Central Michigan University
9-2
UMKC
3-10
Chippewa Men Claim OT Win
12/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - David DiLeo turned in a career-best performance on Tuesday as the Central Michigan men's basketball team dug deep and came away with a 92-86 nonconference victory in overtime over Missouri-Kansas City at the Roos' Municipal Auditorium.
DiLeo, a 6-foot-5 sophomore forward, scored 29 points and hauled down 15 rebounds - both career highs - as the Chippewas improved to 9-2, pulling out a tough road win just three nights after falling, 86-80, at Southern Utah. UMKC is 3-10.
The Chippewas play host to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Friday (7 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena.
CMU managed to pull out the victory on Tuesday despite playing without super sub Kevin McKay and with senior starting center Luke Meyer, who logged 24 minutes while battling illness.
"That's what happens when you've got 10, 11 guys who can play," CMU coach Keno Davis said. "If we had seven or eight like we've had the last few years we couldn't come back and win that on the road. I credit not just the top guys, but our entire team for being able to step up."
"It's tough when you've got the long road trip, you're coming off finals week, and everybody's seemingly banged up. We've got some guys with some character, some toughness, and it's a pleasure to coach them. Not always happy with how we play, but the effort, it's rare to see us lapse in that area."
DiLeo wasn't the only Chippewa who turned in a memorable performance. Junior guard Shawn Roundtree posted career highs with 23 points and seven assists, and senior forward Cecil Williams matched his career-best with 21 points.
Williams, who had a double-double on Saturday at Southern Utah, also had nine rebounds as the Chippewas finished with a 48-41 edge on the glass after being outrebounded, 23-18, in the first half. Eleven of CMU's 14 offensive rebounds came after halftime.
DiLeo finished 8-of-17 from the field including 6-of-14 from 3-point range. He also knocked down seven of his eight free throw attempts as CMU finished 26-of-33 (78.6 percent) from the line.
"You talk about 29 points, but 15 rebounds?" Davis said. "That's not on his athletic talent, he's a talented player, but that's just effort."
The Chippewas took their first lead, 50-49, on a pair of DiLeo free throws with 14 minutes to play in regulation. UMKC regained the lead and was up six, 76-70, with under three minutes to play. CMU forged a 77-77 tie on two Roundtree free throws with 45 seconds remaining in regulation, and then outscored the Roos, 15-9, in overtime.
Xavier Bishop scored 23 points to lead UMKC and Isaiah Ross added 20. Ross fouled out early in the extra session.
A Williams layup and two Roundtree free throws put CMU in front, 81-77, early in overtime and UMKC never tied it or went ahead after that. The Chippewas led by as many as eight points in the extra session.
CMU sophomore guard Matty Smith, who had been pegged to redshirt this season, saw his first action of the season, scoring five points and dishing out four assists in 19 minutes.
"We don't win that game without Matty Smith," Davis said. "It (pulling the redshirt) was a tough decision. I've been battling that for a while. What was best for him, what was best for our team and how much he would mean to our team this year.
"He's been working so hard the past couple weeks. Sometimes when guys aren't playing they tend to shut it down, it's just kind of human nature. But not him. He's been such a good teammate and we're banged up. Sometimes you've just got to wait for your number to be called and it'll be good to see him in the rotation for the foreseeable future.
"It wasn't just him. We made some plays in this game in a gut-check time to get a road win. Road wins aren't easy and that one fits the bill. It wasn't easy."
