2021–22 Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball team

The 2021–22 Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball team represented Eastern Michigan University during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Eagles, led by first-year head coach Stan Heath, played their home games at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan as members of the Mid-American Conference. They won the Michigan MAC Trophy.

2021–22 Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball
Michigan MAC Trophy
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	10–21 (5–15 MAC)
Head coach	Stan Heath (1st season)
Assistant coaches	Shawn Trice (1st season) Bob Simon (1st season) Drew Denisco (1st season)
Home arena	George Gervin GameAbove Center
Seasons ← 2020–21 2022–23 →

2021–22 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Toledo	17	–	3		.850			26	–	8		.765
Kent State	16	–	4		.800			23	–	11		.676
Ohio	14	–	6		.700			25	–	10		.714
Akron †	14	–	6		.700			24	–	10		.706
Buffalo	13	–	6		.684			19	–	11		.633
Ball State	9	–	10		.474			14	–	17		.452
Miami (OH)	8	–	12		.400			14	–	18		.438
Central Michigan	6	–	12		.333			7	–	23		.233
Bowling Green	6	–	14		.300			13	–	18		.419
Northern Illinois	6	–	14		.300			9	–	21		.300
Eastern Michigan	5	–	15		.250			10	–	21		.323
Western Michigan	4	–	16		.200			8	–	23		.258
† 2022 MAC tournament winner

Previous season

In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Eagles finished the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season 6–12, 3–11 in MAC play to finish in 10th place in the MAC. They failed to qualify for the MAC tournament.^[1]

Following the season, the school announced it was parting ways with head coach Rob Murphy after 10 seasons.^[2] On April 12, 2021, the school hired EMU alum and former Kent State, Arkansas, and South Florida head coach Stan Heath as the team's new head coach.^[3]

Offseason

Departures

Departures

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Previous School
Miles Gibson	2	G/F	6'6"	195	RS Junior	Richmond, VA	Transferred to Metropolitan State
Ty Groce	1	F	6'8"	215	RS Senior	Ypsilanti, MI	Graduated; Transferred to Butler
Chris James	13	G	6'2"	170	Sophomore	Long Beach, CA	Transferred to College of Southern Idaho
James Love III	21	F	6'11"	225	RS Senior	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Graduated
Drew Lowder	3	G	6'0"	170	Sophomore	Jackson, MI
Yeikson Montero	0	G	6'5"	205	RS Senior	Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic	Graduated
Noah Morgan	5	G/F	6'5"	180	Senior	Mount Vernon, NY	Graduated; Transferred to Morehouse College
Luis Pacheco	10	F	6'8"	245	RS Freshman	Queens, NY

Incoming transfers

On April 28, 2021, the NCAA officially adopted a measure that would allow athletes in all sports to transfer once without sitting out a season beginning with the 2021–22 season.^[4]

Incoming Transfers

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Previous School
Noah Farrakhan	5	G	6'2"	165	Freshman	Newark, NJ	East Carolina
Colin Golson Jr.	1	F	6'6"	230	Freshman	Detroit, MI	Siena
Yusuf Jihad	22	C	6'8"	220	RS Freshman	Farmington Hills, MI	Oakland
Kevin-David Rice	0	G	6'4"	200	Freshman	Flint, MI	Delta College
Monty Scott	2	G	6'5"	200	Senior	Union, NJ	Portland State
Nate Scott	25	G	6'8"	210	Senior	Naperville, IL	Northern Illinois

Recruiting class

2021 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Malcolm Clements G	Ypsilanti, MI	Arbor Preparatory High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	04/27/2021 (verbal)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Prakash Ketterhagen G	Kalamazoo, MI	New Rochelle High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	09/13/2021 (verbal)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Mo Njie C	Centerville, OH	Centerville High School	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	06/2/2021 (verbal)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Javantae Randle F	Detroit, MI	Frederick Douglass Academy	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	05/14/2021 (verbal)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Luka Savicevic G	Skopje, Macedonia	Sports Academy Skopje	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	150 lb (68 kg)	May 26, 2021
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2021 Eastern Michigan Basketball Commits". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 15, 2021. "2021 Eastern Michigan Basketball Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved October 15, 2021. "2021 Eastern Michigan Basketball Commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 15, 2021. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved October 15, 2021. "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 15, 2021.

