Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Northern Iowa
Men's Basketball Gets Back On Winning Track
12/9/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2000
MOUNT PLEASANT--The Central Michigan men's basketball team returned to its winning ways with a 74-66 victory over Northern Iowa on Saturday afternoon at Rose Arena.
The win ends the Chippewas' two-game losing streak and improves their recrod to 5-2 while Northern Iowa falls to 2-4.
Central jumped to a quick 9-1 lead in the early going on the strength of five points from Mike Manciel and four by Chad Pleiness. Northern Iowa responded with a 9-0 run to take a 10-9 advantage with 15:33 to play in the opening half.
Chris Kaman gave CMU back the lead with a layup to make it 11-10 at the 15:11 mark.
Northern Iowa got as close as three points in the opening half but the Chippewas surged in the closing minutes of the half to go into the break with a 37-26 lead.
The Panthers made the opening bucket of the second half to cut the CMU lead to nine points but the Chippewas quickly took control.
CMU went on a 12-2 run to jump to a 52-32 lead with 13:55 left in the game. Key baskets during the run were back-to-back three-pointers by David Webber.
Northern Iowa then reeled off seven straight points to cut the lead to 54-41 but Kaman took over the game for the Chippewas.
In a span of just over a minute Kaman hit two baskets and two free throws to build the lead back up to 19 points (60-41).
The teams traded baskets and then Webber scored four straight points to make it 66-45 with 7:49 to play.
Northern Iowa made a run at the end of the game, outscoring CMU 18-5 in the last 6:48 of the game but it wasn't enough to catch the Chippewas.
Kaman led the Chippewas with season-best 17 points. He shot 6-of-8 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. He also added six blocked shots, two steals and three rebounds.
Webber and Manciel each scored 15 points. Manciel was 3-of-5 from the three-point line while Webber had a team-high six rebounds.
Chad Pleiness had 14 points to mark his second straight game in twin figures.
Tim Kisner dished out eight assists in the win.
Northern Iowa's Martin Coon had a game-high 21 points while Booker Warren had 13 points and Joe Breakenridge 10.
The Chippewas have a break for final exams and return to action on Dec. 18 at Detroit.
