Chippewa Men Tip It Up On Tuesday

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- For the first time this season, the Central Michigan men's basketball team will play in McGuirk Arena against someone other than itself.

The Chippewas host an exhibition game against Davenport at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The game will provide their first look at the Chippewas, who feature a trio of returning starters in David DiLeo, Kevin McKay and Shawn Roundtree Jr., along with several new faces who will be counted upon by coach Keno Davis to fill key roles throughout the 2018-19 season.

The trio of Roundtree, DiLeo and McKay averaged a combined 41.9 points per game last season, helping lead CMU to a 21-15 finish, the program's second-highest single-season win total since 2002-03.

It marked the fourth consecutive year that the Chippewas have gone .500 or better, the first time the program has accomplished that feat since the early 1970.

Tuesday's exhibition will be the CMU debut for six new members of the team, including Larry Austin Jr., who will start alongside Roundtree in the backcourt. Austin is a graduate transfer from Vanderbilt, combine with Roundtree, a senior, to give CMU an experience guard duo.

Among the other newcomers to watch are forwards Rob Montgomery and Kevin Hamlet, along with Romelo Burrell. All three are listed at 6-foot-6 or 6-7. Montgomery and Hamlet are junios, while Burrell is a sophomore.

The Chippewas will also feature several veteran returnees who will look to take on expanded roles as the season unfolds. Among that group are guards Matt Beachler, Matty Smith and Corey Redman, and 6-11 sophomore Innocent Nwoko, all names that are familiar to Chippewa fans.

The Chippewas open the season at home on Tuesday, Nov. 6 against Concordia, and then entertain Chicago State on Friday, Nov. 9.

Davenport, a Division II school which plays in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, finished 13-15 last season in cluding 7-13 in the GLIAC. The Panthers return leading scorer Delano Smith, who averaged 13.5 points as a freshman a year ago.

Davenport features a pair of familiar faces, including assistant coach Robbie Harman, a former Chippewa standout from 2007-10. Davenport guard Janeau Joubert is a junior on the Panther roster.

Players Mentioned

Larry Austin Jr.

Matt Beachler

Romelo Burrell

David DiLeo

Kevin Hamlet

Kevin McKay

Rob Montgomery

Innocent Nwoko

Corey Redman

Shawn Roundtree Jr.

Matty Smith

Related Videos