists with just six turnovers while averaging 10.7 minutes per stint … Emory posts a 7-1 record this year when turning the ball over more than the opposition and is 9-4 when finishing with fewer turnovers (1-0 when turnovers are equal) … The Eagles have recorded 100 or more points 45 times in program history and own a 40-5 won-lost record in those affairs … During Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach, Emory has 14 contests of 100 or more points and stands 13-1 in such games … Emory has attempted more free throws than the opposition in 10 games (9-1) this year … Emory is 7-4 when the opposition attempts more free throws … The Eagles have enjoyed an advantage in the points-off-turnovers category in the last 11 games and in a total of 17 contests this year … Emory is averaging 15.5 points per game off opponent turnovers vs. 11.9 opposition points per game off Emory miscues … As a team, Emory has 207 three-point field goals, good for 6th place on the program's seasonal ladder.