CMU expects an inspired Ball State men's basketball team when its hosts the Cardinals at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Rose Arena.
The Cardinals have turned their season into a tribute to fallen senior forward Anthony Newell, who suffered a season-ending injury during their 46-42 Saturday win at Eastern Michigan.
"From what I've been able to hear, they're rallying around it," said CMU coach Ernie Zeigler. "It was a very horrific injury."
Newell was averaging a team-high 15.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game before a compound fracture to his right leg required him to undergo surgery at an Ypsilanti hospital.
Three days later, his teammates returned home Tuesday against Northern Illinois and wore Newell's No. 32 on their jerseys. His inspiration carried BSU to a 60-54 win. Its 7-7 overall record is the team's best start since the 1999-2000 season and has already surpassed last season's six wins.
Meanwhile, CMU (3-11 overall, 0-2 MAC) has lost six consecutive and is off to its first 0-2 MAC start since 2006, when it finished 4-24. It took EMU to double overtime Tuesday before losing 84-77 in Ypsilanti.
"We need a win for a lot of different reasons," Zeigler said. "But first and foremost, with the type of effort and intensity we displayed Tuesday, if we can build on that intensity, as a coach, I just want my guys to be rewarded with a victory."
Next man in
When senior forward and leading scorer Chris Kellermann fractured his ankle in December in practice, Central rallied and won its next game, 74-66, against Alcorn State on Dec. 15. Sophomore guard Jeremy Allen took the lead for CMU and scored 22 points.
Zeigler said BSU freshman Jarrod Jones is that player for the Cardinals. Jones, a six-foot, nine-inch forward, averages 10.9 points and 6.6 rebounds.
"He's a load down there and he's going to be a difficult matchup for us," he said. "We're going to have to really play some swarming defense and make them try to beat us from the perimeter."
But CMU junior guard Robbie Harman said it is difficult to prepare for who will step in for Newell and take the lead role.
"It's a little tougher that we can't focus just one guy. Right now we have to worry about who the guy is who is going to step up for them," he said. "We don't really know who that's going to be. It puts pressure on us across the board to hold down our own man on defense."
CMU's lone post threat is senior forward Marcus Van, who fouled out of Tuesday's game after scoring 12 of his 13 points in the first half.
"We have to have an inside presence - we can't just depend on our threes to fall every time," Van said. "Right now, I'm probably the only person that can have a solid inside game. I've just got to stop hunting blocks. I've just got to stay on my feet and stop trying to block everything."
With its next two MAC games on the road, Zeigler said winning Saturday would help turn things around.
"There's no better place to start than at home," he said. "We've been struggling at home and on the road. And if we're going to start showing signs of life and digging ourselves out of the hole that we're in, there's no better place to start than Rose Arena."
sports@cm-life.com
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
CMU comes back to force double overtime, but Eastern Michigan prevails 84-77
Despite some late-game heroics to send the game into double overtime, the men's basketball team lost its sixth consecutive game Tuesday to Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti.
Down three players because of foul trouble, CMU could not stop EMU senior guard Zane Gay, who made two 3-pointers, including one with 20 seconds left to seal the 84-77 win for the Eagles.
"The word that comes to my mind more than any is 'disappointed,'" said coach Ernie Zeigler. "But like I told our guys, unfortunately, basketball isn't horseshoes - close doesn't count."
Junior guard Jordan Bitzer pump faked defender Will Cooper with 12 seconds left in overtime and made a 3-pointer that tied the score at 71. Both teams made steals in the final seconds, but the game headed to another five-minute period.
"He didn't go for (the fake), so I just pulled the trigger and it felt good coming out and it went in," Bitzer said.
CMU was down 57-53 with 29 seconds left in regulation before junior guard Robbie Harman made two 3-pointers. He cut the EMU lead to one - 57-56 - with 11 seconds left. After two made free throws by EMU's Wendale Farrow to make the score 59-56, EMU regained possession and Brandon Bowdry missed two free throws with six seconds left. Bitzer grabbed the rebound and Harman made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
"We battled tonight - we came back at the end of regulation," Bitzer said. "There's a fire there and it's still burning. We're not going to give up on the season - it's only two games in the (Mid-American Conference). We could easily go on a five-game win streak and be right back in it."
