GAME FACTS – Coming off a successful road trip, the Emory men's basketball team plays two of its three February home games this weekend. On Friday (Feb. 8), the Eagles play host to Washington University before taking on the University of Chicago on Sunday.
The Woodruff PE Center on the Emory campus will serve as the site of the 64th match-up between the Eagles and WU, with tip slated for 8:00 pm, while the noon start against the Maroons of Chicago will mark the 65th time the two schools have clashed on the hardwood.
Among the activities surrounding Friday's game will be Faculty-Staff Appreciation Night. In addition, the Emory Volleyball Team will be recognized at halftime and presented their 2018 national championship rings.
THE COACHES – Jason Zimmerman (Davidson, 1994) is in his 12th year of patrolling the Emory sideline. 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 210-101. In games played at the Woodruff PE Center, Zimmerman posts a 122-28 ledger and claims an 88-73 mark in road/neutral settings.
He has guided Emory to 10 straight winning seasons and six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018). The Eagles are the lone D-III school to have won at least one NCAA contest in each of the past six years.
After going 17-33 his first two years at Emory, Zimmerman has compiled a won-lost slate of 193-68 (.739) since the 2009-10 season.
Pat Juckem (Lawrence, '95) is in his first campaign as the head coach at Washington University. Named to his current post in May of 2018, Juckem had spent the previous six seasons as the head coach at UW-Oshkosh where he manufactured a won-lost effort of 95-73, which included three trips to the NCAA Tournament. Now in his 14th year as a head coach, Juckem owns a career mark of 213-159.
Now in his 20th year in calling the shots for the Chicago program is Mike McGrath (DePauw, '92). Heading into a Friday road date against Rochester, McGrath is the program's all-time leader in wins with a 296-206 ledger.
2018-19 RECORDS – Emory, ranked 24th in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, stands 16-4 overall and is tied with Wash U for the top spot in the UAA with a mark of 7-2. The Eagles ran their winning streak to six games after posting road victories over Brandeis (88-64) and NYU (75-67) this past weekend. Sophomore guard Nick Stuck was the squad's leading scorer over the two games at 16.0 points, shooting 70.6 percent (12-of-17) from the floor and 87.5 percent (7-of-8) from the foul line, while classmates Lawrence Rowley and Matt Schner paced the team's effort on the glass with an average of 8.5 rebounds. Stuck tossed in a career-high 18 points in the decision over Brandeis while Schner chalked up his second double-double of the season with a team-high 17 points and 10 boards vs. NYU.
Emory is 10-1 in home games and 6-3 in away/neutral contests this season.
Wash U invades Atlanta with an overall slate of 14-6. After dropping their first two conference games, the Bears have rattled off seven straight victories and are tied with Emory for the top spot in the league. This past weekend WU captured close contests against Carnegie Mellon (87-85) and Case Western Reserve (66-63), boosting their record in away/neutral affairs to 7-3.
Chicago heads into a Friday match-up on the road vs. Rochester with an overall record of 13-7, 6-3 in the league. The Maroons are 6-5 in away/neutral games.
SERIES RECORDS – In a series that began in January of 1988, Washington University holds an all-time mark of 49-14 vs. Emory. The Eagles captured the initial meeting of this season and snapped a four-game losing streak to the Bears in the process back on Jan. 11 when they posted a 108-98 triumph in Saint Louis. Sophomore Matt Davet led the Emory scoring attack with 25 points while Lawrence Rowley contributed 14 points and 14 rebounds. WU has won 22 of the 31 contests against Emory that have been played in Atlanta.
Following a 96-86 overtime victory at the Ratner Center (Jan. 13), which ended a seven-game Emory win streak in the series, the Maroons now stand 37-27 all-time against the Eagles. Emory posts a 17-14 edge against UC in games played at the Woodruff PE Center.
EMORY USES THE THREE-BALL – Despite hitting a season-low four three-point field goals in the win at NYU on Sunday, Emory still ranks first in the UAA with an average of 10.3 treys per game and stood 31st nationally in that category through Feb. 3. So far this season, the Eagles have registered 10 or more treys in 10 contests and stand 10-0 in those outings. Entering the Wash U game on Friday, Emory has been successful on 35.2 percent (206-of-586) of its triple tries. In conference play, the Eagles are No. 2 behind Chicago (11.0 tpg) with an average of 9.8 three-pointers per outing. The team's 206 triples are 10th on the program's seasonal ladder.
Earlier this year, the Eagles have converted a UAA-record 19 treys in the 116-77 victory over Trinity (Dec. 1).
