Wednesday, December 8
Youngstown, Ohio
7 p.m.
Central Michigan University
1-8,0-0MAC
77
at
84
Youngstown State
5-3,2-0Horizon
1
2
F
Central Mich.
34
43
77
Youngstown St.
46
38
84
Photo by: Silas Walker
CMU Men Fall At Youngstown State
12/8/2021 9:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Sometimes, Central Michigan men's basketball coach Tony Barbee said, it's hard to focus on the big picture.
A good effort, a competitive game, but not enough to make up an early double-digit deficit as Barbee's Chippewas fell to Youngstown State, 84-77, on Wednesday in a nonconference game at the Penguins' Beeghly Center.
The Chippewas (1-8) play host to UIC on Saturday (4:30 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena.
"They're young guys and you're trying to keep them positive because it's hard for them to see the forest for the trees when you start talking wins and losses," Barbee said of his players. "It's a long season. This is a process of us getting better and growing as a program.
"I keep saying it; it's not showing up in the win-loss column, but this team is getting better."
Oscar Lopez Jr. scored 21 points to lead four Chippewas in double figures. The junior transfer from DePaul made three of his five 3-point attempts and CMU finished 10 for 19 from long range.
Ralph Bissainthe came off the bench to add 15 points and lead CMU with six rebounds, and Kevin Miller added 13 points. The point totals for both Lopez and Bissainthe were season highs.
The 77 points was a season best for the Chippewas, and their .545 field goal percentage was also their season high.
Trouble was, the Penguins (5-3) made 56.1 percent of their field goal tries overall including 66.7 percent in the first half, when they pulled out to a 15-point lead, 41-26, with under three minutes remaining before the break.
CMU hung in and crept as close as four points midway through the second half and was within five, 82-77, with under 20 seconds remaining.
But the Penguins had an answer every time CMU threatened.
"There's a lot of positives to take away," Barbee said. "This is a long season; it's about the process of our young program growing and getting better. I think we're getting better, but not fast enough in the area that matters the most and that's defense."
A good effort, a competitive game, but not enough to make up an early double-digit deficit as Barbee's Chippewas fell to Youngstown State, 84-77, on Wednesday in a nonconference game at the Penguins' Beeghly Center.
The Chippewas (1-8) play host to UIC on Saturday (4:30 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena.
"They're young guys and you're trying to keep them positive because it's hard for them to see the forest for the trees when you start talking wins and losses," Barbee said of his players. "It's a long season. This is a process of us getting better and growing as a program.
"I keep saying it; it's not showing up in the win-loss column, but this team is getting better."
Oscar Lopez Jr. scored 21 points to lead four Chippewas in double figures. The junior transfer from DePaul made three of his five 3-point attempts and CMU finished 10 for 19 from long range.
Ralph Bissainthe came off the bench to add 15 points and lead CMU with six rebounds, and Kevin Miller added 13 points. The point totals for both Lopez and Bissainthe were season highs.
The 77 points was a season best for the Chippewas, and their .545 field goal percentage was also their season high.
Trouble was, the Penguins (5-3) made 56.1 percent of their field goal tries overall including 66.7 percent in the first half, when they pulled out to a 15-point lead, 41-26, with under three minutes remaining before the break.
CMU hung in and crept as close as four points midway through the second half and was within five, 82-77, with under 20 seconds remaining.
But the Penguins had an answer every time CMU threatened.
"There's a lot of positives to take away," Barbee said. "This is a long season; it's about the process of our young program growing and getting better. I think we're getting better, but not fast enough in the area that matters the most and that's defense."
Team Stats
CMU
YSU
FG%
.545
.561
3FG%
.526
.478
FT%
.778
.750
RB
26
26
TO
13
10
STL
6
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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