Roster

2021–22 Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown G 0 Kevin-David Rice 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Delta College Flint, Michigan F 1 Colin Golson Jr. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Fr Sienna College Detroit, Michigan G 2 Monty Scott 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr Portland State Union, New Jersey G 3 Luka Savicevic 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Fr Sports Academy Skopje Skopje, Macedonia G 4 Bryce McBride 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jr Dyersburg State Community College Jackson, Tennessee G 5 Noah Farrakhan 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 155 lb (70 kg) Fr The Patrick School Newark, New Jersey G 10 Darion Spottsville 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Sr South Mountain Community College Phoenix, Arizona G 12 Andrew Wells 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Fr International Sports Academy East Lansing, Michigan C 13 Mo Njie 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Fr Centerville High School Centerville, Ohio G 14 Malcolm Clements (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Arbor Preparatory High School Ypsilanti, Michigan F 15 Axel Okongo 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Sr Missouri Saâcy-sur-Marne, France C 22 Yusuf Jihad 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS Fr Oakland Farmington Hills, Michigan F 23 Thomas Binelli 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Sr Monroe College Bologna, Italy G/F 25 Nate Scott 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sr Northern Illinois Naperville, Illinois F 33 Derek Ballard Jr. 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) RS Jr Southfield-Lathrup High School Southfield, Michigan F 35 Javantae Randle 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Frederick Douglass Detroit, Michigan G 45 Prakash Ketterhagen (W) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr New Rochelle High School Kalamazoo, Michigan	Head coach Stan Heath (Eastern Michigan) Assistant coach(es) Shawn Trice (Penn) Bob Simon (Eastern Michigan) Drew Denisco (Wittenberg) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
October 28, 2021* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Oakland Charity Exhibition	W 74–69		27 – Farrakhan	7 – Farrakhan	6 – Farrakhan	Athletics Center O'rena (1,112) Rochester, MI
November 5, 2021* 7:00 p.m.		Goshen	W 94–66		18 – Tie	8 – Tie	4 – Spottsville	George Gervin GameAbove Center (475) Ypsilanti, MI
Non-conference regular season
November 9, 2021* 6:30 p.m., BTN		at Indiana	L 62–68	0–1	18 – Farrakhan	10 – N. Scott	3 – M. Scott	Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222) Bloomington, IN
November 12, 2021* 6:00 p.m., ESPN3		Illinois State	W 103–98 2OT	1–1	28 – M. Scott	8 – McBride	4 – Farrakhan	George Gervin GameAbove Center (1,905) Ypsilanti, MI
November 18, 2021* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Northern Kentucky Blue Demon Classic	L 73–74	1–2	21 – Farrakhan	7 – Njie	3 – Scott	BB&T Arena (2,220) Highland Heights, KY
November 20, 2021* 5:00 p.m., BTN+		at Michigan State	L 59–83	1–3	13 – Farrakhan	8 – McBride	5 – Scott	Breslin Center (14,797) East Lasning, MI
November 24, 2021* 3:00 p.m., ESPN3		Western Illinois Blue Demon Classic	W 72–68	2–3	16 – Scott	7 – Scott	3 – Scott	George Gervin GameAbove Center (1,145) Ypsilanti, MI
November 28, 2021* 2:00 p.m., FS1		at DePaul Blue Demon Classic	L 63–101	2–4	18 – Scott	4 – Golson Jr.	3 – McBride	Wintrust Arena (2,194) Chicago, IL
December 2, 2021* 10:00 p.m., ESPN+		at UC San Diego	L 74–83	2–5	16 – Golson	7 – N. Scott	4 – Savicevic	RIMAC Arena (838) San Diego, CA
December 5, 2021* 4:00 p.m., ESPN3		Northwood	W 79–57	3–5	20 – Farrakhan	5 – Tied	3 – M. Scott	George Gervin GameAbove Center (1,243) Ypsilanti, MI
December 8, 2021* 7:00 p.m.		Niagara	W 60–58	4–5	19 – McBride	6 – Golson	4 – Farrakhan	George Gervin GameAbove Center (1,111) Ypsilanti, MI
December 11, 2021* 1:00 p.m., ESPN+		FIU	W 92–88 4OT	5–5	27 – Farrakhan	11 – M. Scott	5 – N. Scott	George Gervin GameAbove Center (3,991) Ypsilanti, MI
December 20, 2021* 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		at Valparaiso	L 55–67	5–6	17 – Farrakhan	8 – N. Scott	4 – M. Scott	Athletics–Recreation Center (1293) Valparaiso, IN
