 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 85, TOLEDO 69
The Chippewas (6-8, 1-0 MAC) found themselves with a 14-point lead at the midway point of the first half after a pair of 9-0 runs. The Rockets (8-7, 0-1 MAC) scored the first points of the game, but gave up the next nine, and were outscored 22-8 by the 10:00 mark. Central led by as many as 16, 30-14 with 6:38 left in the half, but it was then that Toledo shook off its early shooting woes and went on a 10-0 run of its own to come within six at 4:44.
The Rockets were shooting just 14 percent (2-of-14) at the 8:00 media timeout, but ended the half hitting 46 percent from the floor, knocking down 10 of their last 12 shots. Not to be outdone on their home floor, the Chippewas used hot shooting of their own - 55 percent from the floor and 50 percent from long range - to take a 46-36 halftime lead.
Central fended off several Toledo attacks in the second half, but maintained a double-digit lead for most of the period as the Rockets came no closer than eight.
Four Chippewas in double figures contributed to season-highs of 55.6 percent (30-of-54) from the floor, 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from three-point range, and 30 field goals. They also converted 81 percent (17-of-21) at the charity stripe, second this season only to a 6-for-6 performance at Iowa State.
"(Over the holiday break) We had a shooting clinic where these guys came in for 11 straight days and shot in the mornings," said CMU head coach Ernie Zeigler. "Tonight nobody missed an open shot. When you are shooting as well as we did tonight, it is going to be hard to lose."
Austin McBroom knocked down four three-pointers, including three in the first half, matching a career-high 16 points, while Derek Jackson added 14 points and Andre Coimbra contributed 10 off the bench.
"The jump shot was open tonight," McBroom said. "Once I hit my first jump shot it got my confidence up and I just kept shooting."
Rian Pearson led all scorers with 20 points for Toledo, who also had four in double figures.
The Chippewas are back on the road for a pair of league games next week at Eastern Michigan (Wednesday, 7 p.m.) and Northern Illinois. Toledo hosts Ball State Tuesday (7 p.m.) and is at Western Michigan Saturday.
Courtesy of Central Michigan |
