CMU men's basketball secures first conference win against Miami (Ohio)
Settling the ball in his hands with 2:54 left to play, Central Michigan's Sophomore center Markus Harding took the shot from the arc giving the Chippewas' a 53-52 lead against Miami (Ohio).
Following Harding's lead taking three-pointer, the Chippewas went on an 8-0 run to secure their 68-56 win in their Mid-American Conference opener on Wednesday.
The Chippewas are now 5-8 on the season and 1-0 in MAC play. The RedHawks fall to 6-8 overall and 0-1 in conference.
“It's always a challenge, especially when you're as young as we are,” said head coach Tony Barbee. "I'm just glad that we showed some greediness and fight to be able to recognize that we weren't at the level we played against Michigan and find it and we finally did in the second half."
Despite the Chippewas scoring first, the RedHawks' took control of the game shortly after and went on a 7-0 run just five minutes into the game. CMU struggled under the basket quickly falling behind 9-5.
"Made a lot of mistakes out of the zone… at the end of the day, in a competitive conference like this match, top to bottom is going to be a dogfight every night out," Barbee said. "If you're going to have a chance in the league. You have got to find a way. I don't care how you do it. Throw in one at the buzzer and win by 30. It doesn't matter. You have to take care of your home court.”
Both teams grew cold under the basket early in the first half until a free throw from Miami (Ohio) sparked a short 3-0 run to put them up 13-7.
We were able to get some stops. Made a lot of mistakes out of the zone… at the end of the day, in a competitive conference like this match, top to bottom is going to be a dogfight every night out. If you're going to have a chance in the league. You have got to find a way. I don't care how you do it. Throw in one at the buzzer and win by 30. It doesn't matter. You have to take care of your home court.”
A missed layup from senior center Miroslav Stafl was picked up and dunked by senior guard Brian Taylor to finally break the Chippewas' cold streak followed by a two-point jump shot from Taylor to put CMU within two with 11:19 left to play.
Taylor had 16 points and seven rebounds.
The RedHawks' went on a 5-0 run before the half to take their largest lead of the game 27-18. Putting a stop to their run, Harding got himself on the board for the first time in the game with 2:51 left in the half.
Harding ended the night with 13 points and eight rebounds.
“Marcus didn't have his best outing, you know, missed a random couple plays," Barbee said. “I'm just glad after he missed a couple, that he found a way to throw a couple in because we came right back to him. Markus has played well, and you know across the board it was good to see again another dominating rebounder performance.”
A steal from freshman guard Max Majerle followed by a layup helped cut the Chippewas' deficit to three as part of a 6-0 run making the score 29-26 in favor of Miami (Ohio) going into the locker room.
Coming back from the half, the RedHawks extend their lead to 34-27 as part of a five-point run just two minutes into the second half.
A layup from Stafl helped spark the Chippewas and get within one with 10:49 left to play. Two minutes later, junior guard Jesse Zarzuela scored five straight to tie the game at 47.
Zarzuela led the team with 19 points, four rebounds, and went 13-for-13 at the free throw line.
“Those guys are fantastic, free throw shooters," Barbee said. "Well, the only way you get free throws is if you go try to get fouled…we did some things to get them downhill at the rim and they were able to get fouled...I told them the easiest way to score from the foul line and guess what, nobody's guard you then, so find a way to get to the foul line and Jesse played big.”
CMU continued to stay hot under the basket picking up its first lead since the first few minutes of the game. Following Harding's three point shot to take the lead, a two-point jumper from Taylor extended the Chippewas lead to 55-52.
Forcing the RedHawks to foul, the Chippewas' kept their lead with 13 free throws to secure their 68-56 victory.
The Chippewas will head to Ypsilanti to take on Eastern Michigan on Saturday at 2 p.m.
