Dec. 15, 2017 CENTRAL MICHIGAN at SOUTHERN UTAH
|  |  | | 8-1 | 5-4 |
| Saturday, December 16 | 2:30 p.m. ET
America First Event Center | Cedar City, Utah |
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SETTING THE SCENE
The Central Michigan men's basketball team hits the road on Saturday (2:30 p.m.) for a nonconference game at Southern Utah. The Chippewas are scheduled to play at Missouri-Kansas City on Tuesday, Dec. 19.
THE STREAK
The Chippewas (8-1) have won seven consecutive games, the last three of which have been at home. The win streak is the program's longest since the 2002-03 season.
BIG SKY
Saturday's game is the first between the Chippewas and Southern Utah, which plays in the Big Sky Conference. CMU defeated Big Sky member Montana State, 75-48, on Dec. 5. CMU is 4-3 all-time against current members of the Big Sky.
LEADERS
Among the trends that have emerged early in the season for CMU are balanced scoring, good defense and outstanding free throw shooting.
• Shawn Rountree leads CMU in scoring at 14.7 points per game, while five others - Cecil Williams, David DiLeo, Kevin McKay and Gavin Peppers - average at least 8.6 points per game.
• The Chippewas are ranked 14th in the nation in defense, allowing an average of 61.4 points per game. Last season, CMU surrendered an average of 87.7, which ranked 345th.
• CMU is knocking down its free throw attempts at an 81.3 percent clip. That ranks No. 2 in the nation.
• CMU made its season debut this week in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll at No. 16.
THE ROAD
Saturday's game is CMU's fifth of the season away from McGuirk Arena, but just its second true road game. The Chippewas lost their first, 72-65, on Nov. 13 at Michigan. CMU's other three games - all victories - outside of McGuirk Arena came in the Great Alaska Shootout.
SCOUTING
• Southern Utah is 5-4, including a 4-0 mark on its home floor at America First Event Center.
• The Thunderbirds are coached by Central Michigan alum Todd Simon, who is in his second year in charge of the program. Last year, they finished 6-27. He previously served as an assistant at UNLV and on the staff at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev.
• Southern Utah saw its win streak end at three games last Saturday with an 88-63 loss at No. 3 Michigan State.
• Junior guard Jordan Cohee leads Southern Utah in scoring at 17.3 points per game.
NEXT
CMU plays at Missouri-Kansas City (3-8) at Municipal Auditorium on Dec. 19 (8 p.m.) in Kansas City.
