Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Men Gear Up For Showdown With Kent State
2/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (12-9, 5-3 MAC) vs. KENT STATE (15-6, 6-2 MAC)
Tuesday, February 2 • 7:00 p.m. • McGuirk Arena
Game Notes: Central Michigan | Kent State
Watch: ESPN3/ASN
Live Stats: Twitter: @CMUMensBball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - How good might the Central Michigan men's basketball team be?
The Chippewas will get a good idea as they begin a critical three-game stretch against Mid-American Conference foes on Tuesday night when they play host to Kent State (7 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena.
CMU has won its last three games, improving to 12-9 overall and 5-3 in the MAC. It shares first place in the West Division with Northern Illinois.
Kent State is 15-6 and is tied atop the East with Akron. Both are 6-2 in league play.
The Chippewas go to Akron on Friday (8 p.m.) then travel to Eastern Michigan the following Tuesday. EMU handed the Chippewas a 99-80 loss earlier this season. It was their one and only loss at McGuirk Arena.
But first things first. While the Chippewas have ascended under fourth-year coach Keno Davis - they were picked to win the conference championship after capturing the regular-season title a year ago - Kent State has long been one of the MAC's heavyweights.
The Chippewas have lost 16 of their last 17 meetings with Kent State, including two in a row.
"Our league is so bunched, it's tough to tell who the best teams are right now," Davis said. "But it wouldn't surprise anybody that Kent State is at the top. They've been there for a lot of years. Over the years they've had so many good and great teams. I don't think their start surprises anybody and our guys are looking forward to playing them."
The Flashes lost at Ohio last weekend, 72-61, ending a five-game win streak. They will be without two key cogs on Tuesday night as guard Xavier Pollard and Jaylin Walker are both out with injuries.
Pollard averages 12.2 points per game and a team-high 3.0 assists. Walker averages 7.8 points. The duo has combined to account for 40 percent of Kent State 3-pointers.
Still, the Flashes have plenty in the tank, starting with 6-foot-8 junior Jimmy Hall, a First Team All-MAC selection last season who leads the Flashes in scoring (16.0) and rebounding (7.5).
Hall averages 2.5 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks fifth in the MAC. The Flashes are second in league with 7.8 offensive rebounds per game.
"There's a reason that they're at the top of the conference," Davis said. "With their talent and athleticism, it makes it a tough opponent for anyone. Our guys understand how good they are and respect them. We've had some great matchups with them in the past and we look forward to another opportunity tomorrow."
The Chippewas' three-game win streak is their longest of the season, and they appear to be coming into their own. In those three wins, which have come over Ohio, Miami (Ohio) and Bowling Green, the Chippewas have held their opponents to a combined 36.8 percent from the floor.
Added up, CMU has held those three to 17-plus points below their season averages.
"I think we're starting to become a confident group that can win with our defense and that's a nice surprise," said Davis, whose team ranks eighth in the league in scoring defense. "Not that we weren't going to improve as a defensive group, but to really be consistent with our effort, our game planning and execution is something that we knew was coming.
"We didn't know if it was going to come this year yet. Over the last couple of weeks, we've really made some great strides and we still have room to grow."
The Chippewas' surge could also be due to a rounding-in-to-shape Chris Fowler, who on Monday was named the MAC West player of the week.
Fowler, a senior guard and a league player of the year candidate, missed CMU's first seven games with an injury. He averaged 24 points and 7.5 assists in victories last week over Miami and Bowling Green.
The Chippewas have made 47 percent of their field goal attempts overall, and 36 percent of their 3-point attempts during their win streak. They have held opponents to 25.5 percent from long range over that stretch.
The Chippewas limited Bowling Green on Saturday to 2-of-12 shooting from 3-point range. The Falcons entered the game as the MAC's No. 1 team, percentage wise, from long range.
