CMU Men Head To Toledo

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- After falling at Kent State, 79-73, on Saturday for its first Mid-American Conference loss of the season, the Central Michigan men's basketball team goes to Toledo on Tuesday (7 p.m.) for a league matchup.

The Chippewas are 9-7, 2-1. The Rockets are 9-7, 1-2.

Last Time Out
The Chippewas were down by as many as 14 points to Kent State, but made a late second-half push to cut their deficit to one, 69-68. However, Kent State was able to hold off CMU to improve to 3-0 in league play.

CMU was without starting guard Kevin McKay because of injury, and then lost starting point guard Devontae Lane in the second half. Senior forward Rob Montgomery was also injured during the game, but remained in the game.

"I was really pleased with our team's effort and the way we were able to come together," CMU coach Keno Davis said. "(It was) an opportunity for other guys to step up, and they did. To be able to go to one of the best teams in this conference, on the road, and play them down to the wire, I think it's something to build upon.

"It doesn't get any easier with Toledo. I'm sure they'll have a great crowd. We're going to have to continue the great effort that we've had and continue to try to improve on our execution."

Team Stats
CMU is tied for second in the country in scoring with Eastern Washington, averaging 84.8 points per game. Gonzaga (87.8) is first.

CMU is surrendering 76.5 points per game. The Chippewas are shooting 45.1 percent from the field, which is third in the MAC.

Defensively, CMU is forcing 17.19 turnovers per game, good for second in the MAC and No. 27 in the country.

Of those 17.19 turnovers, 9.8 of them come off steals, which is also second in the MAC and tied for No. 10 in the country.

Individual Leaders
McKay is the Chippewas' leading scorer and rebounder at 15.4 and 6.1, respectively. He ranks seventh in the MAC in scoring.

McKay is making 66.4 percent of his field goal attempts, ranking seventh among all players in the country and first among guards.

McKay is one of four Chippewas averaging double-figure points per game. David DiLeo is at 13.8, Dallas Morgan at 13.2, and Montgomery at 11.6.

Lane leads CMU in assists with 4.1 per game, which is tied for sixth in the MAC. He is also second in the MAC in steals per game at 2.3.

Scouting Toledo
Toledo is 9-7 (1-2) was picked to win the MAC West in the preseason poll. The Rockets defeated Western Michigan, 67-59, on Saturday, picking up their first MAC victory and snapping a five-game losing streak.

The Rockets are making 36.6 percent of their 3-point attempts, which is second best in the MAC.

Toledo is 6-1 at home this season with its loss coming to Wright State on Dec. 21.

The Rockets have two players who are ranked in the top 10 in scoring in the MAC and features the league's top rebounder, 6-foot-6 senior Willie Jackson, who averages 12.5 boards per. Jackson also averages 11.7 points per game, making him the only player in the MAC averaging a double-double.

Junior guard Marreon Jackson leads the Rockets and ranks third in the league at 17.2 points per game and is second in the MAC in assists per game at 6.2. The Rockets' Luke Knapke averages 15.3 points per game, good for eighth in the conference.

"They have really good size," Davis said of the Rockets. "They can dominate you inside, but they have been maybe the best 3-point shooting team in the conference. They have shooters that can spread the court. That goes all the way from their point guard to their post positions. They do a good job of executing on both ends of the court, and the 3-point shot is always a great option for them."

Next
The Chippewas will return to McGuirk Arena on Saturday, Jan. 18 (2 p.m.) against Buffalo. The Bulls, who have won four of the last five MAC Tournament championships, are 10-6, 1-2. They are scheduled to play host to Ohio on Tuesday.

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Players Mentioned

David DiLeo

Devontae Lane

Kevin McKay

Rob Montgomery

Dallas Morgan