CMU Men Capture 99-92 Road Triumph

Saturday, February 8

Akron, Ohio

8 p.m.

Central Michigan University

Akron

2/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Feb. 8, 2003

Box Score

AKRON, Ohio - Central Michigan University raced out to a 21-point second-half lead and then held on for a 99-92 Mid-American Conference men's basketball victory over the University of Akron here Saturday night.

The win upped CMU's record to 14-5 for the season and 7-3 in MAC West action while the Zips are now 10-10 and 5-6 in the MAC East.

The final score was fitting of the two most prolific scoring teams in the MAC as both teams shot better than 50 percent from the floor - the Chippewas firing at a season-high 62.3 percent (33-of-53) and Akron at 50.9 (29-of-57).

"We played awfully well for 32 minutes and then not quite as well the final eight," said CMU head coach Jay Smith. "But, anytime you get a win on the road in the conference, it's huge.

"We shot well from the floor and had good balance."

Four players netted twin figures for the Chippewas led by 7-0 junior center Chris Kaman with 26 points and 14 rebounds. It was his 14th double-double of the season. He was nine-of-13 from the field and 10-of-13 from the foul stripe.

Kaman had plenty of help with three more CMU players reaching double digits. Senior Mike Manciel had 23 points on eight-of-12 shooting while senior J.R. Wallace hit seven-of-11 from the field for 19 points. He also dished out six assists.

Two more players had good numbers for the Chippewas - sophomore guard Tony Bowne with 10 points and seven assists and junior guard T.J. Meerman with nine points and six assists.

Akron countered with two men in twin figures, led by junior guard Derrick Tarver with a career-high 43 points. Darryl Peterson chipped in with 14. The Zips' John Hollingsworth scored just four points, well below his average of 19.

After holding a 50-40 halftime lead, CMU exploded out of the gate in the second half with nine straight points for a 59-40 lead. The Chippewas took a 75-54 lead with 11:15 to play before the Zips started whittling away at the margin. The closest they got was six at 98-92 with four seconds to play.

Akron held a 30-26 edge in rebounding, and CMU held a 25-18 edge in assists.

The Chippewas, one-half game out of first place in the West (Northern Illinois is 8-3), return home on Monday, February 10, for a showdown with arch-rival Western Michigan. Tipoff in Rose Arena is set for 8 p.m.