Central Michigan University Athletics
Road Test Awaits Chippewa Men
1/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Central Michigan Game Notes | Kent State Game Notes | Audio | Video | Live Stats
By Andy Sneddon
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Going for the trifecta.
The Central Michigan men's basketball team will play at Kent State on Tuesday in the last of three consecutive game against some of the Mid-American Conference's most physical teams.
CMU has two to the good side in that three-game stretch, having beaten Buffalo and Eastern Michigan - both at home - last week. The Chippewas, 14-3 overall, share first place in the MAC West with Western Michigan at 4-2.
Kent State is 14-5 and leads the East at 5-1. The Golden Flashes are similar to both Buffalo and EMU in several ways, most notably size and talent up front.
"I think those games (with Buffalo and EMU) really simulate what you're going to see with Kent State, a team that has great frontcourt rebounding on the offensive end," CMU coach Keno Davis said. "They post up very well, they attack the basket off the drive.
"They've always been a very physical team, and when you go on the road against a physical team you've got to make sure that it doesn't rattle you, it doesn't get you off of what you want to try to do."
The Chippewas are off to their best 17-game start since 1969-70, but it hasn't been completely smooth for CMU, which is 3-3 on the road and has learned some lessons about matching an opponent's intensity and physicality when playing away from McGuirk Arena.
"I think our team has responded well to that even though during stretches we have shown some youth and inexperience," Davis said. "I think it's helped us get better, helped us get to this point.
"You've got to be a tough team. If you're a soft team you can't beat a Kent State at all, let alone on the road. Our guys are looking forward to the challenge and another opportunity for us to see where we are right now and know that afterwards we're going to be a better team because of it."
Kent State's Jimmy Hall, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, is sixth in the MAC in scoring at 15.1 points per game and seventh in rebounding (7.2). He had 32 points and eight rebounds Saturday at Ball State in a 63-52 victory, Kent State's fifth straight since it's 66-64 MAC-opening loss to Bowling Green.
Two other Golden Flashes, Devareaux Manley and Kris Brewer, average 12.0 and 10.9 points, respectively. Teammate Derek Jackson leads the MAC in steals at 2.0 per game.
The Golden Flashes held Ball State to just four three-pointers (on 17 attempts) on Saturday and have limited opponents to 23.1 percent from beyond the arc during their five-game win streak.
The Chippewas continue to shine from outside, though they finished a mortal-like 10-for-29 Saturday in the victory over Eastern. CMU is knocking down triples at a 41.8 per-game clip, which leads the MAC and ranks fifth nationally. The Chippewas are also averaging 11.3 three-pointers per game, which tops the nation.
CMU leads the MAC - and is second nationally -- in scoring at 83.9, while Kent State is third in scoring defense in the league, surrendering an average of 60 points per game.
CMU's John Simons, who on Monday was named the MAC West player of the Week, ranks fourth in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (48.9).
Simons, who averages 11.3 points per game, is one of three Chippewas who is scoring in double figures. Chris Fowler leads CMU with 14.2, while Braylon Rayson is averaging 10.8. Rayshawn Simmons is averging 9.9 points per game.
Fowler leads the MAC with 6.3 assists per game.
