Saturday, December 14
Valparaiso, Ind./Athletics Recreation Center
4:00 PM ET/3:00 PM CT
Central Michigan University
5-4,0-0MAC
77
at
93
Valparaiso
5-4,0-1MVC
1
2
F
Central Mich.
31
46
77
Valparaiso
36
57
93
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
Team Stats
CMU
VALPO
FG%
.418
.466
3FG%
.235
.423
FT%
.794
.903
RB
33
35
TO
16
16
STL
8
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
Valparaiso Pulls Away Late to Defeat Chippewas 93-77
12/14/2024 7:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Valparaiso shoots 55 percent, hits 20 of 21 free throws in the second half; Chippewas led by Anthony Pritchard’s 20 points and Ugnius Jarusevicius who scored all 18 of his points in the second half.
VALPARAISO, Ind.—Valparaiso outscored Central Michigan 9-1 over a three-minute span late in the second half and converted nine of its final 10 field goal attempts to pull away from a closely-contested, back-and-forth defensive battle in claiming a 93-77 men's basketball win Saturday afternoon at Valpo's Athletic Recreation Center. The loss dropped Central Michigan to 5-4 overall, while host Valparaiso improves to 5-4 overall.
In scoring an opponent season-high 93 points against Central Michigan, Valparaiso converted 55.2 percent (16-29) and 5-8 3-pointers in the second half, and also hit 28 of its 31 free throws (90.3 percent) to register the win. All Wright led the Beacons with 26 points (4-8 3FG), Tyler Schmidt finished with 21 points (4-5 3FG) and Jefferson Dela Cruz Monegro added 16 for the host Beacons.
The 93 points were the most CMU yielded to an opponent since Creighton scored 109 vs. the Chippewas on Dec. 9, 2023. Its 11 3-pointers also marked an CMU opponent high on the year.
"I thought our defense was horrendous and that cost us the game," Central Michigan head coach Tony Barbee said. "We lost our edge over finals break. Not only was it an extended break over finals, but more importantly, we haven't been able to practice. We've got half of our team in street clothes. When your starters and rotation guys are having to go against managers everyday and walk-ons, it's hard to keep your edge. It was a disappointing game. Give Valparaiso credit. We let them score 93 points."
"We did a good job in the first half. At the end of the day, we had too many no-shows tonight. We had some guys who couldn't score, didn't rebound. We have to find a way to recreate the type of intensity that you have to play in these games."
Central Michigan was led by Anthony Pritchard, who notched his second 20-point game of the season with 20 points with six rebounds, Ugnius Jarusevicius contributed 18 points and six rebounds, all 18 in the second half, Jakobi Heady registered his ninth straight double figure scoring game with 13 points and six rebounds, Cayden Vasko finished with 10 points. It marked Pritchard's fifth career 20-point scoring game.
After a closely-contested back-and-forth battle through the game's first 30 minutes, Valparaiso put the game out of reach with a run. With the score tied at 54-54, Valparaiso advantage of a 3-pointer by Schmidt and followed with an open jumper by Darius Deaveiro for a five-point lead. After CMU's Pritchard converted 1-2 free throws, Schmidt hit a jumper and then Isaiah Shaw hit two free throws for a commanding 63-55 lead with 7:27 to play. Central Michigan could not overcome that lead.
From that point on, Valpo hit nine of their last 10 shots and converted most of its free throws. In the second half, Valparaiso converted 20 of its 21 free throws.
The first half featured a defensive battle. Valparaiso pulled away in the half's final seconds as Schmidt hit a 3-pointer and then Schmidt converted two free throws following a CMU foul and technical foul to take a 36-31 halftime lead.
The half featured a back-and-forth close game as neither team put together a run larger than 6-0. Central Michigan hit 34.8 percent of its field goal attempts (8-23) and hit three 3-pointers as Bonds hit three 3-pointers for nine points and Pritchard scored eight. The Chippewas also had six steals and nine turnovers and converted 12 of 14 free throws in the first half.
Two Valpo players scored 24 of its 36 points as Wright scored 13 points and Schmidt had 11 in the first half.
Barbee spoke about how the Chippewas did not take advantage when they registered flurry of stops.
"We didn't get a whole lot in transition off our stops in the first half," Barbee said. "At one point when we went to zone, we stopped them eight out of nine times in a row and didn't score. Those are times where you've got to go on your runs, when you get those stops. We didn't move the scoreboard a bit."
"There are a lot of things we did well today, but at the end of the day, we lost our edge. We've got find it quickly for these next few games before we take a break for Christmas."
Central Michigan started Jarusevicius, Heady, VanderJagt, Vasko, and Pritchard.
