Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
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Western Mich
Manciel And Wallace Lift Chippewas Over Broncos, 80-75
1/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2003
KALAMAZOO - Sixty-five was Central Michigan University's magic number on Wednesday night as the Chippewas defeated Western Michigan, 80-75, in front of a packed house of 4,472 in University Arena.
CMU improves to 7-0 when scoring 65 points in a game. The Chippewas used a .583 field goal percentage, including a .619 mark from three-point land to put up 80 points against the nation's third-best defense. WMU had been holding opponents to just 53.7 points per game.
The Chippewas improve to 8-3, 1-1 in Mid-American Conference action while Western drops to 8-4, 0-3 in conference play.
Senior Mike Manciel led CMU's efficient attack, going 9-for-11 from the floor for 23 points. He made all three three-point attempts and added a season-high nine rebounds. In the second half he was 4-for-4 from the floor.
Chris Kaman drew the Broncos' defensive attention early which opened up the perimeter shots for CMU's guards. Kaman had just two first half points but finished with 14, including a string of four straight field goals midway through the second half.
"The attention Chris (Kaman) draws in the post opens a lot of threes," Manciel said. "We were able to knock our shots down and that opened the game for us."
The biggest shot of the game was an off balance, falling out-of-bounds jumper from the baseline that J.R. Wallace hit just before the shot clock with 1:16 left. That extended CMU's lead to 76-70 after Western went on a 14-6 run to erase an 11-point Chippewa lead, the largest of the game.
Wallace finished with 17 points and Whitney Robinson added 12 on four three-pointers.
The Broncos were led by junior transfer Mike Williams who posted a double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds after missing the last two games with a hip injury.
Three others Broncos were in double figures including Anthony Kann's 13.
The Chippewas won despite turning the ball over 22 times to WMU's 10.
CMU hosts preseason East Division favorite Ohio on Saturday, January 11. It is a doubleheader with the Chippewa women hosting Akron at 1 p.m., and CMU meeting the Bobcats at 3 p.m.
Ohio is led by the nation's leading rebounder Brandon Hunter.
