Rayson reaches 1,000-point mark during junior season
CMU is one of three Division I schools with three active players with at least 1,000 points
Braylon Rayson needed 13 points Tuesday against Miami (Ohio) to become the 31st player in Central Michigan men's basketball history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark.
So the junior guard did a little extra.
The Dallas native finished with 14 points as the Chippewas knocked off the RedHawks 68-51 at Millett Hall in Oxford, Ohio.
With 3:41 remaining in the game, Rayson hit a jump shot to officially gain access into the 1,000 point club, now with 1,001 in his career.
“I knew it was coming," Rayson said. "I thought I would get it sooner. I didn’t know when it would come but I knew for a fact it was coming sometime soon."
Before Tuesday, CMU hadn't beaten Miami on the road since Feb. 27, 1991. Head Coach Keno Davis said snapping the streak was more important, because he knew Rayson's milestone would come soon enough.
Rayson, thought so too.
“It’s something that I’ve been looking forward to doing this year," Rayson said.
Rayson scored his final points with less than four minutes to play. He is the third active Chippewa to have more than 1,000 career points, joining seniors guard Chris Fowler and forward John Simons.
CMU is one of only three Division I programs to have three players on the active roster to have more than 1,000 career points each — joining George Washington and Wichita State.
Fowler, who scored 21 points Tuesday, said he isn't surprised at Rayson's accomplishment.
“He’s a great player and has been a great scorer since day one," Fowler said. "He scores at such and efficient rate. We know what he’s capable of."
The Chippewas' leading scorer was held to only two points by halftime. Rayson came out of the locker room determined, hitting a 3-pointer in the beginning of the second half to give CMU a 40-34 lead — its largest of the game up to that point.
As Miami fought back and cut the deficit to 52-45, Rayson scored seven consecutive points, courtesy of a layup, 3-pointer and jump shot to extend CMU's lead to 14. It gave him 12 points up to that moment.
Rayson said he was not focused on reaching the mark during the game and was just trying to help his team win.
Davis called Rayson and "explosive scorer" who has an outstanding work ethic.
“He’s been incredibly focused on trying to continue to improve his overall game,” Davis said.
Davis said consistent improvements on the offensive and defensive ends have contributed to Rayson, Fowler and Simons' success. Fowler said he is "very fortunate and very lucky" to be a part of the group.
“It’s a blessing that coach put us in a position to succeed," Fowler said.
Rayson has 317 points in 19 games this season, averaging 16.7 points per game.
When Fowler missed seven games due to an injury, Rayson knew he had to take step up and emulate his teammate.
“It just shows the other teams that I can do it too," Rayson said.