MAC regular season
January 4, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Western Michigan Michigan MAC Trophy	W 85–79	6–6 (1–0)	25 – Farrakhan	9 – Spottsville	4 – Farrakhan	University Arena (1,119) Kalamazoo, MI
January 8, 2022 3:30 p.m., ESPN+		Ball State	L 72–78	6–7 (1–1)	16 – Golson	9 – N. Scott	3 – Spottsville	George Gervin GameAbove Center (2,242) Ypsilanti, MI
January 11, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		Central Michigan Michigan MAC Trophy	W 99–68	7–7 (2–1)	16 – McBride	7 – Nije	5 – Spottsville	George Gervin GameAbove Center (1,131) Ypsilanti, MI
January 15, 2022 4:30 p.m., ESPN3		at Northern Illinois	L 70–77	7–8 (2–2)	27 – Farrakhan	5 – Spottsville	4 – Spottsville	Convocation Center (1,035) DeKalb, IL
January 18, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		Kent State	L 47–56	7–9 (2–3)	20 – McBride	6 – Nije	2 – Tied	George Gervin GameAbove Center (1,063) Ypsilanti, MI
January 22, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		at Akron	L 44–46	7–10 (2–4)	14 – Golson	8 – N. Scott	3 – N. Scott	James A. Rhodes Arena (2,090) Akron, OH
January 25, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Bowling Green	L 71–85	7–11 (2–5)	16 – Golson	6 – N. Scott	3 – McBride	Stroh Center (1,951) Bowling Green, OH
January 29, 2022 3:00 p.m., ESPN3		Miami (OH)	W 85–75	8–11 (3–5)	28 – Farrakhan	10 – Scott	7 – Farrakhan	George Gervin GameAbove Center (1,459) Ypsilanti, MI
February 1, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		Toledo	L 66–86	8–12 (3–6)	17 – Farrakhan	8 – Nije	4 – Farrakhan	George Gervin GameAbove Center (1,791) Ypsilanti, MI
February 3, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		at Ohio Rescheduled from December 28	L 68–81	8–13 (3–7)	16 – Scott	6 – Scott	4 – Farrakhan	Convocation Center (3,121) Athens, OH
February 5, 2022 2:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Kent State	L 71–90	8–14 (3–8)	20 – Spottsville	7 – Scott	4 – McBride	MAC Center (1,943) Kent, OH
February 8, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		at Buffalo	L 64–102	8–15 (3–9)	12 – McBride	4 – Tied	3 – McBride	Alumni Arena (3,146) Buffalo, NY
February 12, 2022 3:30 p.m., ESPN3		Ohio	L 56–74	8–16 (3–10)	12 – Spottsville	7 – Scott	2 – Scott	George Gervin GameAbove Center (1,208) Ypsilanti, MI
February 15, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Central Michigan Michigan MAC Trophy	W 75–70	9–16 (4–10)	24 – Farrakhan	5 – Tied	4 – Farrakhan	McGuirk Arena (1,253) Mount Pleasant, MI
February 17, 2022 12:00 p.m., ESPN3		Buffalo Rescheduled from January 1	L 69–83	9–17 (4–11)	14 – Farrakhan	7 – Tied	4 – Savicevic	George Gervin GameAbove Center (500) Ypsilanti, MI
February 19, 2022 3:00 p.m., ESPN3		Akron	L 48–67	9–18 (4–12)	21 – Farrakhan	8 – Scott	2 – Tied	George Gervin GameAbove Center (1,584) Ypsilanti, MI
February 22, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		Northern Illinois	W 74–72	10–18 (5–12)	31 – Farrakhan	11 – Spottsville	7 – Scott	George Gervin GameAbove Center (1,294) Ypsilanti, MI
February 26, 2022 3:30 p.m., ESPN3		at Ball State	L 64–75	10–19 (5–13)	27 – Farrakhan	8 – Scott	3 – Spottsville	Worthen Arena (4,576) Muncie, IN
March 1, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		Western Michigan Michigan MAC Trophy	L 60–71	10–20 (5–14)	12 – Rice	10 – Spottsville	5 – Spottsville	George Gervin GameAbove Center (1,311) Kalamazoo, MI
March 4, 2022 3:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Miami (OH)	L 63–76	10–21 (5–15)	16 – Nije	10 – Nije	5 – Savicevic	Millett Hall (3,331) Oxford, OH
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern Time Source[5].

Awards

• Dec. 13, 2021 Bryce McBride (MAC Player of the Week)
• Mo Njie (MAC All-Freshman)

References

1. "Why Michigan's three teams will have a lot less MAC-tion in March". Detroit Free Press. February 28, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
2. "Rob Murphy, Eastern Michigan part ways after 10 yrs". Coaches Database. March 17, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
3. "Eastern Michigan hires Heath as basketball coach". ESPN.com. April 12, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
4. "NCAA Board of Directors ratifies one-time transfer legislation allowing athletes immediate eligibility". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
5. "2021–22 Men's Basketball Schedule".