CMU at Home for Nonconference Finale

GAME PREVIEW
• Central Michigan (10-2) will conclude a four-game, December-long home stand and wrap up the nonconference portion of its 2018-19 schedule when it welcomes NAIA Division II foe Indiana University South Bend (5-11) to McGuirk Arena on Sunday, Dec. 30 for a 1 p.m. contest.
• With a win, CMU will equal the program record for nonconference victories with 11, which was established last season.
• CMU's meeting with the Titans will be the first-ever in program history.
• Central Michigan is coming off an 81-72 home victory over Jackson State on Dec. 22 while IU South Bend downed Silver Lake College, 85-76, on the road on Dec. 20
• The Chippewas are 6-0 at home this season while IU South Bend possesses a 2-7 road record.
• Under head coach Keno Davis, CMU is 64-29 versus nonconference opponents and 69-29 in games played at home in McGuirk Arena. CMU is also 15-0 versus non-Division I opponents with Davis at the helm.

CHIPPEWAS TO WATCH
• Senior guard Larry Austin Jr. leads CMU and ranks No. 3 in the MAC in scoring, averaging 18.9 points per game. He has scored in double figures in all 12 games this season, including 20+ points four times and a career-high 30 against Weber State. Austin ranks second in the MAC in steals (2.3) and third in assists (4.8).
• Senior guard Shawn Roundtree Jr. ranks second on the team in scoring (16.0 ppg), second in 3-pointers (20) and leads CMU (No. 3 in the MAC) in minutes played per game (33.0).
• Through 12 games, junior forward David DiLeo leads the Chippewas with 29 3-pointers and is fourth on the team in rebounding (5.3 rpg).
• Junior Kevin McKay ranks No. 20 in the NCAA in offensive rebounding (3.58). He is the only guard who appears in the top 50 nationally. McKay leads CMU in rebounding (No. 8 in the MAC, 7.8 rpg) and averages 15.2 points per game. He also ranks third in the MAC in steals (2.1 spg).
• Junior forward Rob Montgomery leads CMU with 17 blocked shots and ranks second on the team in rebounding (5.6 rpg)

TRENDING
• Central Michigan ranks prominently in seven stat categories nationally:
    - No. 1 in free throw attempts (370)
   - No. 5 in free throws made (243)
   - No. 13 in scoring offense (85.1)
   - No. 15 in steals per game (9.3)
   - No. 18 in total steals (111)
   - No. 20 in turnovers forced (17.5)
• In the win over Jackson State, junior forward David DiLeo moved into seventh place on the CMU 3-pointers career list with 189. He also ranks eighth on the career attempts list (518).
• 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 6-0 in McGuirk Arena thus far this season.
• 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.

SCOUTING IU SOUTH BEND
• Led by six-year head coach Scott Cooper, Indiana University South Bend enters Sunday's contest riding a two-game winning streak but the Titans have been inactive since December 20.
• IU South Bend currently possesses a 5-11 overall record and a 1-6 mark in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play.
• Sophomore guard Dylan Allen (14.2 ppg) leads three Titans who average double figures in scoring. His 35 3-pointers also ranks No. 1 on the team.
• Junior guard Myles Simmons (12.6 ppg) and sophomore guard Norell Smith (12.5 ppg) are also top scorers for IUSB.
• Smith, along with freshman forward Miles Tracy, share the team-lead in rebounding, averaging 6.6 boards per game.
• Tracy, who scores 9.5 points per game, also leads the team in assists with 39.

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIPPEWAS
• Central Michigan will open Mid-American Conference play on Saturday, Jan 5 when it visits Miami (Ohio) (7-5) for a 2 p.m. game at Millett Hall.
• The Chippewas own a 21-52 record in the all-time series vs. Miami, including a 3-5 mark under head coach Keno Davis.
• The Chippewas fell to the RedHawks, 70-61, in McGuirk Arena in the teams' lone meeting last year.
• Miami has won four of its last five games and hosts Evansville before facing CMU.
• Miami is led by the trio of sophomore guard Nike Sabande (17.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg), sophomore forward Dalonte Brown (14.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and senior guard Darrian Ringo (68 assists).
• The Chippewas will play their first home MAC contest of the season on Tuesday, Jan. 8 when they host Akron (7-5).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Larry Austin Jr.

David DiLeo

Kevin McKay

Rob Montgomery

Shawn Roundtree Jr.