Central Michigan University
20-14
Fort Wayne
18-15
Chippewas Outrun Fort Wayne In Tournament Opener
3/12/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - David DiLeo tossed in 22 points and Kevin McKay added 20 on Monday as the Central Michigan men's basketball team opened the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament with a 94-89 win over Fort Wayne at the Mastodons' Memorial Coliseum.
The win lifted CMU to 20-14. It is the second time in four years that the Chippewas have won 20 or more games.
CMU's next tournament opponent, game site, date and start time, are to be announced.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The two teams provided an entertaining up-and-down offensive show, combining for 28 3-pointers. CMU made 17 triples on 39 attempts for 43.6 percent, their third-best percentage of the season.
CMU trailed 89-87 when Luke Meyer hit a 3-pointer with 1:16 to play to put CMU up, 90-89. Fort Wayne's Bryson Scott was called for an offensive foul with 4 seconds to play, turning the ball over to the Chippewas.
Shawn Roundtree Jr. and DiLeo combined to make four free throws in four attempts in the final 3 seconds to ice it.
BREAKING THE SPELL
The win was CMU's first in the postseason since 2003, when the Chris Kaman-led Chippewas defeated Creighton, 79-73, in a first-round NCAA Tournament game in Salt Lake City, Utah.
THE NUMBERS
Meyer finished with 18 points and seven rebounds, earning the game Most Valuable Player Award. He finished 7 of 14 from the floor including 4 of 11 from 3-point range. Roundtree added 14 points.
Scott, a 6-foot-1 guard, scored 28 points to lead Fort Wayne (18-15). Xzavier Taylor added 20.
CMU made 33 of its 66 field goal attempts (50 percent) and the Mastodons made 33 of their 60 (55 percent). It marked the first time the Chippewas have shot at least 50 percent since a 70-63 win over Jackson State at McGuirk Arena on Dec. 1, 2017, a stretch of 27 games.
COACH Keno Davis
"When you don't make the NCAA Tournament there's a little bit of a letdown because you always dream about cutting down the nets and hearing your name on Selection Sunday."
"We felt this team could handle it, going on the road and giving a great effort. For the most part we did that. It's enjoyable to get the win and be able to play again. We look forward to (continuing to keep) playing. There are a lot of teams that didn't get a chance to play in the postseason so we don't take that lightly and will continue to put forth a great effort on the court."
"It's nice for these guys, especially (seniors) Josh Kozinski and Luke Meyer, to be able to win a game and continue their career, but also for the program to be to tell recruits that we have been in the postseason in three out of four years. It's nice to be able to do that and to have a 20-win season."