The Eagles have had five or more players record three-pointers in 10 contests this season, highlighted by eight finding their way into the triple column vs. Keuka and seven in the Trinity and Brandeis (Jan. 25) tilts.
Earlier in the campaign, Emory tied a then-school record with 18 triples against Keuka College (Nov. 17).
SCHNER ON A ROLL – Matt Schner has been a key contributor during Emory's six-game winning streak, registering double-figure scoring in five outings and averaging a team-high 16.8 points-per-game clip. Schner produced a team-best 17 points in the eight-point triumph over NYU, his 14th double-digit performance of the season and the fourth that he ranked as the squad's top scorer.
Over his last six contests, Schner is shooting a team-best 68.4 percent (39-of-57) from the field while knocking down a blazing 76.5 percent (13-of-17) from three-point range. In addition, he has grabbed a team-leading 8.7 rebounds over the six-game stretch, leading the club in that department in four contests. His 10 caroms in the NYU game was the second time this season that he registered double figures in that department.
In league action only, Schner is tossing in 14.2 points, 10th on the league list, and is second in field goal percentage (.641, 50-of-78).
DAVET PROVIDING PUNCH – Entering this weekend's contests, sophomore Matt Davet ranks third among UAA players in overall scoring average, registering a 16.6 points-per-game average mark. In league play, Davet is fourth on the UAA ladder at 16.9 points per game. In last Friday's win at Brandeis Davet finished as the team's leading scorer for the eighth time this year with 20 points, hitting eight-of-14 field goals and three treys in six attempts.
A double-figure scorer on 16 occasions this season, he has tallied 20 or more points in seven contests. Career-wise, he has appeared in 48 contests and has chalked up 27 double-figure scoring performances.
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL KEY FOR EMORY – Taking care of the ball has played a significant role in the team's success, posting a 12-0 mark when having fewer turnovers than the opposition (4-4 when having more turnovers). Including the 2017-18 campaign, Emory stands 28-3 when finishing with fewer miscues than the opposition. Emory closed out last Friday's Brandeis contest with eight turnovers, the fifth time this year it finished in single digits in that department.
Emory leads the UAA in turnover margin (+3.00) and ranks 55th in the D-III ranks in that stat through games played Feb. 3. The Eagles have registered the advantage in the points-off-turnovers category in 14 contests.
Through nine UAA games, Emory is No. 1 in the league in turnover margin (+3.44). The Eagles have single-digit turnover numbers in four conference outings.
EMORY ON THE GLASS – Emory has outrebounded 15 opponents and finished with a double-digit edge in that category in eight contests, most recently a 40-23 margin vs. Brandeis (Feb. 1). Emory is averaging a conference-best 42.3 boards per outing including a league-high 14.4 caroms on the offensive end of the floor, helping it to an edge in second-chance points in 14 games.
Emory claims three of the UAA's top-13 rebounders, led by sophomore Lawrence Rowley whose 7.9 per-game average is good for a fourth-place tie on the league ladder. Matt Schner (6.9 rpg) stands 7th on the conference chart while Matt Davet holds down the No. 13 slot (5.6 rpg).
The Rowely, Schner and Davet trio have either individually or collectively ranked as the team's top performers in rebound in in 19 outings with Rowley leading or tying for club honors in 11 games.
EMORY BENCH ANSWERING THE CALL – Emory has used its depth to its advantage this season as the Eagle reserves have outscored their counterparts by a 589 (29.4 ppg) to 444 (22.2 ppg) margin. Emory has recorded the advantage in the points-off-bench category in 15 contests and has seen the reserves total 40 or more points in four games.
OFFENSE IN AMPLE SUPPLY – Offense has been plentiful for Emory thus far, with the Eagles ranking first among UAA squads and 9th in Division III (through Feb. 3) with a 92.6 points per game average.
Emory has scored 90 or more points in 13 contests this year, and has cracked the 100-point plateau four times.
The Eagles' five straight outings of 90 or more points (Dec. 1 through Dec. 30) tied the 2013-14 squad (Nov. 23 – Dec.3, 2013) for the program's second-longest streak. The 1989-90 team holds the top mark with seven straight performances of 90 or more points (Jan. 5 – Jan. 26, 1990) en route to closing out that season with a school-record 17 contests of 90 or more points.
EMORY FEATURES BALANCED ATTACK -- Emory has employed a balanced scoring attack through 20 games with four players averaging in double figures. Leading the scoring parade is Romin Williams at 16.9 points-per-game average, good for second place on the UAA ladder. Matt Davet is one spot behind Williams at 16.6 points per game while Lawrence Rowley holds down the No. 9 slot (14.3 ppg). Matt Schner rounds out the quartet with a 13.2 per-game effort, good for 11th among UAA players.
