Central Michigan University Athletics
Thursday, November 13
St. Petersburg, Fla./Eckerd College/McArthur Center
11:00 AM
Central Michigan University
1-2,0-0MAC
64
vs
66
South Alabama
4-0,0-0Sun Belt
1
2
F
South Alabama
35
31
66
Central Mich.
30
34
64
Team Stats
USA
CMU
FG%
.418
.344
3FG%
.250
.318
FT%
.652
.600
RB
38
43
TO
8
11
STL
7
4
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
7
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Chippewas Fall to South Alabama in Close Contest, 66-64
11/13/2025 2:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Logan McIntire scores a game-high 21 points on seven 3-pointers, Nathan Claerbaut registers first double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Adam Olsen (21 points) and Chaze Harris (20 points) combined for 41 of South Alabama's 66 points and the Jaguars held off a late Central Michigan rally to record a claim a close 66-64 men's basketball decision over the Chippewas in Thursday's Showdown in St. Pete opener at Eckerd College.
Central Michigan will play its second scheduled Showdown at St. Pete game against Coppin State on Friday at 11 a.m. ET. The contest can be accessed on youtube.com. With the decision, Central Michigan drops to 1-2 on the young season, while South Alabama improves to 4-0.
The Chippewas were led by Logan McIntire, who hit seven 3-pointers and scored a game-high 21 points and Nathan Claerbaut, who posted his first career double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds. McIntire was 7-19 from the floor and 7-18 from 3-point range, Claerbaut grabbed seven offensive rebounds. Jaxson Whitaker added nine points on 3-11 3-point shooting. Phat Phat Brooks led the Chippewas with six assists.
Central Michigan converted 14 3-pointers (14-44, 31.8 percent) and hit just 34.4 percent (22-64) of its total field goal attempts. Forty-four of Central Michigan's 64 field goal attempts were 3-pointers. Using their size advantage, the Chippewas outrebounded South Alabama 43-38 and grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and 17 of the Chippewas' 22 field goals were assisted.
Central Michigan head coach Andy Brokema felt great about the way his Chippewas played.
"We executed our game plan really well, some players stepped up and made some good plays," Bronkema said. "Some good shots from good shooters rimmed in and out. Credit to South Alabama, they made some big plays down the stretch. We missed the front end of a one-and-one, and they made a big 3-pointer. We had the ball down three, but it was a tough situation as they were going to foul. We made the first free throw, missed the second on purpose and almost grabbed the tip out. It was a tight game, neck and neck. It's good to be in these battles and it tested our resolve."
"South Alabama has an interesting style. It's a unique 100 percent zone. If I could change anything, we would have taken 34 3-pointers instead of 44, but I'm really excited about the process. We never gave in, we had great spirit, and we got better today. I thought we went toe-to-toe and were right there at the end."
With 3:59 to play, Central Michigan trailed by two points, 62-60, after Rodney Johnson, Jr.'s made a 3-pointer. South Alabama then responded with a second-chance layup by Olsen, and two possessions later, the Jaguars took a commanding 66-60 lead with 1:37 to play on a driving layup by Harris. CMU's Then Whitaker hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to three points, 66-63.
Over the next minute, both teams would have opportunities to score. The Chippewas missed the front end of a key one-and-one. With four seconds to play and trailing 66-63, CMU's Adley was fouled and faced two free throws. He made the first shot, then missed the second on purpose, but South Alabama's Harris swooped in, grabbed the rebound, and ran out the clock.
Olsen and Harris were the difference for South Alabama. The duo scored 21 combined first half points as the Jaquars built a 35-30 halftime lead.
The Chippewas erased an eight-point deficit with a 9-2 run to take a 27-26 lead with 5:09 to go in the first half. The run was fueled by 3-pointers from Rodney Johnson, Jr. and two from McIntire. But the Jaguars responded by outscoring CMU 8-4 over the game's last five minutes.
