GAME FACTS – The Emory men's basketball team closes out the regular-season portion of its schedule on Saturday (Feb. 25) when it clashes with the University of Rochester in a noon tip. Prior to the start of the game, Senior Day festivities will be held with the program recognizing the contributions of Jonathan Coles, Austin DaGue, Jim Gordon and Jonathan Terry.
THE COACHES – Jason Zimmerman (Davidson, 1994) is in his 10th 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 169-91. In games played at the Woodruff PE Center, Zimmerman posts a 97-26 ledger and a 72-65 mark in road/neutral settings.
He has guided Emory to eight straight winning seasons and four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016). After going 17-33 his first two years at Emory, Zimmerman has compiled a won-lost slate of 152-58 (.723) since the 2009-10 season.
Luke Flockerzi is in his seventh year as the head coach at Rochester. Heading into Saturday's bout against Emory, Flockerzi has amassed a school record of 119-60 that includes three 20-win seasons and two trips to the NCAA Tournament. When combined with a three-year run at Skidmore (2007-08 through 2009-10), Flockerzi has a career record of 149-106.
2016-17 RECORDS – Emory claims an overall record of 17-7, including an 8-5 showing in the University Athletic Association. The Eagles have won their last three contests and are coming off a sweep of Case Western, 99-92 in double overtime, and Carnegie Mellon, 88-73. Senior Jim Gordon was named the UAA Player of the Week after averaging team highs of 27.5 points and 7.0 rebounds. Gordon torched the Spartans of CWRU for a career-high 30 points before picking up 25 points against Carnegie Mellon. He shot 59.3 percent (16 of 27) from the floor, including 53.3 percent (8 of 15) from three-point range. Junior Adam Gigax contributed to the cause, tossing in 17.5 points in the two victories.
Emory is 9-1 at home and 8-6 in road/neutral venues this year.
Rochester, ranked 10th in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, comes to town with an overall record of 21-3. The Yellowjackets have secured a second-place finish in the UAA and brings a 10-3 league mark into the Woodruff PE Center. Last weekend, UR finished out its regular-season home schedule by defeating Carnegie Mellon, 82-67, before being upended by Case Western, 76-72. Rochester posts a 9-1 ledger in road/neutral outings.
SERIES RECORDS – Rochester holds a 35-24 advantage in the all-time series vs. Emory. Earlier this year (Jan. 7), the Yellowjackets snapped a four-game losing streak to the Eagles when they recorded an 84-54 verdict in the UAA opener for both teams. Emory hit just 31.3 percent (15 of 48) of its field goal attempts and turned the ball over 19 times, leading to 22 UR points. Adam Gigax was the Eagles' leading scorer with 14 points. Emory has won 18 of the 29 matchups that have been played at the Woodruff PE Center.
RAPP ADDS TO SEASON ASSISTS RECORD – Junior Whit Rapp dished out six assists in the Carnegie Mellon game, adding to his school season record. Entering Saturday's contest, Rapp has 207 assists, bettering the previous standard of 186 set by Austin Claunch during the 2010-11 campaign.
Through 24 contests, Rapp averages a conference-best 8.6 assists per outing, good for the No. 3 position among all D-III players and the No. 1 spot on the school's seasonal chart.
The Noblesville, Indiana, native has chalked up 10 outings of double-figure assists this season (15 in his career), most recently at Chicago (Feb. 12) when he doled out 11 in a 99-88 triumph. In conference affairs, Rapp sits atop the league ladder with an 8.5 assists-per-game average.
In addition, Rapp stands second in the league and fourth nationally (through Feb. 20) in assist/turnover ratio (3.9). He has recorded 17 games of seven or more assists this year.
In Emory's home game vs. NYU (Jan. 29), he set the program's single-game record with 16 assists in an 84-75 win, surpassing the previous standard of 14 held by Michael Florin (vs. NYU, Feb. 1, 2015).
Career-wise, Rapp holds down the No. 3 position on the school's all-time chart with 439 assists. Claunch claims the No. 1 spot with 580 while Florin (2011-15) is second at 509.
STATS TO WATCH – Often times there are statistics that could play a role in determining if a team is successful or not, and in Emory's case the variables of field goal shooting and rebounding are worth keeping track of. Emory holds a 15-1 record when outshooting the opposition from the floor, with its lone defeat in such games taking place at New York University (Feb. 5) when it connected on 47.1 percent (33 of 70) of its field goal attempts compared to NYU's 45.8 percent (27 of 59).
