Tuesday, January 2
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
7 p.m.
Central Michigan University
5-8,0-1MAC
64
vs
76
Buffalo
2-11,1-0MAC
1
2
F
Buffalo
36
40
76
Central Mich.
18
46
64
Team Stats
UB
CMU
FG%
.500
.369
3FG%
.300
.130
FT%
.909
.722
RB
40
28
TO
18
8
STL
5
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
CMU guard Aidan Rubio (13) drives to the basket Tuesday in the Chippewas' 76-64 loss to Buffalo at McGuirk Arena.
Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
Men's Basketball Drops MAC Opener to Buffalo
1/2/2024 10:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Cold shooting, slow start combine to hamper Chippewas
MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH. – A slow start, poor shooting, and a one-win opponent that played above what it's record would indicate.
It added up to a disheartening loss for the Central Michigan men's basketball team in its Mid-American Conference opener on Tuesday at McGuirk Arena.
The Chippewas found themselves in an early double-digit deficit and made just three of their 23 3-point field goal attempts in falling to Buffalo, 76-64.
The loss dropped the Chippewas to 5-8. They play at Ball State on Saturday, Jan. 6. Buffalo (2-11) snapped a nine-game losing streak.
"What's happening right now, it's all about me," said CMU coach Tony Barbee, whose team made just one of its 12 triple tries on Saturday in falling at Loyola Chicago. "I've got to do a better job of coaching these guys. That's the bottom line."
The Chippewas never led and found themselves down 13, 21-8, midway through the first half. The Bulls led 36-18 at halftime.
CMU managed to creep within six, 50-44, midway through the second half, but could get no closer. The Chippewas missed their first 17 3-point tries and their first didn't fall until seven minutes remained in the game.
The Chippewas outscored the Bulls, 46-40, in the final 20 minutes.
"We fought in the second half, we won the second half, but it's hard to win games shooting 22 percent (in the first half)," Barbee said. "The energy was great in the second half. We played harder, we played with more confidence, we got after them. I've got to go back and watch the tape: Why are we getting off to starts like this? We're starting the game like we're scared. What are we scared of?"
The Chippewas finished 36.9 percent from the floor overall. The Bulls made 50 percent of their field goal attempts, hit 20 of their 22 free throw attempts, and outrebounded the Chippewas, 40-28. CMU forced 18 turnovers, a factor that helped it stay in the hunt.
"Right now that is the crux of all of our issues and we're letting the lack of offense affect our defense," Barbee said. "We've got really good shooters and I don't say a word offensively.
"I want these guys to have unbelievable confidence and we've got guys who will be wide open and pump fake. You can't play this game scared. I want them to play unselfishly, I want them to play for their teammates, I want them to create for each other. You get confidence from the work that you put into this game, so we've got some guys who have got to answer to themselves when they look in the mirror. Are they putting in the work?
"Good players don't depend on coaches to give them confidence. I can tell you you're the best thing since sliced bread, but if you don't put in the work outside of what's required to have supreme confidence come game time, there's nothing I can tell you."
Anthony Pritchard scored 19 points for CMU, while Brian Taylor had 13, Markus Harding added 12, and Paul McMillan finished with 11. Harding and Taylor had eight rebounds apiece.
Sy Chatman hit 12 of his 13 free throw attempts and finished with 26 points and eight rebounds to lead Buffalo.
"They've got a difference maker in the Chatman kid," Barbee said. "He was the best player on the floor tonight.
"I don't know if we didn't take them seriously, but I painted the picture for (our players) that if we didn't come out from the jump ball ready to play, this was going to be a hard night for them because of how talented (Buffalo is) across the board; they're talented. We weren't ready to play tonight and they were, and that's on me.
"I'm always confident, but it's not my confidence I'm worried about. The players have got to be confident. They're the ones playing the game. No, we're not where we want to be, but we've got to figure it out soon."
It added up to a disheartening loss for the Central Michigan men's basketball team in its Mid-American Conference opener on Tuesday at McGuirk Arena.
The Chippewas found themselves in an early double-digit deficit and made just three of their 23 3-point field goal attempts in falling to Buffalo, 76-64.
The loss dropped the Chippewas to 5-8. They play at Ball State on Saturday, Jan. 6. Buffalo (2-11) snapped a nine-game losing streak.
"What's happening right now, it's all about me," said CMU coach Tony Barbee, whose team made just one of its 12 triple tries on Saturday in falling at Loyola Chicago. "I've got to do a better job of coaching these guys. That's the bottom line."
The Chippewas never led and found themselves down 13, 21-8, midway through the first half. The Bulls led 36-18 at halftime.
CMU managed to creep within six, 50-44, midway through the second half, but could get no closer. The Chippewas missed their first 17 3-point tries and their first didn't fall until seven minutes remained in the game.
The Chippewas outscored the Bulls, 46-40, in the final 20 minutes.
"We fought in the second half, we won the second half, but it's hard to win games shooting 22 percent (in the first half)," Barbee said. "The energy was great in the second half. We played harder, we played with more confidence, we got after them. I've got to go back and watch the tape: Why are we getting off to starts like this? We're starting the game like we're scared. What are we scared of?"
The Chippewas finished 36.9 percent from the floor overall. The Bulls made 50 percent of their field goal attempts, hit 20 of their 22 free throw attempts, and outrebounded the Chippewas, 40-28. CMU forced 18 turnovers, a factor that helped it stay in the hunt.
"Right now that is the crux of all of our issues and we're letting the lack of offense affect our defense," Barbee said. "We've got really good shooters and I don't say a word offensively.
"I want these guys to have unbelievable confidence and we've got guys who will be wide open and pump fake. You can't play this game scared. I want them to play unselfishly, I want them to play for their teammates, I want them to create for each other. You get confidence from the work that you put into this game, so we've got some guys who have got to answer to themselves when they look in the mirror. Are they putting in the work?
"Good players don't depend on coaches to give them confidence. I can tell you you're the best thing since sliced bread, but if you don't put in the work outside of what's required to have supreme confidence come game time, there's nothing I can tell you."
Anthony Pritchard scored 19 points for CMU, while Brian Taylor had 13, Markus Harding added 12, and Paul McMillan finished with 11. Harding and Taylor had eight rebounds apiece.
Sy Chatman hit 12 of his 13 free throw attempts and finished with 26 points and eight rebounds to lead Buffalo.
"They've got a difference maker in the Chatman kid," Barbee said. "He was the best player on the floor tonight.
"I don't know if we didn't take them seriously, but I painted the picture for (our players) that if we didn't come out from the jump ball ready to play, this was going to be a hard night for them because of how talented (Buffalo is) across the board; they're talented. We weren't ready to play tonight and they were, and that's on me.
"I'm always confident, but it's not my confidence I'm worried about. The players have got to be confident. They're the ones playing the game. No, we're not where we want to be, but we've got to figure it out soon."
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