Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Spring Arbor
Men's Basketball Cruises To Win over Spring Arbor
11/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2000
MOUNT PLEASANT -- After a slow start, the Central Michigan University men's basketball team (1-0, 0-0 Mid-American) finally kicked it into high gear in an 86-44 win over Spring Arbor (0-3, 0-0 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic) on Saturday night in Rose Arena.
It took CMU almost two minutes to score its first basket and it only had five points after the first five minutes. Chad Pleiness (Scottville/So.) hit CMU's first basket of the season and Spring Arbor's Ryan Walter tied it with a jumper at the 15:36 mark.
That's as close as the Cougars would get in the game. The Chippewas then went on a 14-0 run that was capped off by a Chris Kaman (Wyoming/Fr.) alley-oop.
CMU held a comfortable 41-13 lead at the half after T.J. Meerman (Coopersville/Fr.) hit a runner at the buzzer.
Central opened the second half on a 12-0 run as it took the Cougars over five minutes to score their first points of the period. All 14 CMU players that dressed got in the game and 11 of them scored.
Guard David Webber (Farmington Hills/Jr.) led CMU with 16 points, three rebounds and three steals. Mike Manciel (Detroit/So.) posted 15 points and seven boards. He was 3-for-4 from behind the arc.
Kaman came off the bench to score 11 points, grab five rebounds and block four shots. He was 5-for-6 from the floor.
Pleiness, Gerrit Brigitha (Niles/Fr.) and Luke Johnson (Gaylord/Sr.) all pitched in with eight points each. Brigitha started at center and grabbed five rebounds.
Jesse Whintly scored 12 points off the bench to lead Spring Arbor.
Central shot .577 from the floor, .429 from three-point land and .800 from the charity stripe.
The Chippewas continue the non-conference season on Tuesday, Nov. 21, at Big Ten foe Purdue. Tipoff in Mackey Arena is set for 8 p.m., and the game can be seen on ESPN-Plus and the CMU Public Broadcasting Network.
