Emory Men's Basketball Looks To Continue Winning Ways

GAME FACTS -  The Emory University men's basketball team aims to keep its unbeaten streak alive as it prepares for a pair of upcoming contests.  On Saturday (Dec. 4), the Eagles welcome Methodist University into the Woodruff PE Center for a 4:00 p.m. contest, before venturing to Covenant College on Tuesday (Dec. 7) in a 7:00 p.m. tip.

Emory’s game against Methodist will be video streamed with Mike Lyle and Dan Eidell serving as the announcers.  To access the webcast, go to http://www.emoryathletics.com/information/webcasts.

THE COACHES - Leading the Emory program is fourth-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).  Last season, Zimmerman directed the Eagles to an overall record of 15-10, the program’s first winning season since 2004-05.  In addition, Emory tied for third place in the University Athletic Association with a 7-7 slate, with its win total the most since 2000-01.  For his efforts, Zimmerman, along with assistants Chris Murphy and Ben Wright were named the UAA’s Co-Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
David Smith (Methodist, 1981) is in his 12th season as the head coach at Methodist. Heading into the 2010-11 campaign, he had guided the Monarchs to a pair of NCAA D-III Tournament appearances as well as four USA South Conference regular-season championships the previous six years.

In his second year as the head man at Covenant College is Kyle Taylor (UCLA, 2005).  Prior to his current post, Taylor served as an assistant coach at Division II member Minnesota State during the 2008-09 season.

2010-11 RECORDS – Emory stands 5-0 for the first time since the 2004-05 season.  Over the weekend, the Eagles came away with a pair of wins at the Emory Thanksgiving Tournament.  On Saturday, Emory bested LaGrange by an 81-67 margin before registering a 103-99 come-from-behind win over Maryville College on Sunday. Emory received votes in this week’s D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll.

Methodist is in search of its first win of the season, having dropped its first five outings.  Most recently, the Monarchs hosted Virginia Wesleyan on Sunday and came out on the short end of an 81-71 decision.

Covenant currently posts a ledger of 0-4.  Prior to hosting Emory, the Scots will play at LaGrange on Dec. 1 and at Maryville on Saturday.  

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Zimmerman  

SERIES RECORDS -  Saturday’s match-up against Methodist will mark just the second time the programs have met and the first since November of 1986 (a 66-63 Emory victory).

The game against Covenant will be the initial meeting in basketball between the two schools.

GULOTTA KNOCKING DOWN 3s – Junior Alex Gulotta has been red hot from three-point range this season, converting a blazing 65.9 percent (27-of-41) from beyond the arc. Gulotta, who earlier in the year tied a school record with eight treys against Guilford (Nov. 20), opened the Thanksgiving Tournament by draining six-of-seven from distance en route to a 20-point outing vs. LaGrange before going three-of-five the following day against Maryville.  In his last four games, Gulotta is shooting 70.5 percent (24-of-34) from three-point range.  Heading into the Methodist contest, he owns a 17-game streak of at least one three pointer to his credit, the eighth-longest streak in school history.

CLAUNCH NAMED UAA CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Junior Austin Claunch was named the University Athletic Association Co-Player of the Week after averaging 18.5 points, 9.5 assists and 2.5 steals per outing during the Thanksgiving Tournament.  In addition, he connected on 61.9 percent from the floor (13-of-21) and knocked down all 10 of his free throw opportunities.  Against Maryville, he dished out a school-record 12 assists, his third career contest of double figures in that category.  As was the case last season, Claunch ranks prominently in a number of UAA statistical categories including first in both assists (7.6 apg) and assist/turnover ratio (3.8), second in free throw percentage (.938, 15-of-16) and steals (2.0 spg) and seventh in scoring (15.4 ppg).

JAKE DAVIS COMES UP BIG vs. MARYVILLE – Freshman forward Jake Davis came off the bench and turned in a solid performance against Maryville with 21 points, his second double-figure scoring effort of the season, along with a team-high nine rebounds.  The 6-foot-5 Davis hit seven-of-12 field goal attempts and was successful on all six of his free throw opportunities against the Scots. 


EMORY NOTES -- Over its last three games, Emory has converted 54-of-60 (90 percent) from the foul line … Through games played Nov. 30, the Eagles rank No. 2 in the UAA in free throw percentage (.788) … Emory is averaging 84.0 points per contest, tops among UAA teams … Emory shot a season-high 56.7 percent from the floor against Maryville, the fourth-highest mark by a Zimmerman-coached Eagles’ squad … Emory claims three of the UAA’s top scorers in Gulotta (3^rd, 18.8 ppg), sophomore Alex Greven (4^th, 18.4 ppg) and Claunch (7^th, 15.4 ppg) … Sophomore Michael Friedberg has two or more blocked shots in four contests and stands first in the UAA in that department (2.4 bpg) …  Greven’s 24-point afternoon vs. Maryville represented his third outing of 20 or more points this season and fourth of his career.