In double overtime, EMU's 3-of-4 3-point shooting proved costly as Gay hit two and freshman L.J. Frazier hit another. CMU was outscored 13-6 in the period, with all of its points coming from the free-throw line.
Central led 32-28 at halftime, but Eastern came out of the locker room fast, scoring seven consecutive points and going on a 14-7 run to open up the second half.
Free throws became costly again for CMU as it shot 20-of-33 (60.6 percent). The Chippewas ranked second-to-last in the MAC coming into Tuesday with a 60.2 percent average.
"We're definitely working to correct it every day," Zeigler said. "It's a mental thing, a confidence thing, particularly for a few guys. Once you get into game and pressure situations, you have to put yourself mentally in position to be able to knock down those free throws."
Central (3-11 overall, 0-2 MAC) was down three players for the majority of the overtime periods as junior Jacolby Hardiman (nine seconds left in regulation), senior Marcus Van (one minute into overtime) and Lawrence Bridges (22 seconds into double overtime) all fouled out. Van finished with 13 points, 12 of which came in the first half. Bitzer led CMU with 21 points and nine rebounds.
"It definitely hurt when Marcus and Jacolby fouled out," Bitzer said. "Van was having a good game and we were getting him the ball down low."
Two of the Eagles' leading scorers, Bowdry, the MAC's sixth-leading scorer at 15.6 points per game, and junior forward Justin Dobbins, also fouled out - but not before Bowdry scored 22 points to lead EMU (3-13, 1-1 MAC).
Central returns home for a 4:30 p.m. Saturday game against Ball State at Rose Arena.
"This loss definitely hurts," Bitzer said. "But we have to use this to fuel us going into Saturday - Saturday is a must-win for us against Ball State."
Down three players because of foul trouble, CMU could not stop EMU senior guard Zane Gay, who made two 3-pointers, including one with 20 seconds left to seal the 84-77 win for the Eagles.
"The word that comes to my mind more than any is 'disappointed,'" said coach Ernie Zeigler. "But like I told our guys, unfortunately, basketball isn't horseshoes - close doesn't count."
Junior guard Jordan Bitzer pump faked defender Will Cooper with 12 seconds left in overtime and made a 3-pointer that tied the score at 71. Both teams made steals in the final seconds, but the game headed to another five-minute period.
"He didn't go for (the fake), so I just pulled the trigger and it felt good coming out and it went in," Bitzer said.
CMU was down 57-53 with 29 seconds left in regulation before junior guard Robbie Harman made two 3-pointers. He cut the EMU lead to one - 57-56 - with 11 seconds left. After two made free throws by EMU's Wendale Farrow to make the score 59-56, EMU regained possession and Brandon Bowdry missed two free throws with six seconds left. Bitzer grabbed the rebound and Harman made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
"We battled tonight - we came back at the end of regulation," Bitzer said. "There's a fire there and it's still burning. We're not going to give up on the season - it's only two games in the (Mid-American Conference). We could easily go on a five-game win streak and be right back in it."
In double overtime, EMU's 3-of-4 3-point shooting proved costly as Gay hit two and freshman L.J. Frazier hit another. CMU was outscored 13-6 in the period, with all of its points coming from the free-throw line.
Central led 32-28 at halftime, but Eastern came out of the locker room fast, scoring seven consecutive points and going on a 14-7 run to open up the second half.
Free throws became costly again for CMU as it shot 20-of-33 (60.6 percent). The Chippewas ranked second-to-last in the MAC coming into Tuesday with a 60.2 percent average.
"We're definitely working to correct it every day," Zeigler said. "It's a mental thing, a confidence thing, particularly for a few guys. Once you get into game and pressure situations, you have to put yourself mentally in position to be able to knock down those free throws."
Central (3-11 overall, 0-2 MAC) was down three players for the majority of the overtime periods as junior Jacolby Hardiman (nine seconds left in regulation), senior Marcus Van (one minute into overtime) and Lawrence Bridges (22 seconds into double overtime) all fouled out. Van finished with 13 points, 12 of which came in the first half. Bitzer led CMU with 21 points and nine rebounds.
"It definitely hurt when Marcus and Jacolby fouled out," Bitzer said. "Van was having a good game and we were getting him the ball down low."
