Photo by: Mary Lewandowski
Austin, McKay Earn 'Jam' Honors
11/19/2018 10:51:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Larry Austin Jr. named tourney MVP; McKay named to all-tourney squad
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Larry Austin Jr. and Kevin McKay picked up individual accolades after leading the Central Michigan men's basketball team to a first-place finish in the Junkanoo Jam in Bimini, Bahamas.
Austin, a graduate transfer guard from Vanderbilt, continued to make a major impact on the program as he earned the tournament Most Valuable Player Award after averaging 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 steals as the Chippewas finished 2-1 in the event.
McKay, a junior guard, earned a spot on the all-tournament team after averaging 16.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.0 assists.
Among Austin's tournament highlights were his 30-point performance in the Chippewas' loss on Friday night to Weber State; his 14-point, eight-rebound, four-assist effort in a win over Cal State Bakersfield; and his performance in CMU's 76-74 victory over San Jose State in the tournament finale. In that game, Austin made the go-ahead free throw, recorded a key block and made a steal on an in-bounds pass as the Spartans set up for a last-second Hail Mary attempt.
Austin made 23 of his 40 field goal attempts (57.5 percent) in the Chippewas' three games in the tournament. Austin ranks first in the Mid-American Conference in steals per game (2.4), fifth in scoring (18.6) and eighth in assists (4.0).
In finishing 2-1 in the Bahamas, the Chippewas improved to 4-1 on the season and won their second consecutive early season tournament. In 2017, they won the Great Alaska Shootout.
CMU returns to Mount Pleasant on Sunday, Nov. 25, to entertain Siena Heights in a nonconference game.
Austin, a graduate transfer guard from Vanderbilt, continued to make a major impact on the program as he earned the tournament Most Valuable Player Award after averaging 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 steals as the Chippewas finished 2-1 in the event.
McKay, a junior guard, earned a spot on the all-tournament team after averaging 16.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.0 assists.
Among Austin's tournament highlights were his 30-point performance in the Chippewas' loss on Friday night to Weber State; his 14-point, eight-rebound, four-assist effort in a win over Cal State Bakersfield; and his performance in CMU's 76-74 victory over San Jose State in the tournament finale. In that game, Austin made the go-ahead free throw, recorded a key block and made a steal on an in-bounds pass as the Spartans set up for a last-second Hail Mary attempt.
Austin made 23 of his 40 field goal attempts (57.5 percent) in the Chippewas' three games in the tournament. Austin ranks first in the Mid-American Conference in steals per game (2.4), fifth in scoring (18.6) and eighth in assists (4.0).
In finishing 2-1 in the Bahamas, the Chippewas improved to 4-1 on the season and won their second consecutive early season tournament. In 2017, they won the Great Alaska Shootout.
CMU returns to Mount Pleasant on Sunday, Nov. 25, to entertain Siena Heights in a nonconference game.
Players Mentioned
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