Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Marist
Chippewas Hold on for 71-67 Win over Marist
11/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 30, 2003
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Central Michigan University jumped out to a quick 19-point lead and wound up holding on for a 71-67 victory over Marist in the Chippewas' home opener on Sunday.
CMU hit 10 of its first 14 shots in the game and led 29-10 only 11 minutes into the game.
However, the Red Foxes fought back, trimming the Chippewa lead down to 11 at the half, 40-29. Marist whittled CMU's margin down to two points with nine minutes left and the Red Foxes made it a tight game the rest of the way.
Marist's Pierre Monagan went to the line and made one of two free throws with 46 seconds left to make it a four-point game, 71-67. A couple of CMU turnovers, along with some tough offensive boards by Marist, gave the visitors five open three-point attempts in the game's final 46 seconds before Gerrit Brigitha finally pulled down a board for the Chippewas with three seconds left. His rebound all but secured the win but he was fouled and went to the line where he missed the front end of a one-and-one situation.
Brandon Voorhees led the Chippewas with a career-high 20 points, 15 of them coming in the second half. He was 7-for-9 from the floor, including 4-for-5 from three-point range.
A balanced Chippewa attack saw three others hit double figures. Kevin Nelson had 15, including a pair of three-pointers, Tony Bowne netted 12 and Brigitha 10. Brigitha also pulled down a team-high eight boards.
After a hot start, CMU's shooting cooled off in the second half but the Chippewas still shot over 50 percent for the first time this season at .545.
Marist's Carl Hood had 19 points and Will McClurkin had a double-double of 12 points and 10 boards for the Red Foxes.
"We need to learn how to play with a lead," CMU coach Jay Smith said. "This week has been a long one for us as we've had a lot on our plate. It was hard for our players to compete today, but they found a way."
Marist ended up shooting 36 percent from the floor and just 18 percent from three-point range going 4-for-22.
"When your down 18 early on the road you can either call it in or play with some pride," Marist coach Dave Magarity said. "I was proud of the way we came back and made a game of it."
Notes:
* Voorhees' 20 points doubled his previous career high of 10 set against Ohio State in the Maui Invitational. "He can shoot it," Jay Smith said. "Brandon got in a flow today and he was patient, got into a rhythm and shot it."
* CMU played its first game on Sunday since returning from Hawaii and attending funeral services for walk-on Brent Edwards who was killed the previous week in a automobile accident in Michigan while the rest of the team was in Hawaii. A moment of silence was observed before the tipoff.
* The Chippewas wore a new set of white uniforms. It marked the first time CMU has worn white at home since the 1999-2000 season. The Chippewas also had a black band on their shoulder to honor Brent Edwards.
* Sefton Barrett tallied a career-high three blocked shots in the game.
* CMU was outrebounded for the fourth straight game, 40-30.
* Senior point guard T.J. Meerman did not score in the game but dished out five assists to no turnovers.
* The Chippewas have now won 10 of their last 11 nonconference home games.