Two of the Eagles' leading scorers, Bowdry, the MAC's sixth-leading scorer at 15.6 points per game, and junior forward Justin Dobbins, also fouled out - but not before Bowdry scored 22 points to lead EMU (3-13, 1-1 MAC).
Central returns home for a 4:30 p.m. Saturday game against Ball State at Rose Arena.
"This loss definitely hurts," Bitzer said. "But we have to use this to fuel us going into Saturday - Saturday is a must-win for us against Ball State."
Final: Western Michigan 72, CMU 63
Ernie Zeigler issued a challenge shortly after CMU's 72-63 loss to Western Michigan Sunday at Rose Arena.
Just six players received more than four minutes on the floor for Zeigler, and the result left a tired five on the floor as the clock wound down in the team's Mid-American Conference opener.
"It's going to be huge," Zeigler said of his team's need for more bench contribution. "But until those guys mature on a daily basis, it's going to be hard for them to get minutes. We have the cards that we have, and we're just going to continue to battle and try to bring them along as we move forward."
Junior point guard Robbie Harman, who played 35 minutes and scored nine points, said he conditions himself in practice so he is able to play extended minutes, but would like some help as well.
"I've got to find a way to keep myself going," Harman said. "I thought I got tired at the end, my shots weren't falling as much.
"Coach Zeigler hit it on the spot. Some guys may not be ready, but they've got their chance so they've got to step up for us. They might be thrown into the wash a little early, but someone's got to emerge in the next couple games here."
CMU (3-10 overall, 0-1 MAC) gets its next MAC test at 7 p.m. Tuesday when it plays Eastern Michigan (2-13, 0-1 MAC) in Ypsilanti.
The Eagles have lost seven consecutive games, including a 46-42 loss against Ball State Saturday to open MAC play at home.
CMU has now lost five consecutive since a win against Alcorn State on Dec. 15.
Slow start
Central came within three after trailing 33-26 at halftime, but were unable to come any closer the rest of the way.
WMU senior guard David Kool scored 18 of his game-high 26 points in the second half to keep the Chippewas at a distance.
A six-minute, 34-second scoring drought plagued CMU in the first half as Western jumped to a 15-4 lead.
WMU senior guard Andre Ricks had not scored his last three games and did not even play in Western Michigan's last contest. But Ricks' 11 points in the first half - and 17 total - set the tone for Western's eventual 47.8 percentage from the field.
"It kind of set the tone for the first half and allowed the rest of our team to relax and play with a lead," said WMU coach Steve Hawkins.
Ricks, who played with torn ligaments in his left wrist, was a game-time decision. He only scored 15 total points coming into the game and eclipsed the mark with his 17 points.
"We knew he's very capable," Zeigler said. "He got some really wide open uncontested looks there, particularly in the first half, that contributed to them shooting such a high percentage."
Junior guard Jordan Bitzer played a game-high 38 minutes and scored 15 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and totaled three assists.
"He's starting to get more comfortable," Zeigler said. "It's unfortunate that it was all for naught in terms of us coming out with a victory."
Central's only post threat was senior center Marcus Van, who led the team with 18 points. The majority of CMU's second-half shots came behind the 3-point arc, where it shot 6-of-17 after a 1-for-7 effort in the first half.
"For us, outside of Marcus, we don't have anyone else that can score (down low)," Zeigler said. "The few opportunities we had around the basket, we were unable to finish them, and it definitely contributed to our inability to go on a serious run."
CMU plays next at home at 4:30 p.m. Saturday against Ball State at Rose Arena.
Just six players received more than four minutes on the floor for Zeigler, and the result left a tired five on the floor as the clock wound down in the team's Mid-American Conference opener.
"It's going to be huge," Zeigler said of his team's need for more bench contribution. "But until those guys mature on a daily basis, it's going to be hard for them to get minutes. We have the cards that we have, and we're just going to continue to battle and try to bring them along as we move forward."
Junior point guard Robbie Harman, who played 35 minutes and scored nine points, said he conditions himself in practice so he is able to play extended minutes, but would like some help as well.
"I've got to find a way to keep myself going," Harman said. "I thought I got tired at the end, my shots weren't falling as much.