In addition to field goal shooting, the Eagles sport a 12-1 mark when finishing with an edge in rebounding. Emory has won its last 11 when posting more boards than the opposition with the only loss coming to LaGrange (46 vs. 39 rebs).
DID YOU KNOW? – That Adam Gigax's 35-point weekend vs. Case Western and Carnegie Mellon boosted his season total to 467, enabling him to establish a school record for most points scored by a junior, topping the previous mark of 454 held by Jake Davis (2012-13) … Gigax's point total this year ties for seventh on the program's seasonal ladder … That Gigax and and Jim Gordon have scored 20 or more points in the same game on three occasions this season … Jim Gordon's 17-game streak of recording three-point field goals ties the school's 12th-longest mark … That since the 2010-11 season, Emory has the No. 1 record among UAA teams in overall (137-48) play and the second-best mark in league action (67-30) .… Washington University has the conference's second-best overall ledger (133-48) and the top slate in conference play (70-27) … That entering the Rochester contest, Emory has at least one three-point field goal in its last 514 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 Emory finished 13-0 in 2015-16 and has won its last 35 contests when allowing 69 or fewer points (5-0 in 2016-17) … That Austin DaGue's career mark of 125 blocked shots is No. 4 on the school's all-time ladder … Emory has two current players among the program's all-time top 20 in three-point field goals, Adam Gigax is tied for the No. 9 spot (133) while Jonathan Terry ranks 19th (114).
GIGAX TOPS UAA SCORING CHART – Adam Gigax finished the Casse Western overtime win with 23 points, his 12th outing of 20 or more points on the season. He followed that effort with a 12-point afternoon against Carnegie Mellon, his 20th double-figure scoring effort of the campaign. Over the weekend, he converted four three-point field goals, boosting his season total to 76, good for third place on the school's seasonal chart.
His effort against the Maroons was the 13th time this year that he ranked as the team's top scorer.
Heading into the Rochester contest, his 19.5 points-per-game scoring average (currently 4th on Emory's season list) in overall play leads the UAA and ranks 75th nationally (through Feb. 20). One of the league's premier long-range shooters, Gigax is No. 3 in the UAA and 33rd nationally (through Feb. 20) with an average of 3.17 triples per game. He has three pointers to his credit is 22 outings (20 games with two or more) and his 40.9 percent (76 of 186) mark from beyond the arc is second on the UAA chart and slots him 62nd nationally. He has been solid at the free throw line as well, knocking down a team-high 84.1 percent (69 of 82) of his attempts, with that effort placing second in the league. Through 13 conference games, he is averaging a league-best 19.6 points.
He cracked the 100 career three-point plateau in the Wash U game (Jan. 13) and heads into the upcoming weekend with 133 triples during his career, placing him in a tie for ninth all-time at Emory.
EMORY SEASONAL THREE-POINTER LEADERS
1. 91 - Jeff Hall - 2004-05
2. 78 – Robert Spivey – 2000-01
3. 76 – Adam Gigax – 2016-17
4. 71 - Alex Gulotta - 2010-11
71 - Alex Foster - 2014-15
6. 67 - Alex Greven - 2012-13
7. 65 - Michael Thompson - 1998-99
GORDON TURNS IN BIG WEEKEND – Jim Gordon was tabbed as the UAA Player of the Week for the first time in his career after averaging 27.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in the victories against Case Western and Carnegie Mellon. The 6-foot-5 Gordon topped the Eagles' scoring effort in both outings and concluded the weekend shooting 59.3 percent (16 of 27) from the floor, including 53.3 percent (8 of 15) from beyond the arc. On the year, Gordon has produced a team-high 22 double-digit scoring performances, five of which have seen him pick up 20 or more points.
Heading into the upcoming weekend, Gordon ranks second on the team and 8th among UAA players in overall scoring average, tossing in 15.7 points per contest. Gordon is No. 2 on the Emory score sheet in field goals (135) and three pointers (55), and his average of 2.3 treys per game is 8th on the league chart. Gordon has three-point field goals in a team-high 23 contests and has drained two or more from distance on 17 occasions. In the free throw shooting department, he has been successful on 73.2 percent (52 of 71) of his attempts.
In league play, Gordon is tossing in 17.1 points, placing him third on the UAA ladder.
CHRISTOPHER AVANT SCORING AND BOARDING – Christopher Avant's emergence in the scoring and rebounding departments has been a big plus for the Eagles this season.
Avant, the owner of four double-doubles this year, posted his 15th double-digit scoring performance of the campaign when he finished second on the club in scoring with 18 points against Carnegie Mellon last Sunday, converting seven-of-12 from the floor and all four of his free throw attempts.
