Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Toledo
Chippewas Edge Toledo, 66-64
2/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 15, 2003
TOLEDO, Ohio - Chris Kaman had 30 points and 16 rebounds, dominating the University of Toledo for the second time this season as Central Michigan University beat the Rockets here Saturday night, 66-64.
J.R. Wallace added 14 points for the Chippewas (16-5, 9-3 Mid-American Conference), who stayed a half-game behind first-place Northern Illinois in the MAC West.
CMU trailed by a 33-24 margin at the half.
"I thought Toledo took the fight to us in the first half," Chippewa coach Jay Smith said. "We became more patient in the second half, moved the ball around, and got the ball into Chris."
Keith Triplett led the Rockets (10-12, 4-8) with 22 points, Nick Moore had 12 and Sammy Villegas 10.
The game was tied five times in the second half before Whitney Robinson scored his only points on two free throws to give the Chippewas a 54-53 lead with 5:57 to play. Wallace then made a 3-pointer to make it 57-53.
CMU made 5-of-6 free throws over the final 2:21, and Kaman scored a key basket with 1:30 to play to help hold off the Rockets.
Kaman, who had 17 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocked shots in a 83-74 home win over Toledo on Jan. 22, hit 10-of-16 shots from the field and meshed 10-of-12 free throws for his eighth straight double-double. It was his 16th double-double of the season.
The Chippewas shot 46.8 percent from the field on 22-of-47 while Toledo hit 25-of-61 for 41.0 percent. CMU held a 36-30 edge in rebounds but also had more turnovers, 18-12.
The Chippewas will play four of their final six MAC games in the friendly confines of Rose Arena beginning with a Wednesday night tilt against Ball State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
