Central Michigan University Athletics
Game Notes: CMU Takes on UNLV in Sin City
12/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Thursday, December 30 — Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev., 10 p.m. EST
BROADCASTS
WEB • Free Live Stats | Free Audio CMU Sports Network | Game Notes .pdf
RADIO • WCFX 95.3 FM (Mount Pleasant) — Play-by-Play: Don Chiodo
Storylines
...the Chippewas are coming off their first win in seven games after defeating Cornerstone University, 63-60, to earn their first win in McGuirk Arena last Wednesday, Dec. 22.
...the Rebels, under head coach Lon Kruger, are off to an 11-2 start and sit just mear points outside the top-25 and have been ranked inside the top-25 earlier in the season.
...the contest between the Chippewas and the Rebels is the first in program history and just the third contest versus an opponent of the Mountain West Conference for CMU.
...this will be the final non-conference game before Mid-American Conference play opens on Jan. 9, when the Maroon and Gold travel to take on in-state rival Western Michigan in Kalamazoo, Mich.
| PROBABLE STARTERS | ||||||||||
| Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. | GP-GS | PPG | RPG | Other | Notes | ||
| (1) G | 0 | Trey Zeigler | 6-5 | 195 | Fr. | 12-11 | 15.3 | 5.4 | 1.0 BPG | Led team with 19 points and nine rebounds versus Cornerstone |
| (2) G | 2 | Amir Rashid | 5-9 | 165 | Sr. | 12-10 | 6.1 | 3.0 | 2.1 SPG | Has recorded 12 steals over last four games |
| (3) G | 5 | Finis Craddock | 6-1 | 180 | So. | 9-2 | 5.0 | 1.2 | .372 FG% | Scored career-high 15 points in first start of season versus SDSU |
| (4) F | 31 | Jalin Thomas | 6-4 | 200 | Sr. | 12-12 | 15.6 | 4.8 | 21 3FG | Scored all 13 of his points in second half versus Cornerstone |
| (5) F | 10 | Andre Coimbra | 6-9 | 222 | Jr. | 12-5 | 5.3 | 4.1 | .537 FG% | Has recorded nine blocks starting last three games |
GAME PREVIEW
The Coaches
Ernie Zeigler is now in his fifth season at the helm of Central Michigan. Zeigler has comprised a record of 57-78 during his four-plus seasons and led the Chippewas to back-to-back MAC West Division titles. Longtime collegiate and NBA basketball coach Lon Kruger is in his seventh season at the helm of Rebels. Kruger has redefined UNLV basketball over the last four seasons, recording a 114-37 mark since the beginning of the 2006-07 campaign, leading UNLV to three NCAA Tournament appearances. Kruger has compiled a record of 148-64 over his six-plus seasons as head coach of UNLV.
Back on the Road to Conclude Non-Conference Play
The Chippewas conclude non-conference play with the Dec. 30 matchup at UNLV. The Maroon and Gold, who will play their eighth game on the road this season, finished 1-3 during their season-long four-game homestand over the holiday break. The back-to-back MAC West division champions have already traveled 13,199 miles on their seven road games this season, prior to the trip to Las Vegas, Nev.
Rebels Just on the Outside of Top 25
UNLV sits just mear points outside the AP Top 25 and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. The Rebels received 106 votes in the AP poll this week and 53 in the Coaches poll. UNLV is coming off a 63-59 upset of then No. 11 Kansas State on Dec. 21 in Kansas City, Mo.
Scouting The Rebels
Junior guard Chase Stanback and Oscar Bellfield have led the Rebels on their path to their 11-2 start on the season. Stanbeck enters Thursday’s game averaging 13.2 points per game while shooting 51.2 percent from the field. The 6’8” transfer from UCLA also averages 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. Bellfield is the Rebel’s best three-point threat, having hit 26 of his 53 attempts on the year (49.1 percent), while averaging 11.7 points per game. The 6’2” guard from Los Angeles, Calif., leads the team with 55 assists (4.2 per game). The Rebels have beat their opponents by an average of 16.3 points in their 11 wins this season, with seven of their victories coming by double digits.
Central Michigan versus the Mountain West Conference
The Chipewas are rather unfamiliar with the Mountain West Conference, having played just two games all-time versus the current members of the conference. This will be the Chippewas first matchup in program history with the Rebels of UNLV. The Maroon and Gold are 0-2 versus the MWC, dropping contests to Air Force in 1972 and San Diego State in 1976.
Prince of Thieves
Amir Rashid recorded a personal-best five steals versus Wright State. The senior has totalled 12 steals over his last four games and 25 total on the season (2.1 per game)
A Brazilian Beast
Junior forward/center Andre Coimbra of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has started the last three contests and become a protector of the paint for the Chippewas. The junior transfer earned his second straight start of the season after recording a career-high five blocks versus Detroit on Dec. 22 for the Maroon and Gold. Coimbra is averaging 6.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game over his last three contests, providing another a solidified front-court tandem with senior William McClure.