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YPSILANTI, Mich. -- At least a share of the Mid-American Conference West Division crown is on the line when the Central Michigan men's basketball team travels to face Eastern Michigan at the Convocation Center on Thursday. The game will be broadcast on Fox SportsNet Detroit with tipoff set for 6:30 p.m.

The winner will clinch at least a share of the title, and will claim the entire crown should Western Michigan defeat Ball State at University Arena.

Both CMU and EMU enter the game at 8-7 in MAC play, tied with BSU. A win for either club could mean as high as a no. 2 seed, with the loser falling as low as the no. 8 seed. The Chippewas have clinched at least a home game in the first round of next week's MAC Tournament and, if necessary, will host the opening-round contest as part of a postseason doubleheader on Sunday starting at 5 p.m.

There will be live stats available, as well as a live audio stream of 95.3 WCFX-FM's local broadcast, to all fans. Live video of the contest will also be available through EMUEagles.com.

All-Time Series -- The Chippewas have faced the Eagles more than any other program in their history, holding a 91-82 edge in the all-time series that dates back to 1906. However, EMU has won 26 of the last 34 meetings. The Eagles swept the two games during the regular season a year ago, but the Chippewas claimed the important third meeting in the MAC Tournament. CMU is 4-4 against EMU under fourth-year head coach Ernie Zeigler, including a 62-49 victory at Rose Center earlier this season.

Keys to the Game -- The edge at the three-point line could prove to be the difference in Thursday’s game between the Chippewas and Eagles. CMU is the league’s top three-point shooting squad in both makes and percentage while EMU is the league’s worst group of three-point shooters percentage wise. The Chippewas will also have to overcome their road struggles at 4-11 overall and 2-5 in league play, compared to the Eagles mark of 10-3 at home and 5-2 in MAC action.

Zeigler Against the MAC -- Fourth-year head coach Ernie Zeigler is 30-33 (.476) against the Mid-American Conference.

Double-Up On 1,000 -- Robbie Harman and Jordan Bitzer both joined CMU’s 1,000-point club this season. It’s the first time the Chippewas have had two 1,000-point scorers on the same team since 2001 when Tim Kisner (1998-01,1,029) and David Webber (1999-02, 1,774) donned the Maroon and Gold.

Looking for .500 -- CMU has a chance to finish above .500 both overall and in league play for the first time since the 2002-03 squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament (25-7, 14-4 MAC). The Chippewas have had just nine winning seasons at the Division I level (since 1972-73), just four in the last 30 years (1986-87, 1987-88, 2000-01, 2002-03). The Chippewas have finished above .500 in MAC play four times in that same span, all during those same seasons.
 
A Look at the Postseason -- Any team in the top-half of the West Division could win all or part of the division crown entering the season’s final day. The winner of this game between EMU and CMU claims at least a share of the title, and will win it outright if Western Michigan beats Ball State in Kalamazoo. With a loss, the Chippewas could fall as low as eighth, but are guaranteed at least a home game in the opening round of the MAC Tournament even in a worst-case scenario. The only way the Chippewas will receive a bye in the opening round of the tournament is with a win over the Eagles and a Broncos victory over the Cardinals.

Crown ‘Em -- The Chippewas finished tied atop the MAC West Division last season, claiming the program’s third West Division title since 1998. A win on Thursday would make it four in the last 13 seasons.