The Eagles have had five or more players score in double figures in eight occasions this year.
EAGLES AND THE CENTURY MARK – Emory's 116 points against Carnegie Mellon (Jan. 20) tied the program's single-game scoring record set earlier vs. Trinity University (Dec. 1), while representing the fourth time this year it had reached the 100-point plateau. The 116 points erased the previous mark of 112 set against Sewanee on Nov. 29, 2005. Earlier this year (Nov. 17), the Eagles dialed up 109 points vs. Keuka College, which at the time tied the program's sixth-highest game total. Emory reached the century mark for the third time in the Wash U game (Jan. 11) when it dialed up 108 points, tying the program's 12th-highest game total.
In its history, Emory has scored 100 or more points 52 times and claims a 47-5 ledger in such outings. During Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach, Emory has 21 contests of 100 or more points and stands 20-1 in those games.
ROWLEY FINDS THE MARK – Lawrence Rowley ranks second on the club and ninth among University Athletic Association players with a 55.8 percent effort from the floor, converting 106-of-190 field goal attempts. Rowley has shot 50 percent or better in seven of his last nine (.560, 46-of-82) and in 14 games this year and has four contests of 70 percent or higher (three at home, one on the road).
SHARE THE BALL – Emory has displayed the trait for sharing the basketball with its average of 17.7 assists per game good for the No. 1 spot in the UAA and 22nd among all D-III programs (through Feb. 3). The Eagles have doled out 20 or more assists seven times this year -- 29 vs. Trinity (Dec. 1), the third-highest mark in school history, 22 vs. East Texas Baptist (Dec. 30), 21 vs. Keuka (Nov. 17), 21 vs. Wash U (Jan. 11), 21 vs. Case Western (Jan. 18), 27 vs. Carnegie Mellon (Jan. 20) that tied the program's sixth-highest mark, and 21 vs. Brandeis (Feb. 1).
Emory's 354 assists ranks 16th on the program's seasonal chart.
Sophomore Nick Stuck paces the team and is third in the conference with an average of 4.7 assists per game while Romin Williams holds down the No. 5 position at 3.9 per contest. In addition, Stuck is tied for first in the UAA and 8th in the D-III (through Feb. 3) in assist/turnover ratio (3.13).
EMORY'S HIGHEST-SCORING HALVES IN 2018-19
68 – vs. Carnegie Mellon (Jan. 20) – 1st Half
65 – vs. Trinity (Dec. 1) – 2nd Half
63 – vs. Keuka (Nov. 17) – 1st Half
55 – vs. Brandeis (Jan. 25) – 1st Half
55 – vs. Wash U (Jan. 11) – 2nd Half
55 – vs. College of Staten Island (Nov. 16) – 2nd Half
54 – vs. Piedmont (Nov. 11) – 2nd Half
53 – vs. Wash U (Jan. 11) – 1st Half
52 – vs. NYU (Jan. 27) – 2nd Half
51 – vs. East Texas Baptist (Dec. 30) – 2nd Half
51 – vs. Trinity (Dec. 1) – 1st Half
50 – vs. Oswego State (Dec. 29) – 2nd Half
WILLIAMS A LONG-RANGE THREAT –Romin Williams tops the UAA with an average of 3.0 three-point field goals per game, with that effort slotting him 59th nationally. Williams has drained three triples in five of his last seven and in a total of 10 games this year, and has tied the school's single-game record of eight treys twice this season – most recently against East Texas Baptist (Dec. 30) when he went eight-of-13 from distance, and the first time against Keuka College (Nov. 17), seven of which came during the opening 20 minutes of play. Williams finished that contest with a career-high 32 points.
Williams is one of three players in school annals to hit eight three-pointers in a game, joining Alex Gulotta (vs. Guilford, Nov. 20, 2010) and Richard Somers (vs. LaGrange, Nov. 16, 2001) in that club.
Career-wise, Williams has appeared in 47 games and his 123 three-point field goals ties Austin Claunch (2008-12) for 14th on the program's all-time ladder.
STRONG FROM THE STRIPE – Emory has been solid from the foul line this year, connecting at a 77.4 percent (302-of-390) clip, good for first place among UAA teams and 13th in D-III (through Feb. 3). Emory has converted 70 percent or higher of his foul shots in 16 contests this year, including last Sunday's game vs. NYU when it finished at a season-high 95 percent (19-of-20), the fifth-highest single-game mark in school history.
