Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Miami Ohio
Chippewas Fall at Miami, 71-62
1/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 4, 2003
OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami RedHawks scored the final 15 points of the game to rally for a 71-62 Mid-American Conference win over Central Michigan University here Saturday afternoon.
The win moves Miami's overall record to only 4-7 but the RedHawks are 2-0 in MAC play. The Chippewas fall to 7-3 for the season, 0-1 in conference play.
CMU held a 61-54 lead with 3:52 to play but was outscored he rest of the way by a 17-1 margin. It was still 62-57 with the Chippewas on top with 3:14 to go, but the visitors could not score after that.
"It was a typical conference game," said CMU head coach Jay Smith. "The game went back and forth. I thought we played hard and gave great effort but you have to make free throws and open shots at the end. We didn't do that.
"Miami made some threes today, and it hadn't done a great job of doing that all season."
The RedHawks nailed five-of-10 threes in the second half including two in a row when CMU held the 62-59 lead. The Chippewas missed their final three free throws to finish the game with 14-o-f-18.
The Chippewas had three players in double digits led by Chris Kaman's 16 points. Also in double figures were Whitney Robinson with 12 points and Tony Bowne with a career-high 10.
MU shot 48.9 percent from the floor on 22-of-45 compared to CMU's 20-of-40 for 50 percent. The Chippewas did hold a 30-24 edge in rebounding thanks to 14 caroms by the 7-0 foot Kaman.
The Chippewa chances were hindered by 20 turnovers, 13 in the first half. Miami turned the ball over just eight times.
Despite those miscues, CMU held a 35-34 lead at the half. The Chippewas hit their first six shots from the floor, and didn't miss until the 13:28 mark when it held a 17-12 edge.
The RedHawks were led by Juby Johnson with 19 points followed by Tim Schenke with a career-high 18, and Gene Seals with 10.
CMU's Mike Manciel, who scored nine points, grabbed his 400th career rebound in the game.
The Chippewas return to MAC action on the road this Wednesday when they play at Western Michigan University. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
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