Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, December 12
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
4:30 p.m.
Central Michigan University
vs
Valparaiso
Photo by: FIU Athletics
Chippewa Men Face Valpo In Home Opener
12/11/2020 2:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan men's basketball team is set to play its home opener on Saturday (4:30 p.m.) against Valparaiso at McGuirk Arena.
The game is the nightcap of a CMU basketball doubleheader. The Chippewa women are set to take on Cincinnati in a nonleague game at noon at McGuirk.
The Chippewas posted their first win of the season on Sunday when they topped Western Illinois, 79-73, behind a strong second-half performance.
The Chippewas (1-3) got a breakout performance from Aundre Polk, a 6-foot-10 freshman center, who scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds. He made nine of his 11 field goal attempts and scored 15 of his points in the second half, when CMU outscored the Leathernecks, 48-35.
Senior point guard Devontae Lane added a season-high 14 points in the win.
Good Company
Polk's 19-point output at Western Illinois was the best by a CMU true freshman since Braylon Rayson scored a program-record 30 in a win over Ball State on Feb. 19, 2014.
Mr. Consistency
Travon Broadway Jr., a 6-5 senior guard, is leading the Chippewas in scoring (15.5 points per game) and is tied for the top spot in rebounding (5.0). In CMU's four games, Broadway has scored 15, 19, 17 and 11 points.
His 19-point effort, the best of his CMU career, came in the second game of the season, a 96-76 loss to Florida International in Miami, Broadway's hometown.
Scouting
The Crusaders (2-3), who play in the Missouri Valley Conference, have won their last two starts, 85-45 over NAIA Judson (Ill.), and 80-58 over SIU Edwardsville. Their losses have come to Vanderbilt, 77-71; to Illinois-Chicago, 66-50; and to Purdue, 68-61.
UIC is the lone common opponent. The Chippewas fell to the Flames, in Chicago, 74-72, in their season opener.
Ben Krikke, a 6-9 sophomore, and Donovan Clay, a 6-7 sophomore, lead a balanced Valparaiso offense. Krikke averages 9.8 points per game, while Clay averages 9.2.
The Series
Saturday's game marks the ninth meeting between the Chippewas and Crusaders. The series is tied 4-4. Valparaiso won last season, 77-55, in Indiana.
Next
The Chippewas are scheduled to play at home on Monday, Dec. 14 (7 p.m.) against St. Francis (Ill.). St. Francis, an NAIA program, is 3-1. It will be CMU's final nonconference game. The Chippewas are slated to open Mid-American Conference play on Friday, Dec. 18 at Western Michigan.
The game is the nightcap of a CMU basketball doubleheader. The Chippewa women are set to take on Cincinnati in a nonleague game at noon at McGuirk.
The Chippewas posted their first win of the season on Sunday when they topped Western Illinois, 79-73, behind a strong second-half performance.
The Chippewas (1-3) got a breakout performance from Aundre Polk, a 6-foot-10 freshman center, who scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds. He made nine of his 11 field goal attempts and scored 15 of his points in the second half, when CMU outscored the Leathernecks, 48-35.
Senior point guard Devontae Lane added a season-high 14 points in the win.
Good Company
Polk's 19-point output at Western Illinois was the best by a CMU true freshman since Braylon Rayson scored a program-record 30 in a win over Ball State on Feb. 19, 2014.
Mr. Consistency
Travon Broadway Jr., a 6-5 senior guard, is leading the Chippewas in scoring (15.5 points per game) and is tied for the top spot in rebounding (5.0). In CMU's four games, Broadway has scored 15, 19, 17 and 11 points.
His 19-point effort, the best of his CMU career, came in the second game of the season, a 96-76 loss to Florida International in Miami, Broadway's hometown.
Scouting
The Crusaders (2-3), who play in the Missouri Valley Conference, have won their last two starts, 85-45 over NAIA Judson (Ill.), and 80-58 over SIU Edwardsville. Their losses have come to Vanderbilt, 77-71; to Illinois-Chicago, 66-50; and to Purdue, 68-61.
UIC is the lone common opponent. The Chippewas fell to the Flames, in Chicago, 74-72, in their season opener.
Ben Krikke, a 6-9 sophomore, and Donovan Clay, a 6-7 sophomore, lead a balanced Valparaiso offense. Krikke averages 9.8 points per game, while Clay averages 9.2.
The Series
Saturday's game marks the ninth meeting between the Chippewas and Crusaders. The series is tied 4-4. Valparaiso won last season, 77-55, in Indiana.
Next
The Chippewas are scheduled to play at home on Monday, Dec. 14 (7 p.m.) against St. Francis (Ill.). St. Francis, an NAIA program, is 3-1. It will be CMU's final nonconference game. The Chippewas are slated to open Mid-American Conference play on Friday, Dec. 18 at Western Michigan.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
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