Central Michigan entered the game after winning four of its last five. The matchup marked the Chippewas' first game following a nine-day break for final exams. It also marked the second of four straight road games that Central Michigan will play before the holiday: at Mississippi State (Tuesday, Dec. 17) and at Arizona (Saturday, Dec. 21).
CMU men's basketball season tickets and single game tickets are on sale. Fans can order season tickets by calling Ticket Central at (989) 774-3045, by ordering on this link, or by stopping by Ticket Central located in the John G. Kulhavi Events Center between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Single-game tickets are also on sale. For more information, click here.
In scoring an opponent season-high 93 points against Central Michigan, Valparaiso converted 55.2 percent (16-29) and 5-8 3-pointers in the second half, and also hit 28 of its 31 free throws (90.3 percent) to register the win. All Wright led the Beacons with 26 points (4-8 3FG), Tyler Schmidt finished with 21 points (4-5 3FG) and Jefferson Dela Cruz Monegro added 16 for the host Beacons.
The 93 points were the most CMU yielded to an opponent since Creighton scored 109 vs. the Chippewas on Dec. 9, 2023. Its 11 3-pointers also marked an CMU opponent high on the year.
"I thought our defense was horrendous and that cost us the game," Central Michigan head coach Tony Barbee said. "We lost our edge over finals break. Not only was it an extended break over finals, but more importantly, we haven't been able to practice. We've got half of our team in street clothes. When your starters and rotation guys are having to go against managers everyday and walk-ons, it's hard to keep your edge. It was a disappointing game. Give Valparaiso credit. We let them score 93 points."
"We did a good job in the first half. At the end of the day, we had too many no-shows tonight. We had some guys who couldn't score, didn't rebound. We have to find a way to recreate the type of intensity that you have to play in these games."
Central Michigan was led by Anthony Pritchard, who notched his second 20-point game of the season with 20 points with six rebounds, Ugnius Jarusevicius contributed 18 points and six rebounds, all 18 in the second half, Jakobi Heady registered his ninth straight double figure scoring game with 13 points and six rebounds, Cayden Vasko finished with 10 points. It marked Pritchard's fifth career 20-point scoring game.
After a closely-contested back-and-forth battle through the game's first 30 minutes, Valparaiso put the game out of reach with a run. With the score tied at 54-54, Valparaiso advantage of a 3-pointer by Schmidt and followed with an open jumper by Darius Deaveiro for a five-point lead. After CMU's Pritchard converted 1-2 free throws, Schmidt hit a jumper and then Isaiah Shaw hit two free throws for a commanding 63-55 lead with 7:27 to play. Central Michigan could not overcome that lead.
From that point on, Valpo hit nine of their last 10 shots and converted most of its free throws. In the second half, Valparaiso converted 20 of its 21 free throws.
The first half featured a defensive battle. Valparaiso pulled away in the half's final seconds as Schmidt hit a 3-pointer and then Schmidt converted two free throws following a CMU foul and technical foul to take a 36-31 halftime lead.
The half featured a back-and-forth close game as neither team put together a run larger than 6-0. Central Michigan hit 34.8 percent of its field goal attempts (8-23) and hit three 3-pointers as Bonds hit three 3-pointers for nine points and Pritchard scored eight. The Chippewas also had six steals and nine turnovers and converted 12 of 14 free throws in the first half.
Two Valpo players scored 24 of its 36 points as Wright scored 13 points and Schmidt had 11 in the first half.
Barbee spoke about how the Chippewas did not take advantage when they registered flurry of stops.
"We didn't get a whole lot in transition off our stops in the first half," Barbee said. "At one point when we went to zone, we stopped them eight out of nine times in a row and didn't score. Those are times where you've got to go on your runs, when you get those stops. We didn't move the scoreboard a bit."
"There are a lot of things we did well today, but at the end of the day, we lost our edge. We've got find it quickly for these next few games before we take a break for Christmas."
Central Michigan started Jarusevicius, Heady, VanderJagt, Vasko, and Pritchard.
Central Michigan entered the game after winning four of its last five. The matchup marked the Chippewas' first game following a nine-day break for final exams. It also marked the second of four straight road games that Central Michigan will play before the holiday: at Mississippi State (Tuesday, Dec. 17) and at Arizona (Saturday, Dec. 21).
CMU men's basketball season tickets and single game tickets are on sale. Fans can order season tickets by calling Ticket Central at (989) 774-3045, by ordering on this link, or by stopping by Ticket Central located in the John G. Kulhavi Events Center between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Single-game tickets are also on sale. For more information, click here.
—CMU—
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