GAME FACTS – The Emory men's basketball team faces its second straight road weekend when it travels to Saint Louis to battle Washington University on Friday (Jan. 11) before taking on the University of Chicago on Sunday. The WU Field House will be the site of the 63rd game between the Eagles on Bears with tip slated for 9:00 pm (EST). The Ratner Center on the Chicago campus will serve as the venue of the 64th clash between Emory and the Maroons, and that contest will start at 1:00 pm (EST).
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 203-100. In games played at the Woodruff PE Center, Zimmerman posts a 118-28 ledger and an 85-72 mark in road/neutral settings.
He has guided Emory to nine 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 186-67 (.736) 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 206-158.
Now in his 20th year in calling the shots for the Chicago program is Mike McGrath (DePauw, '92). Heading into a Friday home date against Rochester, McGrath stands as the program's all-time leader in wins with a 291-203 ledger.
2018-19 RECORDS – Emory takes an overall record of 9-3 (0-1 UAA) into its battle against Washington University. The Eagles saw a five-game win streak come to an end last Saturday when they came out on the short end of an 87-76 verdict at Rochester in the league opener for both squads. Sophomore Matt Davet led the Emory scoring attack with 23 points, his 10th double-figure outing of the year and fifth of 20 or more points, while classmate Lawrence Rowley was the club's top rebounder with nine boards.
Emory is 6-1 in home games and 3-2 in away/neutral contests this season.
Wash U will host Emory with an overall record of 7-5 (0-1 UAA). The Bears dropped their conference opener last weekend at Chicago by an 88-80 count. Wash U posts a 4-2 record at home and is 3-3 in road/neutral affairs.
Chicago starts the second weekend of UAA play with an overall effort of 8-4 (1-0 UAA). Last weekend's triumph over Wash U represented the Maroons' third win in their last our outings. UC has won four of its five home games and claims a 4-3 mark in road/neutral contests.
SERIES RECORDS – In a series that began in January of 1988, Washington University holds an all-time mark of 49-13 vs. Emory. WU has won the last four games including last year's 84-67 (in Atlanta) and 82-69 (in St. Louis) outcomes. The Bears have captured 27 of the 31 match-ups against the Eagles in games played on the home floor.
Chicago sports a 36-27 advantage in the series with Emory, though the Eagles have made up some ground with victories in the last seven meetings. Last year Emory came away with a pair of five-point wins, 71-66 (at the Woodruff PE Center) and 66-61 (in Chicago). The Maroons have emerged victorious in 22 of the 32 contests played on their home court.
DAVET DENTS OPPOSITION – Entering this weekend's contests, sophomore Matt Davet is scoring at a 16.8 per-game clip, good for the No. 2 spot on the team and tied for third among UAA players. He has racked up 10 contests of 10 or more points and has totaled 20 or more points on five occasions. His team-high 23 points in the Rochester contest represented the third time this year that he had ranked as the club's top scorer (Nov. 11 vs. Piedmont – 25 pts.), (Nov. 16 vs. Staten Island – 24 points). Career-wise, he has appeared in 40 contests and has chalked up 21 double-figure scoring performances.
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL KEY FOR EMORY – Through 12 games, taking care of the ball has played a significant role in the team's success, posting a 7-0 mark when having fewer turnovers than the opposition (3-3 when having more turnovers). Including the 2017-18 campaign, Emory stands 23-3 when finishing with fewer miscues than the opposition.
Emory leads the UAA in turnover margin (+2.33), and has registered an advantage in the points-off-turnovers category in eight contests.
EMORY ON THE GLASS – In last Saturday's contest, Rochester wound up with a 36-33 edge in rebounding, ending a six-game streak where Emory finished with an advantage in that category.
On the year, the Eagles have outrebounded 10 opponents and have finished with a double-digit edge in that department on five occasions. Emory is averaging a conference-best 43.7 boards per outing including a league-high 15.5 caroms on the offensive end of the floor, helping it to an edge in second-chance points in eight games.
Emory claims three of the UAA's top-15 rebounders, led by sophomore Lawrence Rowley whose 8.2 per-game average is good for the No. 4 spot on the league ladder. Matt Davet (6.5 rpg) ranks 10th on the conference ladder while sophomore Matt Schner holds down the No. 14 slot (6.1 rpg).
The Rowely, Schner and Davet trio have either individually or collectively ranked as the team's top performers in rebound in 11 outings with Rowley leading or tying for club honors in eight outings.
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 382 (31.8 ppg) to 272 (22.7 ppg) margin. Emory has recorded the advantage in the points-off-bench category in eight 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 15th in Division III (through Jan. 7) with a 91.6 points per game average.
Emory has scored 90 or more points in eight contests this year, and has cracked the 100-point plateau twice.
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 its first 12 games with five players averaging in double figures. Leading the scoring parade is sophomore Romin Williams at 17.5 points per game, good for the No. 1 spot on the UAA chart. Williams has scored in doubles figures on 10 occasions and has five performances of 20 or more points. Matt Davet is second on the team and third among league players at 16.8 points per outing. Lawrence Rowley is deadlocked for the No. 8 position on the UAA list (14.5 ppg) and tops the team with 11 double-figure scoring games. Matt Schner (11.7 ppg) and senior Gebereal Baitey (10.5 ppg) place among the conference's top 25 scorers at 15th and 25th, respectively.
EAGLES AND THE CENTURY MARK – Emory's 116 points vs. Trinity (Dec. 1) established a school record for most points in a game, surpassing the previous mark of 112 set against Sewanee on Nov. 29, 2005. Earlier in the season (Nov. 17), the Eagles dialed up 109 points vs. Keuka College, which at the time tied the program's sixth-highest game total.
