Second-half comeback lifts men's basketball to victory over Western Michigan
Junior guard Rayshawn Simmons scored 13 points in the CMU men's basketball team's win over Western Michigan University in 2015 at McGuirk Arena. (Photo by Greg Cornwell)
In front of the largest crowd that has watched a Central Michigan University men's basketball game at McGuirk Arena in five years, the Chippewas completed a second-half comeback and defeated their biggest rival on Saturday.
The CMU men defeated Western Michigan University 70-65 , improving to 16-5 overall and 6-4 in Mid-American Conference play. The Chippewas are now in sole possession of second place in the MAC West standings.
"When you are able to beat a team like Western Michigan, you better enjoy it," said Head Coach Keno Davis. "We now know that we can battle them on equal footing and that feels good."
The reigning MAC champion Broncos led 39-30 at halftime, controlled the tempo and momentum for the majority of the game.
CMU's John Simons hit a 3-pointer to cut WMU's lead to 52-50 with less than nine minutes left in the game. Junior guard Rayshawn Simmons tied the game with a layup on CMU's next trip down the floor.
"It felt good to get something to go down, I had been struggling lately," Simmons said. "I didn't really feel any pressure. It just felt good to start making shots again."
Simmons has been nursing an ankle injury, sustained two weeks ago.
"It's the best it has felt all year," he said.
Junior guard Chris Fowler led all CMU scorers with 17 points, despite a bandaged right hand. Fowler injured his dominant hand in CMU's loss to BGSU on Wednesday.
"We want every win to feel like a signature win," Fowler said. "When you are down like we were down, you play with desperation and a sense of urgency. That's what helped us today."
Davis said the McGuirk Arena crowd directly influenced the outcome of Saturday's game.
"There were a lot of people here tonight that it was their first time in this arena," Davis said. "If we can't get them to come back after this game today, we'll never get them to come back."
The Chippewas managed to put the game away thanks to solid defense and several missed WMU shots. CMU was out rebounded 37-28 in Saturday's win.
Davis' team shot 43 percent from the floor and 73 percent from the free-throw line. Junior guard Austin Stewart hit two free throws with under 20 seconds remaining to put the game away.
"Our toughness really came out today," Davis said. "We know we can be a really good offensive team. But to get a win this way is pretty good for us, too."
On Tuesday, the Chippewas head to Athens, Ohio for a showdown with the Bobcats.
