Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, January 10
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
3:00 PM
Central Michigan University
5-12,1-4MAC
87
vs
85
Kent State
12-4,3-1MAC
1
2
F
Kent St.
43
42
85
Central Mich.
49
38
87
Team Stats
KentSt
CMU
FG%
.411
.457
3FG%
.382
.280
FT%
.706
.696
RB
49
39
TO
15
7
STL
5
11
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography
Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography
Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography
Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography
Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography
Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Chippewas Claim Victory in Final Minutes, Down Kent State 87-85
1/10/2026 7:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Chippewas rally in final three minutes to win first MAC game of the 2025-26 season; Phat Phat Brooks scores career-high 20 points; Keenan Garner scores a career-high 16 points (5-7 FG), Tamario Adley adds 15 points and eight rebounds in victory.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Central Michigan made all the right plays down the stretch to claim its first Mid-American Conference victory of the 2025-26 season, a dramatic come-from-behind 87-85 win over Kent State Saturday afternoon at McGuirk Arena.
It was a total team effort from the Chippewas but Central Michigan received outstanding performances from Keenan Garner, Phat Phat Brooks, and Tamario Adley. Defensively, Garner played down low at the 4 and 5 positions and ended up scoring a career-high 16 points, grabbing four rebounds, and hitting all six of his free throw attempts. His two steal and dunks were the highlighted plays for Central Michigan. Brooks also scored a career-high 20 points on 6-15 shooting and hit a career-best two 3-pointers. Adley finished with 15 points, including three 3-pointers and a career-high tying eight rebounds.
Center Nathan Claerbaut added nine points and eight rebounds and Logan McIntire chipped in eight points and seven rebounds.
In a game that featured 13 lead changes and 10 ties, the Chippewas found themselves trailing by seven points (77-70) with 4:44 to play. But Central Michigan quickly erased the deficit with a 7-0 run as Phat Phat Brooks swished a 3-pointer, followed by a layup by Keenan Garner to cut the lead down to two points. After a Kent State timeout, Garner stepped in front of a Kent State pass and dribbled down floor for a dunk to tie the game at 77-77 with 3:45 to play.
After Kent State's Rob Whaley, Jr. scored on a 3-point play, it was all Chippewas as they put together an 8-0 run and never trailed again. Brooks scored on a floating jump shot, McIntire converted a driving layup off a Brooks assist, Adley grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a putback, and Claerbaut scored on a putback to give CMU a commanding 85-80 lead with 39 seconds to play.
The Golden Flashes made it interesting as they cut the lead down to two points on a Jahari Williamson 3-pointer with four seconds to play, but Adley rebounded a missed free throw to seal the victory.
Though Kent State held a 49-39 rebounding advantage, including 22 offensive rebounds, the Chippewas grabbed every rebound down the stretch and made the plays when it counted most.
"Our guys were resilient today," Central Michigan head coach Andy Bronkema. "We built a lead. We had one stretch in the second half where we missed some threes, but we held it together. We just battled as hard as we could. Kent State is a great rebounding team and we fought just enough and made enough plays. We're really excited for the team. We've been working for it in practice. It's a great opportunity to just say what I've said the whole time: the results are the results. It's very process-driven and getting better every day to be the best we can be is still the goal. Today it resulted in a win, but this team has grown and become better every day and we're going to continue on that path."
Kent State was paced by Williamson's game-high 23 points while converting 6-11 3-pointers and Morgan Safford's 20 points and seven rebounds. Delrecco Gillespie grabbed a game-high 23 rebounds and scored eight points. The Golden Flashes entered the game undefeated at 3-0 in MAC play and averaging 91.0 points per game. Gillespie came into the game averaging 20.0 points and 11.7 rebounds.
It was Garner's defense in the low post, spectacular steals, and CMU's extra effort on the defensive glass down the stretch that helped the Chippewas win.
"A lot of players made big plays today," Bronkema said. "Keenan for sure was the player of the game. He made two steals for layups and McGuirk was rocking when he did that. Those are energy plays, he's a special energy guy, and he's loved by his teammates and coaches. He played toward his skills, took on the challenge, and when he went out, Will Ashford came in and played well."
"It feels really good to finally finish in a conference game today," Garner said. "Even when they went on their run, we just keep doing what we do. Our attitude is that it will all work out for us, and tonight it did. To get the dunk and a steal like that, it was really fun to see the fans go crazy and get some energy in the building. Tonight, it worked out."
