Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Drop Nail Biter to LSU, 59-55
12/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Box Score
BATON ROUGE, La. — Jalin Thomas and Trey Zeigler combined for 39 points but Central Michigan saw a double-digit lead slip away in the second half as it dropped its third-straight contest, losing to LSU, 59-55, at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Saturday night.
LSU's Andre Stringer knocked down two free throws with 0:37 remaining to give the Tigers (6-2) a 55-53 lead, their first of the second half. The Chippewas (2-6) turned the ball over on three straight possessions down the stretch before freshman guard Derek Jackson knocked down a jumper with 0:04 left to cut the lead to 57-55. It was the Chippewas' first field goal since Zeigler's jumper at the 5:14 mark.
"Unfortunately we had a lack of poise again down the stretch and we shot ourselves in the foot," head coach Ernie Zeigler said. "Guys are trying to do the things we are preparing to do, but unfortunately those turnovers at such a crucial time are hard to overcome."
The Tigers outscored the Chippewas in the final five minutes, 16-6, including eight-straight free throws (six by Stringer) to end the game. The loss was CMU's fourth by seven points or less in 2010-11.
After trailing 23-21 at halftime, the Maroon and Gold started the second half with a 15-2 run. A jumper by Thomas with 13:55 to play capped the outburst, giving Central Michigan its largest lead of the game, 36-25. LSU answered with five-straight points on a jumper by Malcolm White and a three-pointer by Ralston Turner to cut the lead to six with 12:18 remaining.
"For us, it's about playing with a better sense of purpose and poise," Zeigler said. "Poise is what we've been lacking and we just have to develop it and be able to handle the pressure."
In the first half, the Chippewas led by as many as six, 18-12 with 4:27 to go, but the Tigers closed the period with an 11-3 run. Thomas hit a three-pointer with 0:05 left to bring CMU within two.
The Chippewas shot just 27.3 percent in the first half, making six of their 22 field goal attempts, but were able to knock down seven of their eight free throw attempts while the Tigers shot just 38.5 percent from the field and attempted just three free throws. Both teams improved their shooting in the second half as the Tigers outshot the Chippewas, 62.5 percent to 42.3 percent.
Thomas tallied game highs of 21 points and seven rebounds while hitting 11 of his 12 free throws. Zeigler scored 18 points on 7-of-17 shooting from the floor, pulling down six rebounds and recording three steals.
White, the only LSU player in double figures, paced the Tigers with 12 points. The Chippewas held the Tigers' leading scorer, Stringer, to just eight points – half of his season average, on just 1-of-6 shooting.
After playing seven of their first eight games of the season on the road, the Chippewas return to McGuirk Arena for four straight games over the holiday break beginning Dec. 14 against Wright State at 7 p.m.
