Chippewa men drop heartbreaker to Broncos 67-65
Miami, Florida senior guard Travon Broadway Jr. drives the ball against Western Michigan during their Feb. 6 matchup in McGuirk Arena. WMU won 67-65.
On Feb. 3, 2017, Marcus Keene hit a game-winning 3-pointer with four seconds remaining to seal a CMU victory over Western Michigan in McGuirk Arena.
Four years later the Broncos would use a jump shot from Greg Lee with two seconds remaining to knock off their bitter in-state rival in the same building to avenge their 2017 loss, handing the Chippewas a 67-65 Mid-American Conference loss on Saturday.
The Chippewas (6-12, 2-9 MAC) drop to 10th place in the conference while dropping their fifth straight game and their eighth game in nine tries. The Broncos (4-11, 3-7 MAC) earn the season series sweep for the first time since the 2015-16 season. The Chippewas had won six of the last seven prior to the 2020-21 season and now trail the all-time series 99-59.
Head coach Keno Davis was proud of the team’s performance despite the final score and dressing nine players.
“I like our guys; I’ve liked them all year and I think we’re a really talented group,” Davis said. “I know we’re going to be successful. I just hope it’s going to be sooner rather than have to wait until next season.”
Junior forward Meikkel Murray believes this game can be a building block for the end of the season.
“We see the progress, we’re getting better,” Murray said. “We just have to know how to buckle down in stretches where we can pull away. We have to get in the film room and see where to improve.”
Key moments
Trailing 15-8 with 11:28 remaining the Chippewas used a 6-0 behind baskets from senior guard Travon Broadway Jr. and Murray to pull within one point with 8:35 to go. While unable to capture a first half advantage, CMU kept the Broncos within two possessions despite a 32-28 Bronco advantage at halftime.
All 10 of CMU’s successful first half field goal attempts came inside the paint while finishing 0-of-7 from 3-point range.
After tying the game 34-34 to start the second half the Broncos erupted with a 13-4 run to claim a 47-38 lead 13:53 remaining.
Trailing the Broncos by 10 points with 11:03 to play CMU used a 14-point run featuring eight points from Broadway to claim a 55-51 lead with 6:45 to play. WMU would tie the game 3:58 remaining to set up an exhilarating finish.
The in-state rivals traded baskets for a 65-65 tie with 24 second to play. Lee drained the go-ahead, step-back jumper while double covered to give the Broncos a 67-65 lead with two seconds remaining. Junior guard Ralph Bissainthe heaved a Hail Mary-like inbound pass to give the Chippewas one last chance to tie the game but was stolen by the Broncos.
KEY PERFORMOERS
Broadway earned a career-best 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Junior guard Caleb Huffman and junior forward Malik Muhammad each scored in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
INJURY UPDATE
Senior guard Devontae Lane did not play in Saturday’s game and was on the bench with crutches. Davis said he is considered day-to-day.
“Devontae is so much a part of what we do of running an offense, getting guys in the right position offensively and defensively,” Davis said. “He doesn’t get enough credit in that area.”
WHAT’S NEXT
CMU hosts Ball State at 5 p.m. Tuesday and Buffalo at 8 p.m. Friday in McGuirk Arena. The Chippewas matchup with the Bulls can be seen on CBS Sports Network. The previous matchup with the Bulls was postponed due to COVID-19 issues with the Chippewa program.
MAC STANDINGS
TEAM -- MAC, OVERALL
Toledo -- 11-2, 16-5
Akron -- 9-3, 11-4
Kent State -- 7-4, 10-5
Ohio -- 7-4, 11-6
Buffalo -- 6-4, 8-6
Miami (Ohio) -- 5-5, 8-7
Bowling Green -- 6-6, 10-8
Ball State -- 5-6, 7-9
--
Western Michigan -- 3-7, 4-11
Central Michigan -- 2-9, 6-12
Northern Illinois -- 1-6, 2-10
Eastern Michigan -- 1-7, 4-8