After South Alabama pushed its lead to eight points, CMU went on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 38-38 with 16:14 to play. CMU's run was bolstered by back-to-back 3-pointers by Tamario Adley and McIntire and offensive rebound putback by Claerbaut.
From that point on, it was a back-and-forth hard-fought battle.
Olsen converted 6-18 field goals and 4-11 3-pointers, Harris hit 8-14 shots and grabbed nine rebounds.
CMU closes the event against Coppin State on Friday at 11 a.m. Coppin State and South Alabama play on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Central Michigan will play its second scheduled Showdown at St. Pete game against Coppin State on Friday at 11 a.m. ET. The contest can be accessed on youtube.com. With the decision, Central Michigan drops to 1-2 on the young season, while South Alabama improves to 4-0.
The Chippewas were led by Logan McIntire, who hit seven 3-pointers and scored a game-high 21 points and Nathan Claerbaut, who posted his first career double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds. McIntire was 7-19 from the floor and 7-18 from 3-point range, Claerbaut grabbed seven offensive rebounds. Jaxson Whitaker added nine points on 3-11 3-point shooting. Phat Phat Brooks led the Chippewas with six assists.
Central Michigan converted 14 3-pointers (14-44, 31.8 percent) and hit just 34.4 percent (22-64) of its total field goal attempts. Forty-four of Central Michigan's 64 field goal attempts were 3-pointers. Using their size advantage, the Chippewas outrebounded South Alabama 43-38 and grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and 17 of the Chippewas' 22 field goals were assisted.
Central Michigan head coach Andy Brokema felt great about the way his Chippewas played.
"We executed our game plan really well, some players stepped up and made some good plays," Bronkema said. "Some good shots from good shooters rimmed in and out. Credit to South Alabama, they made some big plays down the stretch. We missed the front end of a one-and-one, and they made a big 3-pointer. We had the ball down three, but it was a tough situation as they were going to foul. We made the first free throw, missed the second on purpose and almost grabbed the tip out. It was a tight game, neck and neck. It's good to be in these battles and it tested our resolve."
"South Alabama has an interesting style. It's a unique 100 percent zone. If I could change anything, we would have taken 34 3-pointers instead of 44, but I'm really excited about the process. We never gave in, we had great spirit, and we got better today. I thought we went toe-to-toe and were right there at the end."
With 3:59 to play, Central Michigan trailed by two points, 62-60, after Rodney Johnson, Jr.'s made a 3-pointer. South Alabama then responded with a second-chance layup by Olsen, and two possessions later, the Jaguars took a commanding 66-60 lead with 1:37 to play on a driving layup by Harris. CMU's Then Whitaker hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to three points, 66-63.
Over the next minute, both teams would have opportunities to score. The Chippewas missed the front end of a key one-and-one. With four seconds to play and trailing 66-63, CMU's Adley was fouled and faced two free throws. He made the first shot, then missed the second on purpose, but South Alabama's Harris swooped in, grabbed the rebound, and ran out the clock.
Olsen and Harris were the difference for South Alabama. The duo scored 21 combined first half points as the Jaquars built a 35-30 halftime lead.
The Chippewas erased an eight-point deficit with a 9-2 run to take a 27-26 lead with 5:09 to go in the first half. The run was fueled by 3-pointers from Rodney Johnson, Jr. and two from McIntire. But the Jaguars responded by outscoring CMU 8-4 over the game's last five minutes.
After South Alabama pushed its lead to eight points, CMU went on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 38-38 with 16:14 to play. CMU's run was bolstered by back-to-back 3-pointers by Tamario Adley and McIntire and offensive rebound putback by Claerbaut.
From that point on, it was a back-and-forth hard-fought battle.
Olsen converted 6-18 field goals and 4-11 3-pointers, Harris hit 8-14 shots and grabbed nine rebounds.
CMU closes the event against Coppin State on Friday at 11 a.m. Coppin State and South Alabama play on Saturday at 11 a.m.
—CMU—
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