In their 11 home games, the Eagles are hitting 77.1 percent (158-of-205) from the foul line and 77.8 percent (144-of-185) in their nine away/neutral contests.
Individually, Lawrence Rowley is fourth among UAA cagers with an effort of 82.1 percent (64-of-78) from the stripe. Romin Williams (.788, 41-of-52) is seventh on the league ladder and Matt Davet (.776, 59-of-76) is 10th.
EMORY PICKED AS TEAM TO BEAT IN UAA – Emory was picked as the team to beat in the University Athletic Association in a preseason poll conducted by the league coaches. The Eagles picked up six of the eight first-place votes cast and recorded 48 points. The University of Rochester was tabbed for second, receiving the other two first-place ballots and totaling 42 points.
DID YOU KNOW -- Since the 2010-11 season, Emory has the No. 1 record among UAA teams in overall (178-58) play and the second-best mark in league action (87-34) .… Washington University has the conference's second-best overall ledger (170-60) and the top slate in conference play (90-31) … That Emory has at least one three-point field goal in its last 564 games -- The last time the Eagles failed to convert from beyond the arc came on Feb. 14, 1997, vs. Washington University (0-of-6) … Emory was won 52 of its last 53 games when allowing 69 or fewer points (5-0 in 2018-19, 11-0 in '17-18, 7-1 in '16-17, 13-0 in '15-16, 16-0 in '14-15) … Emory posts a 31-2 ledger in games since the 2016-17 season when it has converted 10 or more three-pointers in a contest (10-0 in '18-19, 11-0 in 2017-18, 10-2 in '16-17).
NOTES –Romin Williams has produced 10 or more points in 38 of 47 career outings and has tallied 20 or more points 14 times … So far this season, Williams, who has led the team in scoring in six games, has produced 17 double-digit scoring performances and seven of 20 or more points … Matt Davet has totaled a team-high eight games with 20 or more points while Williams has seven … Matt Schner is tied for second place in the UAA in offensive rebounds (2.9 orpg) while Lawrence Rowley claims the No. 6 position (2.75 orpg)…Matt Schener has shot 50 percent or better from the floor in 12 games and stands 6th on the conference chart in field goal percentage (.578, 100-of-173) … Schner has chalked up 14 performances of double-digit scoring this season … Senior Gebereal Baitey saw his streak of steals end at 14 games in last Sunday's encounter at NYU … Baitey checks in with 109 career thefts, good for 19th place on the school's all-time ladder, and has recorded 31 contests with two or more steals … On the offensive end of the floor, Baitey has seven double-figure scoring games this season (33 in his career) … Since the 2012-13 season, the Eagles are 112-7 when outshooting the opposition from the floor (13-1 in 2018-19, 16-1 in '17-18, 17-1 in '16-17, 12-3 in '15-16, 18-0 in '14-15) … During Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach, Emory stands 172-20 when leading at halftime (16-1 in 2018-19, 19-1, in '17-18, 13-0 in '16-17; 18-3 in 2015-16) … Emory is averaging 45.9 points during the first half of play and 47.5 over the final 20 minutes of action … Opponents are scoring at an average of 36.7 points in the first half and 41.8 points in the second half … The Eagles have won 42 of their last 43 games at the Woodruff PE Center against non-league foes with the only blemish coming earlier this year against Randolph-Macon (Nov. 25) … Emory is 104-12 (.896) over its last 116 home contests … The Eagles have recorded 100 or more points 52 times in program history and own a 47-5 won-lost record in those affairs … During Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach, Emory has 21 contests of 100 or more points and stands 20-1 in such games … The Eagles have outscored the opposition in 29 halves while being outpointed in 11 … Emory is tied for first in the UAA with an average of 7.2 steals per game and has turned in three contests with double-figure thefts including a season-high 15 vs. LaGrange (Dec. 5) … Gebereal Baitey is tied for third in the conference in steals average (1.5 spg) while Matt Schner is tied for fifth (1.4 spg) … The Eagles have scored 50 or more points in a half on 12 occasions, and their 68 first-half points against Carnegie Mellon (Jan. 20) represented the highest total by a Zimmerman-coached team … Emory enjoys a 319-232 edge in the points-off-turnovers category … Emory has led by 10 or more points at halftime in 11 contests … The Eagles are No. 1 in the UAA and 33rd in the D-III ranks (through Feb. 3) in scoring margin (+12.8) … Romin Williams saw a 17-game three-point field goal streak (tying 13th-longest in school history) come to an end in the Oswego State game (Dec. 29).