Thursday, February 3
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
7 p.m.
Central Michigan University
5-13,4-3MAC
65
vs
55
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Western Michigan
4-18,0-11MAC
1
2
F
Western Mich.
28
27
55
Central Mich.
24
41
65
Photo by: Keara Chaperon '22
MBB Tops Western, Runs Win Streak To 3
2/3/2022 10:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Cameron Healy scored 17 of his game-high 23 points in the second half on Thursday as the Central Michigan men's basketball team topped rival Western Michigan, 65-55, in a Mid-American Conference game at McGuirk Arena.
It was the Chippewas' third consecutive win as they improved to 5-13, 4-3 MAC. Western, 4-18, 0-11, lost its 12 straight.
It was a big win for CMU, which is scheduled to host Buffalo on Saturday (4:30 p.m.). The Bulls are 10-8, 4-4.
"We've learned what fighting really means," first-year CMU coach Tony Barbee said. "And when you fight it doesn't guarantee that you're going to win every game but you're going to give yourself a chance. We're fighting on both ends of the floor."
Kevin Miller added 18 points and Brian Taylor had 11 for the Chippewas. A Miller bucket with 11:28 to play broke a 37-37 tie and gave CMU its first lead.
The Chippewas never trailed after that, closing the game on a 28-18 run against their bitter rivals.
"Some of the veteran guys who have been here in this program just let us know that it's a big game (and) that we've really got to come out for the school and try and get it done today," said Healy, a graduate transfer who, like so many Chippewas, experienced the CMU-WMU rivalry for the first time. "We're just focused now on building this win streak."
The game was played before 1,700 fans, who became increasingly raucous as the game progressed. It was the largest crowd of CMU's six home dates this season.
"I appreciate the crowd being here," Barbee said. "I've told our team from the start of the year, we have got to give these fans, this community, a reason to show up and support (us). And I told our team, 'Now let's give them a reason to come back. Let's have that same crowd and even greater (against) Buffalo.'
"It's not the home-run plays, highlight dunks, crazy dribbling, deep 3's – that's not why this community's going to support a basketball team.
"They're going to support a basketball team based on the identity of this community being a blue-collar town. They're going to support a blue-collar team. And now this team is showing, and they're buying in and understanding, what blue collar means."
Healy hit all three of his 3-pointers in the second half and Miller scored 12 of his 18 points after halftime. Miller also had six assists against just two turnovers. He is averaging 17.6 points and 8.3 assists in his last three games.
Healy's point total was one shy of his high as a Chippewa and the student section showed its appreciation with "M-V-P" chants.
"I feel like I'm just in a confident space," said Healy, who had 21 points in the Chippewas' win over Bowling Green on Tuesday and is averaging 16.6 points per game on 49.2-percent shooting in his last six. "I'm not trying to do anything outside of what I feel like I'm capable of doing or what I've been asked to do in the past.
"I just know my role as a shooter and a scorer and I'm just trying to do what the coaches as from me. Everyone has to bring something for us to win … I'm just playing to my strengths."
The Chippewas trailed 28-24 after a first half that saw few offensive highlights on either side. In the second half, the Chippewas made 11 of their 16 field goal tries (68.8 percent) while holding the Broncos to a 10-for-27 clip (37 percent).
"When your offense isn't going, you can always hang your hat on your defense and that's what we did tonight," Barbee said. "And in the second half the offense got going and we were able to get away from them.
"We stayed the course; we didn't panic. We stayed tough; we imposed our will on the game and that's what good teams do and we're becoming a good team before everybody's eyes."
It was the Chippewas' third consecutive win as they improved to 5-13, 4-3 MAC. Western, 4-18, 0-11, lost its 12 straight.
It was a big win for CMU, which is scheduled to host Buffalo on Saturday (4:30 p.m.). The Bulls are 10-8, 4-4.
"We've learned what fighting really means," first-year CMU coach Tony Barbee said. "And when you fight it doesn't guarantee that you're going to win every game but you're going to give yourself a chance. We're fighting on both ends of the floor."
Kevin Miller added 18 points and Brian Taylor had 11 for the Chippewas. A Miller bucket with 11:28 to play broke a 37-37 tie and gave CMU its first lead.
The Chippewas never trailed after that, closing the game on a 28-18 run against their bitter rivals.
"Some of the veteran guys who have been here in this program just let us know that it's a big game (and) that we've really got to come out for the school and try and get it done today," said Healy, a graduate transfer who, like so many Chippewas, experienced the CMU-WMU rivalry for the first time. "We're just focused now on building this win streak."
The game was played before 1,700 fans, who became increasingly raucous as the game progressed. It was the largest crowd of CMU's six home dates this season.
"I appreciate the crowd being here," Barbee said. "I've told our team from the start of the year, we have got to give these fans, this community, a reason to show up and support (us). And I told our team, 'Now let's give them a reason to come back. Let's have that same crowd and even greater (against) Buffalo.'
"It's not the home-run plays, highlight dunks, crazy dribbling, deep 3's – that's not why this community's going to support a basketball team.
"They're going to support a basketball team based on the identity of this community being a blue-collar town. They're going to support a blue-collar team. And now this team is showing, and they're buying in and understanding, what blue collar means."
Healy hit all three of his 3-pointers in the second half and Miller scored 12 of his 18 points after halftime. Miller also had six assists against just two turnovers. He is averaging 17.6 points and 8.3 assists in his last three games.
Healy's point total was one shy of his high as a Chippewa and the student section showed its appreciation with "M-V-P" chants.
"I feel like I'm just in a confident space," said Healy, who had 21 points in the Chippewas' win over Bowling Green on Tuesday and is averaging 16.6 points per game on 49.2-percent shooting in his last six. "I'm not trying to do anything outside of what I feel like I'm capable of doing or what I've been asked to do in the past.
"I just know my role as a shooter and a scorer and I'm just trying to do what the coaches as from me. Everyone has to bring something for us to win … I'm just playing to my strengths."
The Chippewas trailed 28-24 after a first half that saw few offensive highlights on either side. In the second half, the Chippewas made 11 of their 16 field goal tries (68.8 percent) while holding the Broncos to a 10-for-27 clip (37 percent).
"When your offense isn't going, you can always hang your hat on your defense and that's what we did tonight," Barbee said. "And in the second half the offense got going and we were able to get away from them.
"We stayed the course; we didn't panic. We stayed tough; we imposed our will on the game and that's what good teams do and we're becoming a good team before everybody's eyes."
Team Stats
WMU
CMU
FG%
.388
.500
3FG%
.276
.357
FT%
.500
.688
RB
29
30
TO
10
10
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
6
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
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