Central Michigan University Athletics
Gophers Run Away From Chippewas in Second Half, 77-59
11/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. An 8-0 Minnesota run to close the first half sparked the Gophers to a 77-59 win over Central Michigan University on Saturday night in historic Williams Arena.
CMU used a 6-0 spurt to take a 29-27 lead with 2:04 left in the first half but Spencer Tollackson tied the score with a jumper 30 seconds later and he beat the halftime buzzer with a three-pointer from just inside midcourt that sent the Gophers into the break with a 35-29 lead.
It was all Minnesota in the second half as Tubby Smith’s squad broke the game open with a 15-3 run over a 4:12 stretch early in the frame and the home team led by as many as 24 moments later.
Giordan Watson scored 22 points while handing out five assists and tallying five steals for CMU and Robbie Harman matched a career high with 10 points off the bench.
Three Gophers hit double figures with Tollackson finishing with 14 points and six rebounds.
The two teams combined for 47 turnovers in the game compared to 43 field goals. Minnesota coughed the ball up 24 times but shot a scorching 51 percent from the floor going 23-for-45. CMU had 23 turnovers and shot just 41 percent from the field.
Minnesota outrebounded CMU, 35-21, and the Gophers made 24-of-33 free throws for 73 percent while the Chippewas got to the line just 13 times while hitting 11 of the freebies for 85 percent.
The Chippewas now host Illinois-Chicago for the home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 28. Tipoff in Rose Arena is set for 7 p.m.
NOTES:
Sophomore Jordan Bitzer played his first game of the season after missing the first three with a knee injury. He started but picked up three fouls in the game’s first two and a half minutes. Bitzer finished with five points and two rebounds.
Giordan Watson moved past Dan Roundfield into eighth on CMU’s career scoring chart. Watson now has 1,322 career points and needs 17 more to move past Leonard Drake into seventh place.
In addition to 22 points, Giordan Watson notched five assists and five steals. It marked the second time in his career that he’s recorded at least five assists and five steals in a game.
CMU’s 0-4 start matches its worst to start a season since the 1993-94 team went 0-5.
Robbie Harman hit two three-pointers in the game en route to a career-high tying 10 points. He also had 10 in a road win at Ball State last season.
CMU used its fourth different starting lineup in as many games this season. Getting the nod tonight were Giordan Watson, Jordan Bitzer, Nate Minnoy, Eddie Spencer and Marko Spica.
Eddie Spencer tallied a team-high five rebounds marking the second straight game he’s had team high honors on the boards.
The halftime buzzer-beating trey by 6-9 center Spencer Tollackson was the first made three-pointer of the senior’s career.
CMU was outrebounded by 14 (35-21). It marked the first time this season CMU lost the battle of the boards.
CMU turned the ball over fewer times than its opponent for the first time this season.
CMU used a 6-0 spurt to take a 29-27 lead with 2:04 left in the first half but Spencer Tollackson tied the score with a jumper 30 seconds later and he beat the halftime buzzer with a three-pointer from just inside midcourt that sent the Gophers into the break with a 35-29 lead.
It was all Minnesota in the second half as Tubby Smith’s squad broke the game open with a 15-3 run over a 4:12 stretch early in the frame and the home team led by as many as 24 moments later.
Giordan Watson scored 22 points while handing out five assists and tallying five steals for CMU and Robbie Harman matched a career high with 10 points off the bench.
Three Gophers hit double figures with Tollackson finishing with 14 points and six rebounds.
The two teams combined for 47 turnovers in the game compared to 43 field goals. Minnesota coughed the ball up 24 times but shot a scorching 51 percent from the floor going 23-for-45. CMU had 23 turnovers and shot just 41 percent from the field.
Minnesota outrebounded CMU, 35-21, and the Gophers made 24-of-33 free throws for 73 percent while the Chippewas got to the line just 13 times while hitting 11 of the freebies for 85 percent.
The Chippewas now host Illinois-Chicago for the home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 28. Tipoff in Rose Arena is set for 7 p.m.
NOTES:
Sophomore Jordan Bitzer played his first game of the season after missing the first three with a knee injury. He started but picked up three fouls in the game’s first two and a half minutes. Bitzer finished with five points and two rebounds.
Giordan Watson moved past Dan Roundfield into eighth on CMU’s career scoring chart. Watson now has 1,322 career points and needs 17 more to move past Leonard Drake into seventh place.
In addition to 22 points, Giordan Watson notched five assists and five steals. It marked the second time in his career that he’s recorded at least five assists and five steals in a game.
CMU’s 0-4 start matches its worst to start a season since the 1993-94 team went 0-5.
Robbie Harman hit two three-pointers in the game en route to a career-high tying 10 points. He also had 10 in a road win at Ball State last season.
CMU used its fourth different starting lineup in as many games this season. Getting the nod tonight were Giordan Watson, Jordan Bitzer, Nate Minnoy, Eddie Spencer and Marko Spica.
Eddie Spencer tallied a team-high five rebounds marking the second straight game he’s had team high honors on the boards.
The halftime buzzer-beating trey by 6-9 center Spencer Tollackson was the first made three-pointer of the senior’s career.
CMU was outrebounded by 14 (35-21). It marked the first time this season CMU lost the battle of the boards.
CMU turned the ball over fewer times than its opponent for the first time this season.
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