Men's basketball hosts Toledo tonight at Rose Arena
Patrick SillerWith its chances of taking first in the Mid-American Conference West Division gone, the men's basketball team can take solace in playing spoiler.
With its one-point Saturday loss to Eastern Michigan, CMU needs Ball State and Western Michigan both to go winless to reach first. But the two teams play tonight, eliminating CMU from contention.
Instead, the Chippewas will focus on breaking an 11-game losing streak to Toledo at 7 p.m. today.
"I think more than anything, it would be a great feeling to just win on our home floor," said coach Ernie Zeigler. "We've not played mentally tough enough to win on our own floor and we need to finish the home regular season with a win."
It is the final game at Rose Arena for three players - senior forward Marcus Van, junior Brandon Ford and senior walk-on Ryan Thomas. Ford will graduate and not return to the team next season.
"It would only be fitting for them to end their career with a home win," Zeigler said.
CMU now battles Northern Illinois in the MAC West standings, as both teams hold a 5-9 conference record. Toledo and Eastern Michigan are just one game back as well. If the MAC Tournament started today, CMU would be seeded No. 9 and play Western Michigan.
"Given the fact that last Wednesday against Ball State, we let that one get away from us," said junior guard Jordan Bitzer. "To end with a win at home would give us confidence going into MACs."
Despite Toledo's 4-10 conference record (6-23 overall), Zeigler said he has urged his team to overlook the Rockets' struggles this season.
"Toledo, for us, percentages and how they're playing goes right out the window," he said. "They have owned us over the last few years. It's going to be a difficult task for us to defend our home court."
Wednesday's game offers a rematch of what Zeigler said was one of the low points of the season.
On Jan. 20, the Rockets handed Central a 75-61 loss while the team shot just 36.2 percent and did not hold a lead past the 13:49 mark in the first half.
Justin Anyijon grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds and scored 13 points for the Rockets.
But Toledo did not fare well after, losing its next seven games before winning two of its last four. The Rockets averaged only 58 points per game while giving up 67.3 during the span.
"That's probably something we shouldn't be looking at because that could make you overlook them as a team," Bitzer said. "They're better than what's on paper."
The Rockets boast senior guards Tyrone Kent (15 points per game) and Jonathan Amos (13.4).
Zeigler had the team run a drill to ready it for the battle in the post.
"We have to become more physical," he said. "With the lack of depth up front, we have to drive the ball and expect contact and draw contact and finish through contact."
The team finishes the regular season on the road at Western Michigan before the start of the MAC Tournament on March 10.
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