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Harman (17 points) hit his first five three-point attempts and Bitzer (15) carried the load late, as the dynamic backcourt duo helped CMU break a seven-game losing streak at Savage Arena.

"Robbie played like he was the best guard on the floor, and it's important for him to play with that type of confidence," Head Coach Ernie Zeigler said. "He's a huge part of what we do, both offensively and defensively."

Toledo scored the game's first bucket, but Central Michigan hit back-to-back threes to spark an 8-0 run and never looked back.

Central Michigan held a 29-19 lead at the break and led by as many as 20 in the second half on a three-pointer by Bitzer with 3:26 left, 57-37. The Rockets closed the game on an 11-2 run, but it was too little, too late.

"Central Michigan jumped on us at the start, and it took awhile for us to get our rhythm," Toledo Head Coach Gene Cross said. "We turned the ball over too much and they were able to get every loose ball and you can't win games like that. They have older guys who have been making plays in this league for three years, and that was the story of the game."

Chris Kellermann grabbed a team-high nine boards, while Will McClure, Antonio Weary and Bitzer each added five. Weary also added five assists and two steals to a solid defensive effort.

"Antonio did a nice job cutting off drives today," Zeigler said. "He does all the little things that help us be successful."

Central Michigan shot 44 percent compared to 36 percent by UT. Both teams were over 40 percent from behind the arc as the Chippewas connected on 45 percent of their three-point tries (9-for-20) compared to 43 percent of their attempts (6-for-14).

The Chippewas won the battle of the boards, 34-24, and turned it over 16 times compared to the Rockets' 18.
CMU opened the MAC schedule with a win for the third time in Zeigler's four seasons and in the process broke a seven-game losing streak at Savage Arena, dating back to 2003.

"We came into today understanding that if we followed the game plan, we would have some success in a place that historically has been a tough place to play for this program. We're starting to embrace our image as a team, and it paid off today," Ziegler said.

Although the Rockets scored a season-low 48 points en route to their fifth straight defeat, Cross said he is optimistic UT can turn its fortunes around as his young squad gains experience.

"I don't think we've hit rock bottom," the Rockets' second-year coach said. "It seems like there is a 'Sky's falling' mentality out there, and that's far from it. I just think our guys are young, and we're facing older players. We are still trying to figure things out. This is our first go-around with a league opponent, and we're going to take some lumps. But I think we'll turn around and surprise some people, too, once in a while. That's all part of the growth process."

Toledo (3-12, 0-1) returns to action when it travels to Eastern Michigan Wednesday (7 p.m.).
 
CMU, meanwhile, (6-7, 1-0 MAC) returns home for the first time in 42 days to face Ball State Wednesday at Rose Center. CMU went 3-3 on its six-game road swing.  

Courtesy CMU and UT athletics