Emory Men's Basketball Makes Final UAA Road Trips Of The Year

GAME FACTS -  The Emory men's basketball team makes its final road swing of the 2008-09 season this weekend when its plays UAA road games at Brandeis University and New York University.  Auberbach Arena on the Brandeis campus will serve as the venue for Emory's Friday (Feb. 20) night game with tip slated for 8:00 p.m.  On Sunday, the Eagles will battle the Violets of NYU at the Coles Sports Center starting at 11:00 a.m.

THE COACHES - Leading the Emory program is second-year Head Coach Jason Zimmerman (Davidson, '94). 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).

In his sixth season at the helm of the Brandeis program is Brian Meehan (Clark University, 1986).  Prior to his stint with the Judges, he served as the head coach at Salem State College for seven seasons.

Joe Nesci  (Brooklyn College, 1979) is in his 21st year as head coach at NYU.  Prior to a Friday night home contest vs. Case Western, Nesci has compiled a school and career mark of 367-172. 

2008-09 RECORDS - Emory begins the weekend with an overall record of 6-16, 1-10 in UAA action.  The Eagles came out on the short end of a pair of hotly contested home outings last weekend, dropping a 71-68 verdict against No. 2-ranked Washington University and a 53-51 decision to Chicago.

Brandeis hosts Emory with an overall slate of 14-8, 7-4 in the University Athletic Association.  The Judges are coming off a productive weekend with road victories at Carnegie Mellon (66-63) and Rochester (80-63). 

NYU starts play this weekend sporting a 14-8 overall mark, 3-8 in the league.  The Violets split a pair of road games last weekend, topping Rochester by an 86-72 count before losing to Carnegie Mellon, 79-73.

 SERIES RECORDS -  In a series that started in January of 1988, Brandeis holds a 24-19 edge in the all-time series against Emory. The Judges have captured the last 11 meetings between the schools including a 76-63 decision earlier this season in Atlanta. Brandeis has claimed 14 of the 21 games played on its home floor.

In a series that began in December of 1986, NYU claims an all-time mark of 30-14 vs. Emory.  The Violets have won the last five games of the series including a tight 57-55 victory earlier this year at Emory.  NYU is 16-6 vs. Emory in games played on its home court.

NOTES - Junior Chad Hixon tied for team scoring honors with 12 points against Washington University before recording a team-high 13 points against Chicago  ... Hixon has posted double-figure scoring in 13 games this year and in seven of his last eight outings ... In his last three performances, the 6-foot-2 Hixon is tossing in 13.0 points and shooting 51.7 percent (15-of-29)  from the floor ... Hixon is also getting it done on the boards where his 5.8 per-game mark leads the squad and is tied for fourth among UAA players ... Emory held Chicago to 35.5 percent field goal shooting on Sunday, the second-lowest opponent total this season ... The Eagles turned the ball over 10 times in the Chicago game, their second-lowest mark of the year ... Junior Anthony Fernandez registered his 13th game of double-figure scoring of the campaign with a 12-point evening against Wash U. ... Fernandez is averaging 13.7 points per game, tops on the club and 10th in the UAA ... The 6-foot-4 Fernandez has connected on 81.3 percent (61-of-75) from the charity stripe, fifth on the league's ladder ...Four of Emory's 10 conference setbacks have been by five or fewer points ... Freshman Austin Claunch logged a season-long 23 minutes in the Chicago contest and picked up seven points along with a season-high six boards ...  Sophomore Julien Williams finished with 12 points in the Wash U. contest, his fifth performance this season of 10 or more points ... Senior John Kresse is fifth among UAA players with a 3.8 per-game assists average ... He has registered five or more assists in nine games this season and in 21 of his 70 career outings at Emory ... Kresse heads into the weekend's action with 211 career assists, good for sixth place on the school's all-time ladder ... Emory is No. 3 in the UAA in free throw percentage (.730) ... Freshman Eric Panicco recorded back-to-back games of a season-high 25 minutes in each games last weekend ... Emory has had players score in double figures on 55 occasions compared to 75 for opponents.