In its history, Emory has scored 100 or more points 50 times and claims a 45-5 ledger in such outings. During Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach, Emory has 19 contests of 100 or more points and stands 18-1 in those games.
EMORY USES THE THREE-BALL – Emory stands first in the UAA and 25th in the D-III ranks (through Jan. 7) with an average of 10.3 three-point field goals per game. The Eagles have converted 10 or more triples on six occasions this season including a school-record 19 in the 116-77 victory over Trinity. The Eagles have been successful on 33.7 percent (124-of-368) of their attempts from beyond the arc, good for the No. 4 spot in the UAA.
The Eagles have had five or more players record three-pointers in six contests this season, highlighted by eight finding their way into the triple column vs. Keuka and seven in the Trinity tilt.
Earlier in the campaign, Emory tied a then-school record with 18 triples against Keuka College (Nov. 17).
ROWLEY FINDS THE MARK – Lawrence Rowley stands first on the team and 10th among University Athletic Association players with a 55.7 percent effort from the floor, converting 64-of-115 field goal attempts. Rowley has shot 50 percent or better on eight occasions and has four contests of 70 percent or higher (three at home, one on the road), most recently against Berry College when he nailed seven-of-10 field goal opportunities.
SHARE THE BALL – Emory has displayed the trait for sharing the basketball with its average of 17.2 assists per game, tying for the No. 1 spot in the UAA and 38th among all D-III programs. The Eagles have doled out 20 or more assists three times this year -- 29 vs. Trinity (Dec. 1), the third-highest mark in school history, 22 vs. East Texas Baptist (Dec. 30) and 21 vs. Keuka (Nov. 17).
Sophomore Nick Stuck tops the team and is second in the conference with an average of 4.3 assists per game while Romin Williams holds down the No. 4 position at 3.7 per contest. In addition, Stuck is third in the UAA in assist/turnover ratio (2.5).
WILLIAMS A LONG-RANGE THREAT -– Romin Williams stands as the UAA leader with an average of 3.3 three-point field goals per game, with that effort slotting him 37th nationally. Williams has drained three or more triples in five games 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 39 games and his 104 three-point field goals ranks 20th on the program's all-time ladder.
STRONG FROM THE STRIPE – Through the first 12 games of the season, Emory has been solid from the foul line, connecting at a 76.3 percent (177-of-232) clip, good for first place among UAA teams and 29th in D-III (through Jan. 7). Emory has converted 70 percent or higher of his foul shots in 10 contests this year, and is coming off an 88 percent (second highest of the season)-afternoon in the Rochester game, connecting on a season-high 22 charity tosses in 25 attempts.
Individually, Davet is No. 8 among league players with an 81 percent (34-of-42) showing in foul shooting while Williams is one spot behind at 80 percent (24-of-30). Rowley has been dependable as well, sinking 78.8 percent (41-of-52) of his charity tosses, ranking 11th on the UAA ladder.
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 (171-57) play and the second-best mark in league action (80-33) .… Washington University has the conference's second-best overall ledger (163-59) and the top slate in conference play (83-30) … That Emory has at least one three-point field goal in its last 556 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 49 of its last 50 games when allowing 69 or fewer points (2-0 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 27-2 ledger in games since the 2016-17 season when it has converted 10 or more three-pointers in a contest (6-0 in '18-19, 10-0 in 2017-18).
NOTES – Romin Williams has produced 10 or more points in 31 of 39 career outings and has tallied 20 or more points 12 times … Lawrence Rowley is tied for the No. 1 position in the UAA with an average of 3.3 offensive rebounds per game … Matt Schener has shot 50 percent or better from the floor in six games and is 13th on the conference chart in field goal percentage (.515, 51-of-99) … Schener has chalked up eight performances of double-digit scoring this season … Senior Gebereal Baitey enters the upcoming weekend with steals in his last seven games … Baitey posts 97 career thefts, good for 20th place on the school's all-time ladder, and has recorded 28 contests with two or more steals … On the offensive end of the floor, Baitey has five double-figure scoring games this season (31 in his career) … Since the 2012-13 season, the Eagles are 106-6 when outshooting the opposition from the floor (7-0 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 165-20 when leading at halftime (9-1 in 2018-19, 19-1, in '17-18, 13-0 in '16-17; 18-3 in 2015-16) … Emory is averaging 44.7 points during the first half of play and 45.6 over the final 20 minutes of action … Opponents are scoring at an average of 35.9 points in the first half and 43.3 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 100-12 (.892) over its last 112 home contests … The Eagles have recorded 100 or more points 50 times in program history and own a 45-5 won-lost record in those affairs … During Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach, Emory has 19 contests of 100 or more points and stands 18-1 in such games … The Eagles have outscored the opposition in 16 halves while being outpointed in eight … Emory paces the UAA with an average of 7.8 steals per game and has turned in three contests with double-figure thefts including a season-high 15 vs. LaGrange (Dec. 5) … Matt Schner is third in the conference in steals average (1.7 spg) … The Eagles have scored 50 or more points in a half on seven occasions, and their 65 first-half points against Trinity (Dec. 1) represented the highest total by a Zimmerman-coached team … Emory enjoys a 212-149 edge in the points-off-turnovers category … Emory has led by 10 or more points at halftime in seven contests … The Eagles are No. 1 in the UAA and 49th in the D-III ranks in scoring margin (+11.2) … 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).