Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
#9 Bowling Green (MAC Quarterfinal)
Chippewas Snag MAC Quarterfinal Win
3/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The No.1-seeded Central Michigan University men's basketball team exorcised the Gund Arena demons and lived to play another day in the First Energy Mid-American Conference Basketball Tournament.
The Chippewas' 87-70 victory over ninth-seeded Bowling Green in Cleveland was their first win here in four tries. The quarterfinal win improves the Maroon and Gold to 22-6 for the season while BGSU's season comes to end at 13-16.
After combining to shoot a paltry 39.4 percent in the first three games in Gund, the Chippewas came out firing. They shot 54.7 percent (29-for-53) for the game while their opponent struggled, shooting 39. 6 percent (21-for-53) from the floor.
Chris Kaman led the Chippewas with his 22nd double-double for the season. It was the 30th of his career. He had a team-high 25 points, a game-high 14 rebounds, and six blocks (one shy of the MAC tournament single game record). Also posting double-figure scoring numbers for CMU were J.R. Wallace with 19, Mike Manciel with 15, and Tony Bowne with 12.
The Chippewa defense held the Falcons' top offensive threat, Kevin Netter, to a mear four points before he fouled out late in the second. However, freshman Ron Lewis stepped up to pace the Falcons with a game-high 30 points. John Reimold had a strong game as well with 20 points.
The Maroon and Gold held a narrow edge on the boards, 36-31.
CMU jumped out to the early lead, holding an 11-8 favor with 16:10 remaining the first. But BGSU's 16-3 surge gave the Falcons a 10-point lead, 24-14, with 12:18 left in the half. It was the only lead the Falcons ever had as the Chippewas battled back and recaptured the lead at the 5:31 mark on a Kaman layup. CMU went on to hold a slim, 37-32 advantage at the half.
The Bowling Green shooting woes that began in the first half carried over into the second. The Falcons went a total of 10 minutes without a field goal. After a Cory Ryan field goal at the 4:27 mark of the first half, the No. 9 seed wouldn't hit another shot until the 13:34 mark of the second. By that point, CMU had built a 14-point lead. That lead would stretch to as much as 21 with 1:23 left as CMU cruised to the 17-point win and a date in the MAC semifinals.
The Chippewas advance to the MAC tournament semis for the first time since losing in the finals to Ball State in 1990. CMU also needs one more win to tie the school record for victories in a season. The 1966 and '67 squads each tallied 23 wins.
Up next, CMU will play in the semifinals on Friday night. Tiipoff in Gund Arena is set for 6:30 p.m. The Chippewas will battle either No. 5 Western Michigan or No. 4 Northern Illinois.
