Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Wisconsin-Green Bay
Chippewas Win Home Opener, 67-62, Over Wisconsin-Green Bay
11/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2005
MOUNT PLEASANT - Sefton Barrett's game-high 23 points and blocked shot on a potential game-tying three-point attempt was the difference in Central Michigan University's 67-62 victory over Wisconsin-Green Bay on Monday night in the Chippewas' home opener in Rose Arena.
CMU led the entire second half but it was a tight game in the final minute with the Phoenix trimming the Chippewas' advantage down to just one, 63-62, with 17 seconds left. But Giordan Watson hit a pair of free throws to push it back up to three points and following a UW-Green Bay timeout, the Chippewa defense held strong thanks to Barrett's block on a Ryan Evanochko trey attempt. CMU secured the rebound and a flagrant foul was called with one second left sending Barrett to the line to up the Chippewas' point total to 67.
CMU evened its record at 1-1 by winning its sixth straight home opener. Wisconsin-Green Bay falls to 1-3 on the season.
"There were two young teams battling tonight and it was an interesting game," CMU coach Jay Smith said. "The difference for us was how we played at the defensive end. In the first half, we limited them to two offensive rebounds. We let them sneak back in by not getting those rebounds in the second half. But you are going to have some of those that ricochet off oddly. If you can get them, those are the ones that win games."
The Phoenix tallied 12 offensive boards in the second half to get back into the contest after CMU held a 35-26 lead heading into the locker room at the break.
But, in the second half Barrett exploded for 18 points going 6-for-9 from the floor, and the Chippewas took the ball inside while struggling from the arc. CMU was 0-for-7 from three-point range after the intermission and it began penetrating and drawing fouls. The Maroon and Gold made 20 trips to the charity stripe in the first half after toeing the line just twice in the first frame.
Watson finished with 16 points, three boards, seven assists and three steals, and Eddie Spencer added 11 points and six boards.
Freshman Chris Kellermann had another solid outing with eight points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Two Phoenix players hit twin figures with Evanochko tallying 17 and Ryan Tillema 14. Terry Evans notched a game-high 12 boards in the losing effort.
CMU turned the ball over just 10 times and shot 46 percent from the floor while Wisconsin-Green Bay shot at a 39 percent clip.
The Chippewas now hit the road for two straight, heading to UMKC on Saturday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. CST), and Cleveland State on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m.
