After the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team plays Kent State University on Wednesday, the men’s team plays another Mid-American Conference team from Ohio: The Ohio University Bobcats.
For EMU, this will be the final game against a MAC East opponent this season. The tip-off for the men’s game is 4:30 p.m. in the Convocation Center.
EMU (10-13, 5-4 MAC) came home to play Kent State Wednesday, after two losses on the road to Miami (Ohio) in overtime and Akron.
Senior guard Darrell Lampley is the top scorer for Eastern Michigan. Junior forward Jamell Harris is the team’s leading rebounder, but centers Matt Balkema and Da’Shonte Riley have gone back and forth for top rebounder of the game in the past five contests.
With Ball State within one game of the MAC West lead, the Eagles hope to remain in first place in the division after this weekend.
“Our goal is to win the MAC West,” Balkema said. “We’re in first place, so we’ll focus on that.”
Ohio (19-4, 7-2 MAC) comes in tied with Buffalo for second place in the MAC East.
The Bobcats had an impressive non-conference schedule, their only losses coming from Louisville and Robert Morris. Some notable wins include Marshall and Oakland on the road and Arkansas State at home.
Ohio opened its MAC schedule with two losses in its first three MAC games with defeats from Bowling Green and Akron. Since then, Ohio has won six consecutive contests against MAC opponents, including Central Michigan at home on Saturday.
Junior guard D.J. Cooper is the Bobcats’ leading scorer, with a 13.3 scoring average. But redshirt junior guard Walter Offutt has led the team offensively in the last three games with a 16.3 average.
The Bobcats will give EMU a tough time at the three-point line with the best three-point defense in the MAC (.285). Ohio also comes in third in the MAC in offensive rebounds, so EMU must take away the rebounds on defense to prevent any second chance opportunities.
Eastern will have difficulties making Ohio turnover the ball since the Bobcats lead the conference in turnover margin ( 5.3). EMU must secure the ball in order to score. The Bobcats show up with the MAC lead in steals and three-point shots made.
Ohio coach John Groce sees his team always standing tough on defense even if the shots don’t go in.
“We got to keep defending,” Groce said after the game against Central Michigan.
“It’s a big reason why we are 19-4, and that is going to be our identity.
The Eagles and Bobcats are set to face-off at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday in the
Convocation Center. The game will be a part of a double-header, the women playing at 2 p.m. The 2012 Hall Of Fame inductees will also be honored during halftime of the game.
Material from Ohio University’s athletic website was used for this article.
