Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, February 27
Muncie, Ind.
1 p.m.
Central Michigan University
at
Ball State
PJ Mitchell is one of several Chippewas who have picked up the slack in the absence of two starters.
Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
Chippewa Men Continue Road Trip On Saturday
2/26/2021 2:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan men's basketball team returns to the court on Saturday (1 p.m.) when it travels to Ball State to take on the Cardinals in a Mid-American Conference game.
The Chippewas are 6-14, 2-11 MAC and 0-2 since they returned from a 17-day COVID-related shutdown. Ball State is 8-11 and in eighth place at 6-8 in the MAC. The top eight teams in the standings earn a berth in the MAC Tournament at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland beginning on Thursday, March 11.
Fight the Good Fight
Injuries and COVID have taken their toll on CMU, which is coming down the stretch run of the season at far less than full strength.
In their two games since their return after a 17-day layoff, the Chippewas have played without leading scorer Travon Broadway Jr. and point guard Devontae Lane. They are also missing 6-foot-10 freshman Aundre Polk, who, because of injury, played in just 10 games this season and has not played since early January.
The Chippewas lost by 42 points, to Miami (Ohio), in their first game after their long layoff. On Thursday, they went to Buffalo and were within eight points with under two minutes remaining before succumbing, 85-73.
Junior Caleb Huffman scored 24 points – his second-best output as a Chippewa – in the loss to the Bulls.
Yeoman Effort
With such a short-handed team, CMU coach Keno Davis has had to ask his player to dig deep. CMU's starters – Huffman, Ralph Bissainthe, Matt Beachler, Meikkel Murray and Malik Muhammad – each played at least 28 minutes against Buffalo, with Beachler playing 37 and Huffman logging 36.
The only sub to have played a significant amount was guard PJ Mitchell, who had six assists (against just one turnover) in 31 minute. Both were career highs.
Scouting Ball State
The Cardinals posted a 90-71 win at Kent State on Wednesday, ending the Golden Flashes' win streak at four games. It was Ball State's first win since Feb. 6; the Cardinals lost two games and had three postponed in the interim.
Senior guard K.J. Walton, who started his college career at Missouri, leads a balanced Ball State attack with 15.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Two other guards, Ishmael El-Amin (15.3 points per game) and Jarron Coleman (10.7) also score in double digits, as does 6-8 senior Brachen Hazen (10.0) a transfer from Arkansas.
The Chippewas are 6-14, 2-11 MAC and 0-2 since they returned from a 17-day COVID-related shutdown. Ball State is 8-11 and in eighth place at 6-8 in the MAC. The top eight teams in the standings earn a berth in the MAC Tournament at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland beginning on Thursday, March 11.
Fight the Good Fight
Injuries and COVID have taken their toll on CMU, which is coming down the stretch run of the season at far less than full strength.
In their two games since their return after a 17-day layoff, the Chippewas have played without leading scorer Travon Broadway Jr. and point guard Devontae Lane. They are also missing 6-foot-10 freshman Aundre Polk, who, because of injury, played in just 10 games this season and has not played since early January.
The Chippewas lost by 42 points, to Miami (Ohio), in their first game after their long layoff. On Thursday, they went to Buffalo and were within eight points with under two minutes remaining before succumbing, 85-73.
Junior Caleb Huffman scored 24 points – his second-best output as a Chippewa – in the loss to the Bulls.
Yeoman Effort
With such a short-handed team, CMU coach Keno Davis has had to ask his player to dig deep. CMU's starters – Huffman, Ralph Bissainthe, Matt Beachler, Meikkel Murray and Malik Muhammad – each played at least 28 minutes against Buffalo, with Beachler playing 37 and Huffman logging 36.
The only sub to have played a significant amount was guard PJ Mitchell, who had six assists (against just one turnover) in 31 minute. Both were career highs.
Scouting Ball State
The Cardinals posted a 90-71 win at Kent State on Wednesday, ending the Golden Flashes' win streak at four games. It was Ball State's first win since Feb. 6; the Cardinals lost two games and had three postponed in the interim.
Senior guard K.J. Walton, who started his college career at Missouri, leads a balanced Ball State attack with 15.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Two other guards, Ishmael El-Amin (15.3 points per game) and Jarron Coleman (10.7) also score in double digits, as does 6-8 senior Brachen Hazen (10.0) a transfer from Arkansas.
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