CMU men's basketball triumphs over Purdue Northwest
With Central Michigan men's basketball leading 6-0 two minutes into the first half, Purdue-Northwest's leading point scorer Collin Albert buried a three to half CMU's lead.
That's when Chippewa forward Ugnius Jarusevicius knocked down a three of his own to take the six point lead right back. The three jump-started a 20-2 run dominated by CMU, which led to a 115-69 win over the Pride.
The win propels Central Michigan to 4-3 on the season.
"We've got the pieces and depth to be an elite defensive team. We've been able to do this through the course of the year," head coach Tony Barbee said. "Take really good scorers out of the game with certain game plans, holding teams under their average. This is one of those games."
To start Sunday's matchup, it was all CMU as the Chippewas forced back-to-back turnovers to claim the first six points of the game.
Purdue-Northwest responded two minutes into the half with an Albert three, but the three point deficit was as close as it got for the Pride all day, as it was immediately answered seconds later by a three from Jarusevicius.
"Coming into my junior year it's not about scoring anymore," Jarusevicius said. "The only thing I'm chasing here is wins."
The three marked the beginning of a six minute 20-2 run that gave the Chippewas a firm 29-5 lead with 11 minutes to play in the first half.
Four consecutive CMU threes, with threse coming from guard Damarion Bonds, seemed to be the nail in the coffin for the half, giving Central Michigan a convincing 62-37 lead at halftime.
"We keep becoming sharper and sharper and sharper on every offensive possession being purposeful and intentful in what were trying to get," Barbee said "We weren't that way against Minnesota and it costed us the game."
The Chippewas continued to fire on all cylinders coming out of halftime, taking an 87-47 lead over the Pride with 12 minutes to play.
Shots continued to fall from three for CMU, with the squad from Mount Pleasant shooting 10-for-21 from beyond the arc.
Many starters continued to play down the stretch which allowed Central Michigan to keep firm control of the game and close out the blow out with 115 points.
Bonds led the way for CMU offensively with a career high 22 points, six assists and five rebounds. Jarusevicius also recorded a career high in points with 21 and five rebounds.
On the other side of the ball, the Central Michigan defense was suffocating, holding Purdue-Northwest to 4-of-29 from three and 29-76 from the field while also forcing 14 turnovers.
"There's been no question for me for what my teams are built for, it starts on the defensive side of the flood," Barbee said.
CMU will travel to Grand Rapids to battle Aquinas at 7 p.m. on Thursday for a chance to continue the momentum.