"Coach Zeigler hit it on the spot. Some guys may not be ready, but they've got their chance so they've got to step up for us. They might be thrown into the wash a little early, but someone's got to emerge in the next couple games here."
CMU (3-10 overall, 0-1 MAC) gets its next MAC test at 7 p.m. Tuesday when it plays Eastern Michigan (2-13, 0-1 MAC) in Ypsilanti.
The Eagles have lost seven consecutive games, including a 46-42 loss against Ball State Saturday to open MAC play at home.
CMU has now lost five consecutive since a win against Alcorn State on Dec. 15.
Slow start
Central came within three after trailing 33-26 at halftime, but were unable to come any closer the rest of the way.
WMU senior guard David Kool scored 18 of his game-high 26 points in the second half to keep the Chippewas at a distance.
A six-minute, 34-second scoring drought plagued CMU in the first half as Western jumped to a 15-4 lead.
WMU senior guard Andre Ricks had not scored his last three games and did not even play in Western Michigan's last contest. But Ricks' 11 points in the first half - and 17 total - set the tone for Western's eventual 47.8 percentage from the field.
"It kind of set the tone for the first half and allowed the rest of our team to relax and play with a lead," said WMU coach Steve Hawkins.
Ricks, who played with torn ligaments in his left wrist, was a game-time decision. He only scored 15 total points coming into the game and eclipsed the mark with his 17 points.
"We knew he's very capable," Zeigler said. "He got some really wide open uncontested looks there, particularly in the first half, that contributed to them shooting such a high percentage."
Junior guard Jordan Bitzer played a game-high 38 minutes and scored 15 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and totaled three assists.
"He's starting to get more comfortable," Zeigler said. "It's unfortunate that it was all for naught in terms of us coming out with a victory."
Central's only post threat was senior center Marcus Van, who led the team with 18 points. The majority of CMU's second-half shots came behind the 3-point arc, where it shot 6-of-17 after a 1-for-7 effort in the first half.
"For us, outside of Marcus, we don't have anyone else that can score (down low)," Zeigler said. "The few opportunities we had around the basket, we were unable to finish them, and it definitely contributed to our inability to go on a serious run."
CMU plays next at home at 4:30 p.m. Saturday against Ball State at Rose Arena.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Halftime at Rose Arena: WMU 33, CMU 26
Western takes a seven-point lead into halftime after CMU went scoreless for six minutes, 34 seconds after taking a 4-3 lead. WMU led by as much as 15-4 before Marcus Van hit a layup with 11:04 remaining in the half.
A surprise: After WMU starting shooting guard Shantes Gary went out with two early fouls, senior Andre Ricks came in and filled the void nicely. He has 11 points at half, including three 3-pointers, which is surprising because of his just 2-of-15 shooting from the arc coming in and only a 2.3 points-per-game average.
Inside game: Stifled early, CMU finally found a way to get the ball inside to senior center Marcus Van, who leads the team with 8 points.
Looking at fouls: Four WMU players (senior forward Derek Drews, senior guard Michael Redell, Gary and freshman forward LeMarcus Lowe) each have two, so we'll see how that pans out it the second half. Meanwhile, it's a little bit of a surprise that CMU only has one player with more than one foul (junior point guard Robbie Harman with 2). CMU is used to committing a lot of fouls, but only had six called on them in the first half. The refs are letting them play for the most part, much to the ire of a large Rose Arena crowd.
Stay tuned for additional coverage following the conclusion of this Mid-American Conference opener for both teams.
A surprise: After WMU starting shooting guard Shantes Gary went out with two early fouls, senior Andre Ricks came in and filled the void nicely. He has 11 points at half, including three 3-pointers, which is surprising because of his just 2-of-15 shooting from the arc coming in and only a 2.3 points-per-game average.
Inside game: Stifled early, CMU finally found a way to get the ball inside to senior center Marcus Van, who leads the team with 8 points.
Looking at fouls: Four WMU players (senior forward Derek Drews, senior guard Michael Redell, Gary and freshman forward LeMarcus Lowe) each have two, so we'll see how that pans out it the second half. Meanwhile, it's a little bit of a surprise that CMU only has one player with more than one foul (junior point guard Robbie Harman with 2). CMU is used to committing a lot of fouls, but only had six called on them in the first half. The refs are letting them play for the most part, much to the ire of a large Rose Arena crowd.
