Chippewas Close Out Year With 85-39 Win Over Cleary

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Ugnius Jarusevicius led four Chippewas in double figures with his second career double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds and the hosts took advantage of 63.2 percent field goal shooting as the Central Michigan men's basketball team closed out 2024 with an 85-39 victory over NAIA Cleary Monday afternoon at McGuirk Arena.

The Chippewas were playing for the first time after taking a nine-day holiday break. Central Michigan improves to 6-6 overall on the year and snapped a three-game losing streak.

Central Michigan opens the New Year and Mid-American Conference competition on Saturday when it hosts league favorite Ohio. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at McGuirk Arena. Ohio was picked to win the league's regular season and tournament championships in the annual MAC preseason coaches' poll.

After missing CMU's previous two games, Jarusevicius led the Chippewas with a game-high 15 points and 13 rebounds. It marked his second career double double as he registered 11 points and 14 rebounds at Marquette in November. Bryan Ndjonga scored a career-high 14 points (6-6 FG) with a career-high four blocked shots, and Kyler VanderJagt added 14 points (7-12 FG). Jakobi Heady tallied his 11^th double figure scoring in 12 games with 13 points.

Central Michigan did the job on defense as it held Cleary to 26.4 percent (14-53) from the floor and limited the Cougars to 3-26 shooting from 3-point range. The Chippewas outrebounded Cleary 38-24 and finished with a season-high 15 steals.

On offense, Central Michigan converted 36 of 57 shots and just 2-5 3-pointers. The Chippewas outscored Cleary 40-10 on turnvoers and 62-14 in the paint.

After the opening tipoff, the Chippewas jumped out to a 17-0 lead. Jarusevicius won the tipoff and then scored a layup in the paint. Anthony Pritchard followed with a fast break layup off a turnover, Heady made 1-2 free throws, Ndjonga scored on a dunk, Jarusevicius made it 9-0 on a jumper in the paint. Heady followed with a jumper, hit two free throws, then Damarion Bonds converted a jumper, and VanderJagt made it 17-0 on a layup in the paint. Finally, Cleary's Austin Santure scored on a layup.

Cleary cut CMU's lead down to 11 points (27-16) with 3:54 to play in the first half on a Chaz Cobbs field goal, but that was as close as they came.

Central Michigan led by as many as 48 points with 5:30 to play.

Ten Chippewas saw action in the game. Shaedon Simpson also saw his first action in 10 contests. Central Michigan started Ndjonga, Jarusevicius, Heady, Cayden Vasko, and Pritchard.

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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Team Stats

Ugnius Jarusevicius

Kyler VanderJagt

Bryan Ndjonga

Jakobi Heady

Players Mentioned

Damarion Bonds

Jakobi Heady

Ugnius Jarusevicius

Bryan Ndjonga

Anthony Pritchard

Shaedon Simpson

Kyler VanderJagt

Cayden Vasko

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Next Event

Team Stats

Game Leaders

Ugnius Jarusevicius

Kyler VanderJagt

Bryan Ndjonga

Jakobi Heady

Players Mentioned

Damarion Bonds

Jakobi Heady

Ugnius Jarusevicius

Bryan Ndjonga

Anthony Pritchard

Shaedon Simpson

Kyler VanderJagt

Cayden Vasko

Chippewas Close Out Year With 85-39 Win Over Cleary

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