Saturday, December 11
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
4:30 p.m.
Central Michigan University
1-9,0-0MAC
67
vs
71
UIC
3-6,0-2Horizon
1
2
F
UIC
40
31
71
Central Mich.
32
35
67
CMU senior Ralph Bissainthe (right) drives to the basket on Saturday in the Chippewas' loss to UIC.
Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
CMU Men Push UIC To The Limit Before Falling
12/11/2021 8:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Tony Barbee has been saying for weeks that his Central Michigan men's basketball team is getting better, even if the win-loss column doesn't necessarily show it.
Central Michigan fans saw it live on Saturday. No, they didn't win, but the Chippewas put on display that getting-there growth, giving UIC all it could handle before succumbing, 71-67, at McGuirk Arena.
"I thought we lost tonight because we ran out of time, not because we let go of the rope and stopped fighting," said Barbee, who is in his first season in charge of the program. "That is a positive."
Playing without three starters/key reserves Jermain Jackson Jr., Miroslav Stafl and Aundre Polk, the Chippewas (1-9) climbed back in after trailing by 13 points in the second half.
They drew to within one, 68-67, with under 30 seconds to play and it was a one-possession game until the very end, when the Flames (3-6) hit a free throw to ice it.
"Tonight, we found five guys that played their tails off in the second half and it was fun to watch," Barbee said. "I know our fans appreciate it. I'm not into moral victories, but this and Eastern Illinois are the two games this year that I want my teams looking like in terms of how hard we played and competed."
CMU's lone win came at Eastern Illinois, 62-61, on Nov. 15. The Chippewas' brutal nonconference schedule that has included some of the nation's top teams comes to an end on Dec. 19 at Detroit Mercy.
They open Mid-American Conference play on Dec. 29 at Kent State.
"I feel like we're getting better," said CMU senior Ralph Bissainthe, one of the few players on the roster who played for CMU last season. "We're finding cohesiveness because we're playing a lot of games. Twelve new guys, new team, new (coaching) staff; but we're starting to gel together."
Oscar Lopez Jr. scored 17 points and matched his season high with a team-high seven rebounds to lead the Chippewas. Bissainthe and Kevin Miller added 15 points apiece.
CMU trailed 40-32 at halftime and then outscored the Flames, 35-31, over the final 20 minutes.
Miller, a 6-foot freshman, has had to shoulder the load at point guard with the absence of Jackson, who missed his third consecutive game because of illness. It was the third straight game that Miller has scored in double figures and he logged 33 minutes, his second-highest total of the season.
"He's getting better before our eyes," Barbee said. "He's growing up. He's a young freshman. You really don't lose that freshman tag until second semester of your freshman year.
"Kevin is committed to our culture, and that is a culture of work and doing extra. If your team is doing only what's required, you don't have a very good team. And Kevin's one of those guys (who's) watching extra tape, he's getting in extra work. He's growing his basketball IQ and therefore you see (him) getting better game in and game out."
Central Michigan fans saw it live on Saturday. No, they didn't win, but the Chippewas put on display that getting-there growth, giving UIC all it could handle before succumbing, 71-67, at McGuirk Arena.
"I thought we lost tonight because we ran out of time, not because we let go of the rope and stopped fighting," said Barbee, who is in his first season in charge of the program. "That is a positive."
Playing without three starters/key reserves Jermain Jackson Jr., Miroslav Stafl and Aundre Polk, the Chippewas (1-9) climbed back in after trailing by 13 points in the second half.
They drew to within one, 68-67, with under 30 seconds to play and it was a one-possession game until the very end, when the Flames (3-6) hit a free throw to ice it.
"Tonight, we found five guys that played their tails off in the second half and it was fun to watch," Barbee said. "I know our fans appreciate it. I'm not into moral victories, but this and Eastern Illinois are the two games this year that I want my teams looking like in terms of how hard we played and competed."
CMU's lone win came at Eastern Illinois, 62-61, on Nov. 15. The Chippewas' brutal nonconference schedule that has included some of the nation's top teams comes to an end on Dec. 19 at Detroit Mercy.
They open Mid-American Conference play on Dec. 29 at Kent State.
"I feel like we're getting better," said CMU senior Ralph Bissainthe, one of the few players on the roster who played for CMU last season. "We're finding cohesiveness because we're playing a lot of games. Twelve new guys, new team, new (coaching) staff; but we're starting to gel together."
Oscar Lopez Jr. scored 17 points and matched his season high with a team-high seven rebounds to lead the Chippewas. Bissainthe and Kevin Miller added 15 points apiece.
CMU trailed 40-32 at halftime and then outscored the Flames, 35-31, over the final 20 minutes.
Miller, a 6-foot freshman, has had to shoulder the load at point guard with the absence of Jackson, who missed his third consecutive game because of illness. It was the third straight game that Miller has scored in double figures and he logged 33 minutes, his second-highest total of the season.
"He's getting better before our eyes," Barbee said. "He's growing up. He's a young freshman. You really don't lose that freshman tag until second semester of your freshman year.
"Kevin is committed to our culture, and that is a culture of work and doing extra. If your team is doing only what's required, you don't have a very good team. And Kevin's one of those guys (who's) watching extra tape, he's getting in extra work. He's growing his basketball IQ and therefore you see (him) getting better game in and game out."
Team Stats
UIC
CMU
FG%
.400
.400
3FG%
.280
.250
FT%
.690
.697
RB
39
35
TO
13
13
STL
7
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
15
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
9
Players Mentioned
F
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