Chippewas Back in Action Against UMKC

GAME PREVIEW
• Central Michigan (8-2) will continue a four-game home stand to finish out the 2018 calendar year on Wednesday, Dec. 19 when it hosts UMKC (4-8) in a 7 p.m. game at McGuirk Arena.
• The Chippewas possess a 2-1 record in the all-time series with UMKC, including last season's 92-86 overtime victory in Kansas City.
• Central Michigan is 2-0 versus WAC teams this season, defeating Chicago State (101-60) and Cal State Bakersfield (67-55). The Chippewas are 15-4 all-time versus current members of the WAC.
• Central Michigan is coming off a 95-86 home victory over Southern Utah on Dec. 8 while UMKC won its third game in its last four outings, downing McNeese State, 80-67, on Dec. 15.
• The Chippewas are 4-0 at home this season while UMKC owns a 2-5 road record.
• Under head coach Keno Davis, CMU is 62-29 versus nonconference opponents and 67-29 in games played at McGuirk Arena.
• ONE TO WATCH: Central Michigan ranks tied for 3rd in the NCAA in free throw attempts (313) while UMKC is ranked No. 343 (out of 351) in fewest fouls (256).

TRENDING
• Central Michigan ranks prominently in seven stat categories nationally -- No. 3 in free throw attempts (313), No. 6 in steals per game (10.0), No. 7 in turnovers forced (18.9), No. 8 in turnover margin (5.7), No. 13 in scoring offense (85.9) and No. 14 in free throws made (204).
• Junior Kevin McKay ranks No. 12 in the NCAA in offensive rebounding (3.80). He is the only guard who appears in the top 30 nationally.
• In the win over Southern Utah, junior forward David DiLeo moved into a tie for 8th place on the CMU 3-pointers career list with 183. He also ranks eighth on the career attempts list (506).
• By scoring 100 or more points three times thus far in 2018-19, including posting an even 100 in the triple overtime win over Youngstown State, CMU has reached or surpassed the century mark in 20 games under head coach Keno Davis.
• Central Michigan set a single-season program record for nonconference victories with 11 in 2017-18. The Chippewas have eight thus far in 2018-19 and could equal that mark with a sweep of its December schedule.
• The Chippewas have recorded double-digit wins at home for four consecutive years, totaling 49 during that time frame. CMU went 11-5 at home in 2017-18 and is 4-0 in McGuirk Arena thus far this season.

SCOUTING UMKC
• Led by six-year head coach Kareem Richardson, UMKC enters Wednesday's nonconference contest coming off a 80-67 home victory over McNeese State, its third win in its last four games.
• After starting the 2018-19 season 0-6, UMKC currently possesses a 4-8 record. The Kangaroos' other Division I wins have come on the road against Fort Wayne (90-73) and South Dakota (65-63).
• Junior guard Xavier Bishop, who is from the same hometown and attended the same high school as CMU senior guard Larry Austin Jr., is UMKC's leading scorer (16.8 ppg) and one of two Roos who average in double figures. Bishop, who is the only player on the UMKC roster to start all 12 games, also tops the team in assists with 55.
• Junior guard Rob Whitfield, who ranks No. 11 in the NCAA in 3-pointers made with 39, scores 13.1 points per game. He also is 35th nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (.464).
• Sophomore guard Brandon McKissic scores just under 10 points per game at 9.9.
• Junior forward Danny Dixon, a Gross Pointe, Mich. native, leads UMKC in rebounding (5.1 rpg) and shoots a team-best .488 from the field.
• Junior forward Jordan Giles (8.3 ppg), a starter of 11 of 12 games this season, and junior forward Jamel Allen (7.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg), the team's second-leading rebounder are also key producers.

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIPPEWAS
• Central Michigan will continue its four-game December-long home stand on Saturday, Dec. 22 when the Chippewas host Jackson State in McGuirk Arena.
• Jackson State is currently 2-9, losing five of its last six games, including a 74-57 setback at Murray State in its last outing, on Dec. 15.
• The Chippewas are 2-0 all-time versus Jackson State, including last season's 70-63 road win, led by 19 points from David DiLeo.
• The Chippewas will finish out the 2018 calendar year and their longest home stand of the season against Indiana South Bend (3-11) on Dec. 30.

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Players Mentioned

Larry Austin Jr.

David DiLeo

Kevin McKay