January 6, 2011

GAME FACTS -  After closing out the non-conference portion of the schedule with a pair of impressive wins, the Emory men’s basketball team opens University Athletic Association play this Saturday (Jan. 8) with a road game at the University of Rochester.  The Louis Alexander Palestra on the UR campus with serve as the venue for the 47^th meeting between the Eagles and Yellowjackets and tip is scheduled for noon.

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.
 
Luke Flockerzi (Grinnell College) is in his first season as the head coach at Rochester. Prior to being appointed to his current post following the retirement of Mike Neer, Flockerzi served as the head coach at Skidmore College for three seasons.  Last year he directed Skidmore to an overall record of 16-10.

2010-11 RECORDS – Emory starts league play with an overall mark of 9-2.  After closing out 2010 with an 86-75 home setback to Washington & Lee on Dec. 30, the Eagles wound up a three-game homestand with a 95-71 triumph over Huntingdon College (Jan. 2) and 104-64 victory against Piedmont  (Jan. 3).    In the contest against Piedmont, Emory knocked down 15 triples in 22 opportunities with the 68.2 percent mark the third-highest single-game performance in school history.  In addition, the Eagles’ 15 treys tied the second-highest single-game total in the history of the program while the 104 points ranked as the 10^th-highest single-game point effort.

Rochester hosts Emory with an 8-3 record.  The Yellowjackets have won two of their last three outings and are coming off an 88-52 victory over RIT on Tuesday (Jan. 4). In that game, Rochester established a school record with 17 three-point field goals.

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Zimmerman  

SERIES RECORDS -  In a series that dates from January of 1988, Rochester holds an all-time mark of 30-16 against Emory.  The Yellowjackets have won the last three meetings between the schools including last year’s 83-62 (at Emory) and 85-71 (at Rochester) decisions.  Rochester has claimed the last nine meetings played on its home floor and stands 19-4 against the Eagles in games played at Rochester.

CLAUNCH CLIMBS EMORY CAREER ASSISTS LISTS – Junior Austin Claunch dished out seven assists in the victory over Piedmont and in the process moved into fifth place on Emory’s career list.  Claunch has 289 assists to his credit and edged ahead of former Eagle standout Spiros Ferderigos (2004-2008) who totaled 288 during his four-year career.

Through games played Jan. 4, Claunch leads the team and the UAA in assists with a 6.4 per-game average.  He has either led or tied for the squad’s lead in assists in all 11 games this season.

DAVIS A KEY CONTRIBUTOR – Freshman Jake Davis has emerged as a key contributor for the Eagles and will enter the Rochester game with a seven-game double-figure scoring streak.  Over the last five games, Davis has led the team in scoring on four occasions and is shooting 59.5 percent (28-of-47) from the field while averaging 16.2 points in that stretch.  Davis has also topped the squad in rebounding in four of the last five outings including the last three where he is averaging 10.0 boards. 

In UAA stats through Jan. 4, the 6-foot-5 Davis ranks among the top 10 UAA performers in the following four categories – scoring (t-10^th, 13.2 ppg), field goal percentage (9^th, .531, 51-of-96) free throw percentage (5^th, .844) and rebounding (9^th, 6.5 rpg).

GULOTTA’S 3-POINT FG STREAK CONTINUES – Junior Alex Gulotta’s streak of three-point field goal is now at 23 games.  Gulotta, whose 42 triples this season is 19^th on the Eagles’ seasonal list, owns the fifth longest streak three-point streak in school history.

Through UAA games played through Jan. 4, the 6-foot-1 Gulotta leads the UAA in three-pointers per game (3.8 tpg) and is second with a .538 showing from beyond the arc, sinking 42-of-78 opportunities.   In Emory’s seven home games, he is shooting 50.0 percent (21-of-42) from distance while checking in with a blazing 58.3 percent (21-of-36) effort in the team’s four games away from the Woodpec.

GREVEN LEADS UAA IN SCORING – Sophomore Alex Greven continues to top the UAA scoring chart with a 17.7 points per game average.  Greven heads into the Rochester game with a nine game double-figure scoring streak while notching 10 or more points on 10 occasions this season.

In addition to his scoring average, Greven holds down the No. 4 spot on the UAA ladder in free throw percentage (.854).

EMORY SHARP AT THE CHARITY STRIPE – Emory continued its fine free throw shooting in its three games following its holiday break, sinking 75 percent or better from the stripe in all three contests.  Heading into the Rochester outing, the Eagles rank as the UAA’s leader in free throw percentage by a healthy margin, knocking down .813 (200-of-246) attempts.  Emory has hit 80 percent or better from the free throw line in its last seven of its last nine games.

EMORY NOTES – Emory had seven double-figure scorers in the 95-71 win over Huntingdon College, just the second time in school history that an Emory team had seven double-figure scorers.  The previous time took place on Jan. 29, 1988, in a 104-88 win over Piedmont … Emory had eight players knocked down three-point field goals in the Huntingdon and Piedmont contests … Emory leads the UAA in scoring (84.4 ppg), free throw percentage (.813) and is tied for first in three-point field goals per game (9.3 tpg) … Emory has outshot six of its 11 foes from the floor this year … Emory has attempted more free throws than  the opposition in six affairs … Gulotta has 104 career three-point field goals to his credit, good for 11^th place on the school’s all-time ladder … In the last two games, Emory is shooting 64.1 percent (25-of-39) from three-point range … Sophomore Nash Oh totaled a season-high 10 points in the win over Huntingdon and then tied Claunch for the team lead with a season-high seven assists vs. Piedmont.