Chippewas Comeback Falls Short, Drop 76-70 Decision to Second-Place Miami (Ohio)

Tuesday, February 4

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

7:00 PM

Central Michigan University

10-12,4-6MAC

Miami (OH)

17-5,9-1MAC

Miami (OH)

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Chippewas Comeback Falls Short, Drop 76-70 Decision to Second-Place Miami (Ohio)

2/4/2025 10:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Damarion Bonds leads Chippewas with 17 points, hits 5-8 3-pointers, Jakobi Heady finishes with 16 points, Ugnius Jarusevicius adds 15.

By: Greg Hotchkiss

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Peter Suder scored 21 points and second place Miami (OH) withstood a Central Michigan comeback attempt with 59 percent second half shooting in registering a 76-70 decision Tuesday evening at McGuirk Arena.

The loss drops Central Michigan to 10-12 overall and 4-6 in the MAC, while Miami improves to 17-5 overall and 9-1 in the MAC. The Chippewas dropped to 0-8 when trailing at halftime and 0-9 when trailing with 5:00 remaining in regulation.

In the second half, Miami converted 13 of its 22 field goal attempts and 4-7 3-point attempts. The Redhawks fended off every Central Michigan comeback attempt down the stretch.

The first stretch was early in the second half when Central Michigan gained all the momentum with a 10-3 run to build a five-point lead at the 15:37 mark. But Miami forced the Chippewas into missing several shots and minutes later outscored CMU 9-2 with two 3-pointers from Luke Skaljac and a free throw to go back up by six points, 55-49 at the 10:28 mark.

The second stretch was after Central Michigan battled back to tie the score at 68-68 with several 3-pointers by Damarion Bonds with 3:19 to play. Miami went on a 6-0 run to take a commanding 74-68 lead with 17 seconds to play. In the run, Brant Byers converted two free throws, and after a CMU turnover, Eian Elmer converted a free throw for a three-point lead. Following a CMU missed shot and turnover, Suder was fouled and hit two free throws for a five-point lead. After CMU missed another shot, Miami's Evan Ipsaro added another free throw for the 74-68 advantage.

Central Michigan head coach Tony Barbee said the difference in the game came down to missed shots.

"You've got to make shots," Central Michigan head coach Tony Barbee said. "We came out at halftime, we took a five-point lead, then here comes the drought again. In that drought we're up five points. We get a stop, we get a wide open 3-pointer and miss. They get the ball, they hit a semi-open 3-pointer and make it. We get the ball back, we get a wide open 3-pointer with our best 3-point shooter and miss. Miami comes back down, gets a wide open 3-pointer and they make it and the game flips right there.

"We had a five-point lead and had control of the game. The game flips, then all of sudden we are down one because we miss open shots and they make them. What are you going to do?"

Central Michigan was led by Bonds, who finished the game with 17 points while hitting a career-high 5-8 3-pointers. Jakobi Heady came off the bench to score 16 points on 6-11 shooting and Ugnius Jarusevicius finished with 15 points and eight rebounds. Anthony Pritchard finished with eight assists and seven rebounds.

For Miami, Suder hit 7-10 field goals for his game-high 21 points. Skaljac hit three 3-pointers for 13 points, Elmer added 12 points and nine rebounds, and Antwone Woolfolk added 10 points.

Central Michigan recovered from a shaky offensive start. The Chippewas missed their first nine shots, first five 3-point attempts, and three of its first four free throws as Miami built an 11-1 lead in the game's first six and half minutes. Miami went up 24-10 with 8:33 to play in the first half on back-to-back 3-pointers by Peter Suder and Evan Ipsaro.

"For the entire game, especially the start, you can't afford to have droughts," Barbee said. "We were getting looks and missing them. We settled in, got some stops, got back in the game."

The Chippewas cut the margin down to four points, 28-24 with 4:04 to play in the first half when Kyler VanderJagt hit three free throws and Jakobi Heady finished off layup. Damarion Bonds hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut Miami's lead to 37-34 at halftime. Peter Suder scored 13 points in the first half to lead Miami.

Trailing 37-34 at halftime, Central Michigan outscored Miami 10-3 to take a commanding 45-40 lead on a Jakobi Heady 3-pointer at the top of the key at the 15:30 mark. The Chippewas scored the second half's first four points to take its first lead of the game, 38-37, just two minutes into the second half. Later, Pritchard completed a behind-the-back pass to Jarusevicius for 42-40 lead with 16:52 to play. Then Heady made it 45-40.

The Chippewas rallied back from a 10-point deficit (62-52) with 7:11 to go in the game. The Chippewas outscored Miami 16-6 over a four minute span which included a 3-point play from VanderJagt, three 3-pointers by Bonds, and three points from Jakobi Heady.

A 3-pointer by Bonds tied the score at 68-68 with 3:19 to play.

For the second straight game the Chippewas started Anthony Pritchard, Bryan Ndjonga, Cayden Vasko, Ugnius Jarusevicius and Shaedon Simpson.

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

Game Leaders

Damarion Bonds

Jakobi Heady

Ugnius Jarusevicius

Kyler VanderJagt

Players Mentioned

Damarion Bonds

Jakobi Heady

Ugnius Jarusevicius

Bryan Ndjonga

Anthony Pritchard

Shaedon Simpson

Kyler VanderJagt

Cayden Vasko

Chippewas Comeback Falls Short, Drop 76-70 Decision to Second-Place Miami (Ohio)

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