Before a back-and-forth second half, Central Michigan held a 49-43 lead at halftime. The Chippewas used a 7-0 late in the half to take its six-point lead into the break. Garner started the rally with a 3-point play off a layup and McIntire assist, Nick Mullen hit a layup, and McIntire scored on an offensive rebound putback.
The victory ended a five-game losing streak for Central Michigan.
Central Michigan improved to 5-12 overall and 1-4 in MAC play, while Kent State dropped to 12-4 overall and 3-1 in MAC play. Next up, Central Michigan travels to Oxford to take on undefeated Miami, Ohio (5-0 MAC, 17-0 overall) on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
It was a total team effort from the Chippewas but Central Michigan received outstanding performances from Keenan Garner, Phat Phat Brooks, and Tamario Adley. Defensively, Garner played down low at the 4 and 5 positions and ended up scoring a career-high 16 points, grabbing four rebounds, and hitting all six of his free throw attempts. His two steal and dunks were the highlighted plays for Central Michigan. Brooks also scored a career-high 20 points on 6-15 shooting and hit a career-best two 3-pointers. Adley finished with 15 points, including three 3-pointers and a career-high tying eight rebounds.
Center Nathan Claerbaut added nine points and eight rebounds and Logan McIntire chipped in eight points and seven rebounds.
In a game that featured 13 lead changes and 10 ties, the Chippewas found themselves trailing by seven points (77-70) with 4:44 to play. But Central Michigan quickly erased the deficit with a 7-0 run as Phat Phat Brooks swished a 3-pointer, followed by a layup by Keenan Garner to cut the lead down to two points. After a Kent State timeout, Garner stepped in front of a Kent State pass and dribbled down floor for a dunk to tie the game at 77-77 with 3:45 to play.
After Kent State's Rob Whaley, Jr. scored on a 3-point play, it was all Chippewas as they put together an 8-0 run and never trailed again. Brooks scored on a floating jump shot, McIntire converted a driving layup off a Brooks assist, Adley grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a putback, and Claerbaut scored on a putback to give CMU a commanding 85-80 lead with 39 seconds to play.
The Golden Flashes made it interesting as they cut the lead down to two points on a Jahari Williamson 3-pointer with four seconds to play, but Adley rebounded a missed free throw to seal the victory.
Though Kent State held a 49-39 rebounding advantage, including 22 offensive rebounds, the Chippewas grabbed every rebound down the stretch and made the plays when it counted most.
"Our guys were resilient today," Central Michigan head coach Andy Bronkema. "We built a lead. We had one stretch in the second half where we missed some threes, but we held it together. We just battled as hard as we could. Kent State is a great rebounding team and we fought just enough and made enough plays. We're really excited for the team. We've been working for it in practice. It's a great opportunity to just say what I've said the whole time: the results are the results. It's very process-driven and getting better every day to be the best we can be is still the goal. Today it resulted in a win, but this team has grown and become better every day and we're going to continue on that path."
Kent State was paced by Williamson's game-high 23 points while converting 6-11 3-pointers and Morgan Safford's 20 points and seven rebounds. Delrecco Gillespie grabbed a game-high 23 rebounds and scored eight points. The Golden Flashes entered the game undefeated at 3-0 in MAC play and averaging 91.0 points per game. Gillespie came into the game averaging 20.0 points and 11.7 rebounds.
It was Garner's defense in the low post, spectacular steals, and CMU's extra effort on the defensive glass down the stretch that helped the Chippewas win.
"A lot of players made big plays today," Bronkema said. "Keenan for sure was the player of the game. He made two steals for layups and McGuirk was rocking when he did that. Those are energy plays, he's a special energy guy, and he's loved by his teammates and coaches. He played toward his skills, took on the challenge, and when he went out, Will Ashford came in and played well."
"It feels really good to finally finish in a conference game today," Garner said. "Even when they went on their run, we just keep doing what we do. Our attitude is that it will all work out for us, and tonight it did. To get the dunk and a steal like that, it was really fun to see the fans go crazy and get some energy in the building. Tonight, it worked out."
Before a back-and-forth second half, Central Michigan held a 49-43 lead at halftime. The Chippewas used a 7-0 late in the half to take its six-point lead into the break. Garner started the rally with a 3-point play off a layup and McIntire assist, Nick Mullen hit a layup, and McIntire scored on an offensive rebound putback.
The victory ended a five-game losing streak for Central Michigan.
Central Michigan improved to 5-12 overall and 1-4 in MAC play, while Kent State dropped to 12-4 overall and 3-1 in MAC play. Next up, Central Michigan travels to Oxford to take on undefeated Miami, Ohio (5-0 MAC, 17-0 overall) on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
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