Emory Men's Basketball Opens 2010-11 Season

GAME FACTS -  The Emory University men's basketball team opens the program's 25^th  year of intercollegiate competition on Wednesday (Nov. 17) when it hosts crosstown foe Oglethorpe University.  Action at the Woodruff PE Center on the Emory campus begins at 8:00 p.m.

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 2009-10 Co-Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
Phil Ponder (LaGrange College) is in his eighth season as head coach of Oglethorpe. In each of the past three campaigns, Ponder has seen the Stormy Petrels post 15 or more wins and he headed into the 2010-11 campaign with 47 wins in that stretch.

2010-10 RECORDS – Emory played one exhibition game during the preseason, that being a 74-49 setback to Division I member Furman University back on Nov. 5.  The Eagles led for most of the first half and trailed by just three points (30-27) at halftime before the Paladins pulled away over the final 20 minutes of action.  Freshman Jake Davis impressed in his collegiate debut, posting team highs in both points (12) and rebounds (7).  Junior guard Austin Claunch chipped in 11 points and doled out four assists.

Oglethorpe opened the 2010-11 season Monday evening with a 67-50 win at home against LaGrange College.  Sophomore guard Alec Pitts led the Petrels in scoring with 20 points while senior forward Todd Ward picked up 12 points along with a game-high 11 rebounds.

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Zimmerman    

SERIES RECORDS -  In a series that began in 1987, Oglethorpe holds a 25-22 edge over Emory.  Last year the teams met on two occasions with each squad coming away with an overtime win on the opposition’s court.  Emory opened 2009-10 with an 85-81 extra-session triumph with Claunch racking up a team-high 19 points in the triumph.  Less than three weeks later, the Stormy Petrels returned the favor with a 97-93 overtime win at the Woodruff PE Center.

Emory stands 15-8 against Oglethorpe in games played at the Woodruff PE Center.  Overall, the Eagles have claimed five of the last eight meetings with three of those four going into overtime.

EMORY AND SEASON OPENERS - Emory posts a 14-10 all-time mark in season-opening games.  Last year’s season-opening win at Oglethorpe snapped a four-year streak of Emory dropping its season opener.  Wednesday’s contest will mark the fourth time that Oglethorpe has been Emory’s  season-opening foe.  Emory is 2-1 vs. Oglethorpe when the Petrels have the season-opening opponent (2000, W, 80-65; 2008, L, 81-89 (ot); 2009, W 85-81 (ot).

EMORY AND HOME OPENERS – Emory has been successful in home-opening affairs, registering an impressive 19-5 record in such contests. The Eagles have won their last six home-opening affairs including a 102-73 win over LaGrange College last season.

CLAUNCH DIII NEWS UAA PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR --  Austin Claunch, a First Team All-UAA selection last season, has been tabbed by DIII News as the conference’s 2010-11 Preseason Player of the Year.  The 5—foot-9 Claunch ranked among the top 10 league performers in six different statistical categories a year ago, and his team-high 6.0 assists per-game average was 2^nd in the UAA and 10^th nationally.  He also paced the conference and was No. 5 nationally among Division III players with a 90.4 percent showing from the free throw line (75-of-83), the third-best effort in school history.

WILLIAMS THE MOST EXPERIENCED EAGLE – Heading into the 2010-11 season, senior Julien Williams claims the most experience on this year’s roster.  The 6-foot-2 Williams has played in 72 contests, 61 as a starter, and has averaged 7.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per outing.  Williams tied for third in the team’s scoring derby last season, averaging 8.5 points per games, and was second on the team in rebounding (4.7 rpg).  Heading into his final season of collegiate action, Williams stands 19th on the school's all-time chart with 350 boards and is tied for 17th with a 4.9 per-game rebounding average.

ON THE HORIZON -- Following their encounter with Oglethorpe, the Eagles’ next action takes place, Nov. 19-20, when they participate in the Hilton Garden Inn Invitational hosted by Guilford College.  Emory will tangle with Averett on Friday in a 6:00 p.m. start before playing either McMurry or Guilford on Saturday.