Emory Men's Basketball Makes 09-10 Home Debut

GAME FACTS -  After earning a split at the GABCA Coaches vs. Cancer Classic over the weekend, the Emory men's basketball makes its home debut on Wednesday (Dec. 2) when it hosts LaGrange College.  The Woodruff PE Center on the Emory campus will serve as the venue for the 16^th meeting between the Eagles and Panthers and tip is slated for 7:00 p.m.

Following the Wednesday encounter against LaGrange, Emory opens the program's 23^rd year of University Athletic Association play on Saturday (Dec. 5) when the University of Rochester comes to town for a 4:00 p.m. contest.

Both the LaGrange and Rochester games will be webcast.  To access the webcast, go to www.emoryathletics.com

THE COACHES - Leading the Emory program is third-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 ninth season as the head coach at LaGrange College is Warren Hayes (LaGrange, 1998).  Hayes will take a school and career won-lost slate of 87-129 into Wednesday's outing against Emory.

Mike Neer (Washington & Lee, 1970) is in his 33^rd year calling the shots at Rochester and takes a school and career record of 537-307 into a Wednesday evening game against RIT.  Neer has guided the Yellowjackets to a total of 12 NCAA Tournament appearances including six in the past seven campaigns. 

2009-10 RECORDS - Emory checks in with a 3-1 ledger following last weekend's action.  On Saturday, the Eagles fell to Maryville College (at LaGrange College) by a 75-64 count before registering a 95-81 victory over LaGrange on Sunday.

LaGrange posts a record of 2-4 following the GABCA Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.  Before its loss to Emory on Sunday, the Panthers topped Oglethorpe, 59-50, on Saturday.

Rochester has gotten off to a quick start and will meet RIT with a 5-0 record.  The Yellowjackets hosted the Holiday Inn Invitational over the weekend and came away with victories over Curry College (67-59) and Scranton (75-61).
 

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Zimmerman    

SERIES RECORDS -  This past Sunday's win enabled Emory to boost its all-time record against LaGrange College to 13-2.  The Eagles will be aiming to capture its fifth straight decision against LaGrange on Wednesday evening.  Emory has a 5-0 record against the Panthers in games played on its home floor.

In a series that began in January of 1988, Rochester holds a 28-16 lead over Emory.  The teams split the two-game set last season with Emory claiming an 83-74 win in Atlanta while the Yellowjackets recorded a 73-65 verdict in Rochester.

Emory stands 12-10 against Rochester in games played on its home floor and has won the last two and three of the last four meetings played at the Woodruff PE Center.

EMORY AND HOME OPENERS - Emory has won its last five home-opening contests and shows an 18-5 record in those games.  LaGrange has provided the competition in two Emory home openers with the Eagles capturing wins in both affairs, 86-59 in 2002 and 96-93 overtime thriller in 2006.

NOTES - Emory's 95 points against LaGrange on Sunday was the fourth-highest total and eighth time during Zimmerman's tenure as head coach that the Eagles had scored 90 or more points in a game ... Emory shot a season-high 55.0 percent from the floor in Sunday's game against LaGrange, and boosted the program's record to 12-2 under Zimmerman when connecting on 50 percent or better of its field goal opportunities ... Sophomore guard Austin Claunch has had the hot hand for Emory through four games, scoring in double figures in each contest and averaging a team-high 18.0 points and 6.5 assists per outing ... Claunch has shot 50 percent or better in every game and paces the club with a 65.1 percent mark (28-of-43) from the floor ... Emory has outrebounded its last three opponents and checks in with a 36.8-35.3 per-game edge in that department ... Senior Chad Hixon totaled 10 points against LaGrange, his 18^th career performance of double-figure scoring ... Emory reserves out have outscored the opposing subs in all four games and posts a 25.5-16.8 per-game scoring advantage ... Freshman Alex Greven has notched double-digit point production in each of the first four games and is second in scoring with a 13.5 per-game average ... Sophomore Corey Spraggins grabbed a team-high eight boards against LaGrange, the second time this season he ranked as the team leader in rebounding ... Emory boasts a 7-1 slate under Zimmerman when converting 25 or more free throws ... Emory had six players finish in double-figure scoring against LaGrange, the first time since Dec. 15, 2007 (vs. Oglethorpe) that the Eagles had that many players post double digits.