Chippewas Fall to Toledo

Saturday, March 2

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

4:30 p.m. ET

Central Michigan University

20-9, 9-7

Toledo

23-6, 11-5

Toledo

Central Michigan

Photo by: Allissa Rusco

3/2/2019 8:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Roundtree and Austin combine for 42 points on Senior Day

By: Mitch Vosburg, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan men's basketball team dropped an 80-68 contest to MAC West frontrunner Toledo Saturday afternoon in McGuirk Arena.

The Chippewas fall to 20-9 overall and 9-7 in MAC play. The Rockets improve to 23-6 overall, 11-5 in the MAC.

"Hopefully we can learn from this game, get healthy and make a stretch run for the final couple of regular season games," said CMU head coach Keno Davis.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing by double-digit points in the second half, the Chippewas used a 16-6 run, capped by a jumper from Dallas Morgan, to cut the deficit to one point at 48-47 with 12:51 remaining. However, the Rockets held on and were able to open their lead back to six points under two minutes later.

CMU fought back again, using a Morgan 3-pointer and a pair of David DiLeo free throws to trim the Rocket advantage back to one point with 9:39 remaining.

The Rockets then embarked on a decisive 11-3 run to open a 10-point lead and kept CMU at bay in the closing minutes to claim the win.

LEADERS
Shawn Roundtree Jr. scored 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting. He is 14 points shy of reaching 1,000 for his career entering Tuesday's home game versus Northern Illinois

Morgan posted 13 points in his second career start.

Larry Austin Jr. scored 20 points and recorded two steals, giving him 62 for the season and moving him to a three-way tie for No. 2 on the single-season steals list with Dave Grauzer (1977-78) and Kevin McKay (2017-18). He needs only two steals to own the record.

Toledo's Luke Knapke finished with 19 points, five rebounds, five blocks and four assists on 8-of-9 shooting.

SENIOR DAY
Roundtree, Austin and Austin Ervin were honored before tip-off, receiving commemorative framed jersey's while being recognized with their families in front of 2,216 fans.

"It means you're leaving a great culture we've built here. It means you're leaving your brothers, the coaching staff and a great team," Austin remarked regarding Senior Day. "It means a lot to come out here and compete with your brothers on the court for the (second to) last time. It means a lot."

Roundtree also reflected on what it means to play one of his final home games in McGuirk Arena.

"For (today) to finally be our day, our senior night, is kind of surreal," Roundtree said. "Overall it's a blessing to be in a spot, a school, where we feel loved. It's a great feeling when you feel like you're at home."

WHAT IT MEANS
The Chippewas currently hold the fourth seed for the MAC Tournament, owning a tie-breaker over 9-7 Kent State for a first-round bye in the conference tournament and a guaranteed trip to Cleveland.

NEXT
The Chippewas play their final regular season game in McGuirk Arena at 7 p.m. Tuesday against NIU. CMU defeated the Huskies, 78-69, Jan. 15 in DeKalb, Ill.