CMU Looks to Remain Hot at Home

GAME PREVIEW
• Central Michigan (9-2) will continue its four-game home stand on Saturday, Dec. 22 when it welcomes Jackson State (2-9) to McGuirk Arena for a 1 p.m. contest.
• The Chippewas own a 2-0 record in the all-time series with Jackson State, including last season's 70-63 win in Mount Pleasant, highlighted by 19 points from David DiLeo.
• Central Michigan holds an 8-0 all-time mark versus current members of the SWAC.
• Central Michigan is coming off an 81-72 home victory over UMKC on Dec. 19 while Jackson State dropped a 74-57 road game to Murray State on Dec. 15.
• The Chippewas are 5-0 at home this season while Jackson State possesses a 0-5 road record.

CHIPPEWAS TO WATCH
• Senior guard Larry Austin Jr. leads CMU and ranks No. 2 in the MAC in scoring, averaging 19.6 points per game. He has scored in double figures in all 11 games this season, including 20+ points four times and a career-high 30 against Weber State. Austin also ranks fourth in the MAC in assists (4.6 apg) and 21st nationally in total free throw attempts (85).
• Senior guard Shawn Roundtree Jr. ranks second on the team in scoring (15.5 ppg), second in 3-pointers (18) and leads CMU (No. 2 in the MAC) in minutes played per game (33.0).
• Through 11 games, junior forward David DiLeo leads the Chippewas with 24 3-pointers and is fourth on the team in rebounding (5.3 rpg).
• Junior Kevin McKay ranks No. 18 in the NCAA in offensive rebounding (3.64). He is the only guard who appears in the top 30 nationally. He leads CMU in rebounding (No. 8 in the MAC, 7.8 rpg) and averaged 15.4 points per game. He also ranks third in the MAC in steals (2.2 spg).
• Junior forward Rob Montgomery leads CMU with 16 blocked shots and ranks second on the team in rebounding (5.6 rpg)

TRENDING
• Central Michigan ranks prominently in seven stat categories nationally:
       - No. 2 in free throw attempts (342)
       - No. 8 in free throws made (225)
       - No. 13 in steals per game (9.5)
       - No. 13 in turnover margin (5.0)
       - No. 14 in scoring offense (85.5)
       - No. 14 in turnovers forced (18.0)
       - No. 19 in total steals (104)
• In the win over UMKC, junior forward David DiLeo moved sole possession of eighth place on the CMU 3-pointers career list with 184. He also ranks eighth on the career attempts list (511).
• Central Michigan set a single-season program record for nonconference victories with 11 in 2017-18. The Chippewas have nine thus far in 2018-19 and could equal that mark with a sweep of its remaining December schedule.

SCOUTING JACKSON STATE
• Led by six-year head coach Wayne Brent, Jackson State enters Saturday's nonconference contest coming off a 74-57 road loss to Murray State, dropping the Tigers to 0-5 away from home in 2018-19.
• Jackson State currently possesses a 2-9 overall record. Its wins have come over Chicago State, 81-68, on Nov. 20 in Johnson City, Tenn. and NAIA opponent Fisk, 77-56, at home on Dec. 11.
• Senior guard Chris Howell leads the Tigers in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 11.1 points and 7.9 boards per game. He shoots .411 from the field, .750 from the line and .286 from 3-point range.
• Junior guard Venije Wallis is JSU's only other double-figure scorer (10.6 ppg). He leads the team in minutes played (30.0 mpg) and steals (15).
• Senior guard Jontrell Walker (9.8 ppg) is the Tigers' top 3-point weapon, totaling 17 this season.
• Freshman forward Jayveous McKinnis (7.5 ppg) ranks second on the team in rebounding (6.6 rpg) and shoots a team-best .690 from the field. He has also has 11 blocks this season.
• Senior guard Dontelius Ross plays 26.6 minutes per game leads JSU in assists (3.0 apg).

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIPPEWAS
• Following a break for the holidays, Central Michigan will put a bow on its four-game December-long home stand on Sunday, Dec. 30 when the Chippewas host Indiana South Bend (5-11) at 1 p.m. in McGuirk Arena.
• IUSB is riding a two-game winning streak after downing Northwestern Ohio and Silver Lake College.
• The meeting will be the first-ever between the two programs.
• After the New Year, the second season for the Chippewas will begin, as Mid-American Conference play gets underway. CMU opens league action on the road at Miami (Ohio) (7-5) on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 2 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Larry Austin Jr.

David DiLeo

Kevin McKay

Rob Montgomery

Shawn Roundtree Jr.

Central Michigan University Athletics