Stay tuned for additional coverage following the conclusion of this Mid-American Conference opener for both teams.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Central opens conference season with rival Western Michigan
The men (3-9) host archrival Western Michigan at 6 p.m. Sunday at Rose Arena.
-Update: Senior forward Chris Kellermann will likely take a medical redshirt and return next season. His ankle injury is worse than originally thought and most believe he won't risk a return and come back next season. This hurts CMU in more than one way. Kellermann is the team's leading scorer (14.4 points per game) and also averaged 5.6 rebounds in his seven games before getting injured in practice. And with junior Marko Spica out for the season with a knee injury, most MAC opposition will have an advantage down low against the Chippewas.
CMU has lost its last four games (not including a 79-47 exhibition win against Michigan-Dearborn on Monday). One bright spot, however, has been senior center Marcus Van. Van is starting to get comfortable after returning to the starting rotation Dec. 15 against Alcorn State. Van is averaging 13.6 points and 8.2 rebounds since regaining the starting role.
Scouting Western Michigan: The defending MAC West champion Broncos (3-10) have struggled thus far, including losses in six of their last seven. They haven't exactly played a difficult non-conference schedule (TCU and UNLV were the only major programs they faced, both losses) and have lost to Hofstra, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Loyola (Chi.), Virginia Commonwealth, Holy Cross, Southern Illinois, and Wisconsin-Green Bay. They did beat Detroit 71-58 at home, however, which CMU lost to 67-55 at Rose Arena.
WMU returns four its five leading scorers from the team that went 20-12 overall and 12-4 in the MAC last season. It only lost Joe Reitz, who averaged 15 points and 7.9 rebouds. But his real contribution came as an emotional leader. His hustle plays really set the tone in last year's matchup at Kalamazoo. The teams split last season's two matchups, with WMU winning 72-52 in Kalamazoo and CMU pulling out a 72-68 win in Mount Pleasant.
WMU leading scorers:
-Update: Senior forward Chris Kellermann will likely take a medical redshirt and return next season. His ankle injury is worse than originally thought and most believe he won't risk a return and come back next season. This hurts CMU in more than one way. Kellermann is the team's leading scorer (14.4 points per game) and also averaged 5.6 rebounds in his seven games before getting injured in practice. And with junior Marko Spica out for the season with a knee injury, most MAC opposition will have an advantage down low against the Chippewas.
CMU has lost its last four games (not including a 79-47 exhibition win against Michigan-Dearborn on Monday). One bright spot, however, has been senior center Marcus Van. Van is starting to get comfortable after returning to the starting rotation Dec. 15 against Alcorn State. Van is averaging 13.6 points and 8.2 rebounds since regaining the starting role.
Scouting Western Michigan: The defending MAC West champion Broncos (3-10) have struggled thus far, including losses in six of their last seven. They haven't exactly played a difficult non-conference schedule (TCU and UNLV were the only major programs they faced, both losses) and have lost to Hofstra, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Loyola (Chi.), Virginia Commonwealth, Holy Cross, Southern Illinois, and Wisconsin-Green Bay. They did beat Detroit 71-58 at home, however, which CMU lost to 67-55 at Rose Arena.
WMU returns four its five leading scorers from the team that went 20-12 overall and 12-4 in the MAC last season. It only lost Joe Reitz, who averaged 15 points and 7.9 rebouds. But his real contribution came as an emotional leader. His hustle plays really set the tone in last year's matchup at Kalamazoo. The teams split last season's two matchups, with WMU winning 72-52 in Kalamazoo and CMU pulling out a 72-68 win in Mount Pleasant.
WMU leading scorers:
| Player | Points per game |
| Junior guard David Kool | 16.9 |
| Senior guard Shawntes Gary | 11.7 |
| Senior forward Derek Drews | 8.0 |
| Junior center Donald Lawson | 6.6 |
| Freshman forward Flenard Whitfield | 5.8 |
| Senior guard Michael Redell | 4.7 |
| Junior forward Martelle McLemore | 4.5 |
| Senior guard Andre Ricks | 2.3 |
| Freshman center LeMarcus Lowe | 1.2 |
| Freshman guard Mike Douglas | 1.1 |
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