As Saturday approaches, Avant is third on the squad and 17th among UAA players with a 12.1 points-per-game overall scoring average. He has connected on 58.7 percent (108 of 184) of his field goal attempts, first on the team and fifth among UAA players. He has paced the squad in scoring in four contests. In league outings, he is third on the squad and 20th among UAA players in scoring average (11.7 ppg).
When it comes to his play on the glass, his team-high average of 6.7 boards per game is ninth on the league ladder. He has either led or shared for team rebounding honors in 10 games this year, and his 70 offensive boards tops the club while his average of 2.9 per game at the end of the floor is No. 6 in the conference. He has nine performances of four or more offensive caroms this year.
BAITEY PRODUCTIVE OFF THE BENCH -- Gebereal Baitey continued his surge during the second half of the season in last weekend's action, coming off the bench to pace the Emory reserves in scoring with 12 points against Case Western and 11 points vs. Carnegie Mellon. He closed out the weekend converting seven-of-16 field goal attempts and all eight free throw opportunities. In addition, he registered five rebounds against CWRU before leading the Eagles in that category with a career-high six boards against Carnegie Mellon.
Baitey has produced double-figure scoring in his last three and in four of the past five games. In his last five outings, he is averaging 11.4 points and shooting 55.2 percent (21 of 38) from the field.
NOTES – Emory has won all three of its overtime games this year and its last four dating from last season's extra session win vs. Birmingham Southern in the NCAA Tournament … The Eagles' 41 makes from the foul line in the Case Western game established a school record, bettering the previous mark of 38 set against Babson on Dec. 30, 2004 … Emory has shot 85 percent or better from the charity stripe in its last three games, posting an effort of 86.9 percent (80 of 92) in that stretch … Emory finished the Carnegie Mellon contest with eight turnovers, its fourth single-digit game of the year in that category … Senior Austin DaGue has six games of six or more rebounds … The Eagles have scored 50 or more points in a half on six occasions, five of which have come in the second half … Gebereal Baitey will head into the Rochester game with steals to his credit in his last six outings … Emory is No. 2 in the UAA in overall free throw shooting (.740, 376 of 508) while holding down the No. 1 position in league (.782, 222 of 284) action … The Eagles are 10-3 this season when shooting 70 percent or better from the charity stripe … Emory has recorded five games with 10 or more steals … Emory's rally from a 17-point deficit with 10:41 left in the Brandeis game (Jan. 27) and eventual win in overtime marked the Eagles' biggest second-half comeback during Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach – back on Nov. 17, 2010, Emory faced a pair of 15-point obstacles in the second half in an eventual 92-84 overtime decision over Oglethorpe … Whit Rapp paces the club with 43 steals and his per-game average of 1.8 thefts ties for third among UAA players … Rapp owns steals in 14 of his last 17 contests and has registered multiple thefts on 13 occasions this season …Emory has outrebounded 13 foes this year and posts a 12-1 record in those affairs … In games where they have been outboarded, the Eagles stand 4-5 … The Eagles have shot 50 percent or better from the floor in five games (5-0) ... Emory has hit 10 or more three pointers in 11 games this year and stand 9-2 in those contests, 29-6 since the 2014-15 campaign … Emory is fourth in the UAA and 51st nationally in three pointers per game (9.3 tpg) … In its 17 victories, Emory is averaging 86.6 points and shooting 46.4 percent from the floor compared to 67.7 points and 37.8 percent field goal shooting its seven losses … Emory is No. 3 in the UAA in overall (81.1 ppg) and 4th in conference (80.6 ppg) scoring offense … Defensively, the Eagles have held eight foes to less than 40 percent from the floor and reside in the No. 2 spot in the conference and 66th nationally in field goal percentage defense (41.4%) … Since the 2012-13 season, the Eagles are 81-5 when outshooting the opposition from the floor (15-1 in '16-17, 12-3 in '15-16, 18-0 in '14-15) … During Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach, Emory stands 136-18 when leading at halftime (12-0 in '16-17; 18-3 in 2015-16) … Emory is 79-10 (.886) over its last 89 home contests … The Eagles have recorded 100 or more points 46 times in program history and own a 41-5 won-lost record in those affairs … During Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach, Emory has 15 contests of 100 or more points and stands 14-1 in such games … Emory has averaged 36.6 points in the first half and 42.6 over the final 20 minutes of action … The opposition is averaging 35.5 points during the opening 20 minutes of action and 39.6 in the second half.