Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU All-Time Leading Scorer Sugar McLaughlin to be Honored Prior to Toilet Paper Toss
2/16/2024 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
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McLaughlin will join 12 other distinguished Central Michigan men’s basketball alumni members in attendance at Saturday’s Toilet Paper Toss.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Central Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame men's basketball player Melvin "Sugar" McLaughlin (1980-83) will be honored prior to Saturday's Toilet Paper Toss game. McLaughlin is one of 13 distinguished alumni members expected to be in attendance on Saturday at McGuirk Arena.
Nicknamed "Sugar," Melvin's jersey No. 14 is retired and he is Central Michigan's all-time leading scorer with 2,071 career points. Named the 1982 Mid-American Conference "Player of the Year," McLaughlin earned three All-MAC honors, including two First Team All-MAC accolades. On four different occasions, he broke the 40-point barrier, including a career-high 46 points vs. Bowling Green on March 2, 1983.
A long-range marksman who played before the three-point shot, McLaughlin's career scoring average of 20.3 still ranks No. 3 in school history, his 196 steals rank No. 2, and his 288 assists rank No. 6. He also concluded his career with a stellar 775 free throw percentage. In 1982-83, he averaged 24.1 points a game, which ranks No. 3 among the school's top scoring seasons. McLaughlin played his entire career under legendary head coach Dick Parfitt.
Following his Central Michigan career, McLaughlin was selected in the 1983 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Joining McLaughlin at Central Michigan on Saturday are 12 other alumni players including Steve Rambadt (1978-81), Dave Ginsberg (1966-68), former assistant coach Bob Sippell, former assistant coach Walt Schneider, Jim Murray (1984-87), Ric Wesley (1978-79), Dan Young (1989-91), Dave Grauzer (1977-79), Ben Poquette (1974-77), Carter Briggs (1989-90), Melvin Kelly (1990-91), and Mike Robinson (1979-81).
A member of the CMU Athletic Hall of Fame (1987 inductee), Poquette was the premier shot-blocker in CMU history and First Team All-MAC pick in 1977. He led CMU in rebounding in 1975-76 (9.2) and 1976-77 (11.1) while leading Chippewas to two MAC championships. In 1977, Poquette set the single-season record for blocked shots with 96 and still holds the school's career mark with 234. He currently ranks No. 25 on CMU's all-time scoring list with 1,095 points and ranks No. 8 in rebounding at 713. After his Central Michigan career, he spent 10 seasons in the National Basketball Association with the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Chicago Bulls after being taken in the 1977 NBA Draft by the Pistons.
Also a member of the CMU Athletic Hall of Fame (2002 inductee), Grauzer was a versatile guard for the Central Michigan basketball team in the late 1970s. He helped lead the Chippewas to a pair of MAC championships in 1976-77 and 1978-79, that reached the NCAA and NIT tournaments, respectively. Central Michigan went 53-29 in his three years at CMU, and he still ranks No. 2 in school records in both steals in a season (63) and assists in a season (196), and also ranks No. 3 in career free throw percentage (.829). Grauzer was an All-MAC First Team selection and team captain in 1979 and was drafted in the 10th round by the Detroit Pistons. A native of St. Clair Shores, Mich., he prepped at Lakeshore High, and spent his first year in college at the University of Detroit before transferring to CMU.
Robinson was a Third Team All-MAC selection, who was picked by the Utah Jazz in the 1981 NBA Draft. His career rebound average of 10.1 still ranks as the No. 5 mark in school history. Robinson led the 1979-80 (9.6 rpg.) and 1980-81 (11.2 rpg.) teams in rebound average.
Nicknamed "Sugar," Melvin's jersey No. 14 is retired and he is Central Michigan's all-time leading scorer with 2,071 career points. Named the 1982 Mid-American Conference "Player of the Year," McLaughlin earned three All-MAC honors, including two First Team All-MAC accolades. On four different occasions, he broke the 40-point barrier, including a career-high 46 points vs. Bowling Green on March 2, 1983.
A long-range marksman who played before the three-point shot, McLaughlin's career scoring average of 20.3 still ranks No. 3 in school history, his 196 steals rank No. 2, and his 288 assists rank No. 6. He also concluded his career with a stellar 775 free throw percentage. In 1982-83, he averaged 24.1 points a game, which ranks No. 3 among the school's top scoring seasons. McLaughlin played his entire career under legendary head coach Dick Parfitt.
Following his Central Michigan career, McLaughlin was selected in the 1983 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Joining McLaughlin at Central Michigan on Saturday are 12 other alumni players including Steve Rambadt (1978-81), Dave Ginsberg (1966-68), former assistant coach Bob Sippell, former assistant coach Walt Schneider, Jim Murray (1984-87), Ric Wesley (1978-79), Dan Young (1989-91), Dave Grauzer (1977-79), Ben Poquette (1974-77), Carter Briggs (1989-90), Melvin Kelly (1990-91), and Mike Robinson (1979-81).
A member of the CMU Athletic Hall of Fame (1987 inductee), Poquette was the premier shot-blocker in CMU history and First Team All-MAC pick in 1977. He led CMU in rebounding in 1975-76 (9.2) and 1976-77 (11.1) while leading Chippewas to two MAC championships. In 1977, Poquette set the single-season record for blocked shots with 96 and still holds the school's career mark with 234. He currently ranks No. 25 on CMU's all-time scoring list with 1,095 points and ranks No. 8 in rebounding at 713. After his Central Michigan career, he spent 10 seasons in the National Basketball Association with the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Chicago Bulls after being taken in the 1977 NBA Draft by the Pistons.
Also a member of the CMU Athletic Hall of Fame (2002 inductee), Grauzer was a versatile guard for the Central Michigan basketball team in the late 1970s. He helped lead the Chippewas to a pair of MAC championships in 1976-77 and 1978-79, that reached the NCAA and NIT tournaments, respectively. Central Michigan went 53-29 in his three years at CMU, and he still ranks No. 2 in school records in both steals in a season (63) and assists in a season (196), and also ranks No. 3 in career free throw percentage (.829). Grauzer was an All-MAC First Team selection and team captain in 1979 and was drafted in the 10th round by the Detroit Pistons. A native of St. Clair Shores, Mich., he prepped at Lakeshore High, and spent his first year in college at the University of Detroit before transferring to CMU.
Robinson was a Third Team All-MAC selection, who was picked by the Utah Jazz in the 1981 NBA Draft. His career rebound average of 10.1 still ranks as the No. 5 mark in school history. Robinson led the 1979-80 (9.6 rpg.) and 1980-81 (11.2 rpg.) teams in rebound average.
—CMU—
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