Chippewa Men Head To Texas

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan men's basketball team travels to Austin, Texas for a nonconference game with Texas on Saturday, Dec. 14 (2 p.m.).

Last Time Out
CMU is 7-3 after falling, 77-55, at Valparaiso in a nonleague game on Sunday.

Team Stats
CMU is the No. 1 scoring team in the nation, averaging 90 points per game. They are holding opponents to 72.9 points per, winning by an average of 17.1 points. CMU ranks 18^th nationally in scoring margin.

The Chippewas are first in the Mid-American Conference in 3-point field goal attempts (256), free throw attempts (255), rebounds (409), steals (106) and turnover margin (7.3). They rank in the top 10 in the nation in turnover margin, steals, steals per game, free throws attempted, and free throws made (186).

Individual Stats
Kevin McKay is leading CMU in scoring (15.7 points per game) and rebounding (6.1 per) and is making 63.1 percent of his field goal attempts, which ranks first in the MAC and 21^st nationally.

CMU's second-leading scorer, Dallas Morgan (14.1 points per game), leads the MAC with 29 3-pointers. David DiLeo (13.0) and Rob Montgomery (12.1) are also scoring in double figures for CMU. Montgomery is the Chippewas' second-leading rebounder (5.7 per).

Devontae Lane leads the Chippewas in both steals (2.0) and assists (4.1) per game.

Scouting Texas
The Longhorns are 8-1 and are coming off a 60-50 win over instate rival Texas A&M. They're on a four-game win streak and have beaten both Purdue and California this season.

The Longhorns are holding opponents to 58.4 points per game, which ranks 18^th nationally. They average 67.1 points per.

Junior Matt Coleman III leads the Longhorns in scoring at 13.1 points per game, and assists, 4.7. He has made 50 percent (18 for 36) of his 3-point attempts. Andrew Jones ranks second on the team in scoring at 12.3 per game. Jericho Sims leads the Longhorns in rebounding with 6.7 per game.

Experience
The Longhorns, who play in the Big 12, are likely to pose another stiff test for the Chippewas, who have played teams from the Big Ten (Minnesota) and Big East (DePaul) this season.

The Chippewas did not win either of those games, but both have helped in their growth and development, coach Keno Davis said.

"The game against Minnesota was necessary for us to get better and you saw that growth at DePaul," Davis said. "Although it wasn't a 40-minute execution or effort at DePaul, you saw us get better. We've got a lot of road games coming up … that'll help prepare us for MAC play."

Next
CMU will travel to Pennsylvania for a nonconference game with Robert Morris on Tuesday, Dec. 17 (7 p.m.). Robert Morris is 3-8 and is coming off a 64-59 win over Florida Gulf Coast.

The Chippewas' game at Texas is the second of four consecutive road games for CMU leading up to the MAC opener at home on Saturday, Jan. 4 against Miami (Ohio).

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Players Mentioned

David DiLeo

Devontae Lane

Kevin McKay

Rob Montgomery

Dallas Morgan