Central Michigan University Athletics
Diverse Attack Leads Chippewas Past Bulldogs, 82-69
11/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Robbie Harman led six players in double-figures with 18 points and Jalin Thomas added a double-double as the Central Michigan men's basketball team claimed an 82-69 victory over in-state foe Ferris State at Rose Center on Monday.
Harman finished 7-of-11 from the floor and 2-of-4 from deep and added seven steals and five assists. Marko Spica came off the bench and added 13 points. CMU also got 11 points each from starters Jordan Bitzer and Finis Craddock and reserve Chris Kellermann. Thomas scored 10 to go with a team-best 12 boards.
"Jalin embodies what our program is about. He brings those intangibles we need so much," head coach Ernie Zeigler said. "He's a consistent rebounder and he took a strong step forward today in trying to be the type of player that Marcus Van was for us last season."
After trailing by as many as nine early in the first half, CMU clawed within one 10 minutes in and took the lead, 16-15, on a left-handed leaner by Jalin Thomas.
The Bulldogs hit five of their first six shots, including four threes, but the Chippewas tightened up on defense and held FSU to just two makes on its next nine attempts.
CMU pushed its lead to seven before Ferris State's Darien Gay hit his fourth three of the half to draw back within four, but a swipe-and-score by Harman put Central back up six, 30-24, with 2:20 remaining.
Two Chris Kellermann free throws gave Central its biggest lead of the first half, 33-24, just past the two-minute mark. Central led by seven at the break, 36-29.
After CMU extended its lead to 12 just 90 seconds into the second half, FSU quickly cut the lead back to five with a 7-0 run that took just 1:25 off the clock.
The Chippewa lead remained five with 14:47 left, but Marko Spica sparked the team with six points during a 10-1 run to put the Maroon and Gold up 14, 57-43, with 11 minutes left.
A steal by Harman who then found a streaking Jordan Bitzer for a lay-in at the 7:28 mark gave CMU its biggest lead of the night at 16, 65-49.
The Chippewas finished at 48 percent from the floor and 32 percent from long range (6-of-19). The Bulldogs also hit 48 percent of their shots and connected on 53 percent of their treys (10-of-19). Darien Gay led FSU with a game-high 26 points on 9-of-11 shooting, including 8-of-9 from long range. Former Chippewa Jon Yeazel finished with a double-double on 13 points and a game-high 15 boards for the Bulldogs.
"Our team responded to the challenge I issued to them after the Princeton game," Zeigler said. "I think our effort was much better in trying to do the types of things we are looking for, but in the same breathe we have a long ways to go. We're nowhere near a finished product, but it's a small step in the right direction."
CMU outscored FSU in the paint, 30-18, and Central's reserves outscored their Ferris counterparts, 31-6.
"We'll need to get better at defensive rebounding for our game against UIC," Zeigler said. "We did a better job getting to the offensive glass, but we need to improve our defensive effort. We need to be able to get stops at key times."
Central Michigan hosts UIC at Rose Center on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Harman finished 7-of-11 from the floor and 2-of-4 from deep and added seven steals and five assists. Marko Spica came off the bench and added 13 points. CMU also got 11 points each from starters Jordan Bitzer and Finis Craddock and reserve Chris Kellermann. Thomas scored 10 to go with a team-best 12 boards.
"Jalin embodies what our program is about. He brings those intangibles we need so much," head coach Ernie Zeigler said. "He's a consistent rebounder and he took a strong step forward today in trying to be the type of player that Marcus Van was for us last season."
After trailing by as many as nine early in the first half, CMU clawed within one 10 minutes in and took the lead, 16-15, on a left-handed leaner by Jalin Thomas.
The Bulldogs hit five of their first six shots, including four threes, but the Chippewas tightened up on defense and held FSU to just two makes on its next nine attempts.
CMU pushed its lead to seven before Ferris State's Darien Gay hit his fourth three of the half to draw back within four, but a swipe-and-score by Harman put Central back up six, 30-24, with 2:20 remaining.
Two Chris Kellermann free throws gave Central its biggest lead of the first half, 33-24, just past the two-minute mark. Central led by seven at the break, 36-29.
After CMU extended its lead to 12 just 90 seconds into the second half, FSU quickly cut the lead back to five with a 7-0 run that took just 1:25 off the clock.
The Chippewa lead remained five with 14:47 left, but Marko Spica sparked the team with six points during a 10-1 run to put the Maroon and Gold up 14, 57-43, with 11 minutes left.
A steal by Harman who then found a streaking Jordan Bitzer for a lay-in at the 7:28 mark gave CMU its biggest lead of the night at 16, 65-49.
The Chippewas finished at 48 percent from the floor and 32 percent from long range (6-of-19). The Bulldogs also hit 48 percent of their shots and connected on 53 percent of their treys (10-of-19). Darien Gay led FSU with a game-high 26 points on 9-of-11 shooting, including 8-of-9 from long range. Former Chippewa Jon Yeazel finished with a double-double on 13 points and a game-high 15 boards for the Bulldogs.
"Our team responded to the challenge I issued to them after the Princeton game," Zeigler said. "I think our effort was much better in trying to do the types of things we are looking for, but in the same breathe we have a long ways to go. We're nowhere near a finished product, but it's a small step in the right direction."
CMU outscored FSU in the paint, 30-18, and Central's reserves outscored their Ferris counterparts, 31-6.
"We'll need to get better at defensive rebounding for our game against UIC," Zeigler said. "We did a better job getting to the offensive glass, but we need to improve our defensive effort. We need to be able to get stops at key times."
Central Michigan hosts UIC at Rose Center on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
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