Central Michigan University
Cleveland State
Chippewas Claim 79-70 Win Over Cleveland State
2/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 19, 2005
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Sefton Barrett and Kevin Nelson scored 24 points each in leading Central Michigan University to its second straight home win here Saturday afternoon, a 79-70 nonconference decision over Cleveland State.
The Chippewas trailed by 10 at the half, 38-28, but shot a sizzling 53.6 percent from the to outscore the Vikings, 51-32, in the final 20 minutes to win going away.
The win upped CMU's record to 9-15 for the season while Cleveland State is now 9-14.
The Chippewas shot only 32.1 percent from the field in the first half and trailed by as many as 14 at 31-17 with 4:46 to go.
CMU battled back in the second half and took the lead for good on a three-pointer by Nelson with 9:56 remaining. The final nine-point margin matched the Chippewas' biggest of the game -- the first at 77-68 with 35 seconds to go.
Nelson hit 5-of-10 three-pointers and Barrett nailed 8-of-14 from the field en route to their two dozen each.
CMU finished the game hitting 24-of-56 from the field for 42.9 percent compared to the Vikings' 20-of-46 for 43.5 percent. The Chippewas did hold a 38-31 edge in rebounding, thanks to seven by Tony Bowne and six by Barrett.
Tops for CSU was Omari Westley with 21 points while Mike Redell added 16 and Steve Hansey 14 (all of his in the first half).
A key factor in the Chippewa win was just 12 turnovers after averaging more than 17 per game for the season. The Vikings turned the ball over 16 times.
CMU will gun for its third straight win at home this Wednesday night when Kent State comes to Rose Arena for a Mid-American Conference clash at 7 p.m.
