MAC Tournament Quarterfinals: #2 CMU vs #7 WMU
The 2010 MAC Men’s Basketball Tournament is about to get underway as press row is filling up and the fans are trickling in. Unfortunately for those who follow attendance numbers at this event, we have two Michigan teams without much hype around either in the afternoon session with is classic for being sparsely attended.
#2 seed Central Michigan comes in at 9-7 in MAC play as the West Division winners and 15-14 overall while their opponent in this 12 noon MAC Tournament Quarterfinal game is #7 seed Western Michigan. The Broncos finished the season 8-8 in MAC play and 17-14 overall. These two teams split their regular season games with the home teams winning both times making this a true rubber match.
Action will begin in about 40 minutes when we will return for complete coverage. Also be sure to follow VanDelay Sports on Twitter for additional updates and comments on the 2010 MAC Tournament.
Game Time - Central Michigan vs Western Michigan
Our officials for the first quarterfinal match-up are Terry Wymer, D.J. Carstensen, and Lamar Simpson. The teams are huddled up and we’re about to tip off.
WMU controls the tip off. David Kool is cold shooting early missing two shots in the first minute and a half.
We have a break in the action thanks to another foul call with CMU up 7-5. In 4:14 of play we have 7 fouls called already… It’s gonna be a long day if this keeps up.
WMU cuts it to 11-7 then forces a CMU turnover @ 13:16 left. CMU foul late on the shot clock - first foul in over 2 minutes (thank goodness) followed by two more WMU bricks and a CMU foul on the rebound.
11:16 remaining - David Brown about to head to the line to complete a 3-point play with WMU down 15-9. 11 fould called in less than 9 minutes thus far…
David Brown 3-ball makes it 15-13 and CMU answers with a bucket. WMU scores again and we have 17-15 at the TV time out.
WMU ties the game at 17-17 before a 6-0 run by CMU. Traveling on WMU gives CMU the ball back up 23-17 with 5:42 remaining. Traveling on CMU’s Spica followed by another WMU brick. Spica passes out to the corner to Rashid who drills the 3-ball and it’s 26-17 CMU on a 9-0 run with 4:24 til halftime.
Just as I thought - the key so far is shooting and rebounding. WMU shooting 31.8% from the field while CMU is 5-9 on 3-point shooting. WMU has a 14-11 rebounding edge but 8 of those on the offensive glass.
Back to the game, CMU hits 1 of 2 FTs for a 27-17 lead. On the other end David Brown drives to the hoop and gets fouled where he misses the first and makes the second - now 27-18.
Kool called for a charge as we are under 2 minutes left in the half. Nice fade-away by Harman puts CMU up 11 at 29-18 before a foul on Bitzer sends Kool to the line for WMU. Kool, the MAC’s leading scorer this season at 20.9 ppg, looking for his first points of the game, nails both FTs. But CMU’s Spica nails a jump hook to make it 31-20.
Two more WMU free throws before a decent press confuses CMU for a moment before they pass out of it. We have a 31-22 score with 45.2 seconds left in the half and CMU has the ball up 9.
CMU brick and they cannot control the rebound. Kool slows things down with 20 seconds left and gives it up, but follows by not handling a passes that hits his left hand and trickles out of bounds. CMU air ball by Bitzer and a half court attempt by WMU ends the half 31-22 #2 Central Michigan leading #7 Western Michigan.
Halftime Stats - WMU shooting 30.4% (7-23) from the field but has a 19-12 rebounding edge with 9 offensive boards. CMU shooting 44% from the field but 5-12 on 3-point shooting.
5-0 start by CMU but WMU 7-1 run since then and it’s 37-29 with 17:14 to play. David Kool has 3 points in the game, all at the line.
Dan Whitmyer of VanDelay Sports is here now and between talking to him on one side and Russ Eisenstein from OU on the other I slowed down. Back to action now!
42-31 CMU leads with 15:07 remaining and CMU adds a FT and WMU gets a bucket. Two more buckets by CMU opens it up at 47-33 with 13:40 remaining.
Kool turning it on with 10 points in the half, 12 for the game. WMU on a 8-1 run down just 48-41 with 11:44 remaining.
Western 8-10 from the field in the 2nd half. Kool fouled on the floor and hits the driving shot and gets fouled to cut the CMU lead to 48-45 with a FT to come. FT good, 48-46. WMU gets ball back and knocked out of bounds by CMU (according to the ref at least).
Bitzer hits 2 FT to extend the CMU lead to 4 but Brown gets a offensive board and put back to cut it back to 2 points. 8:50 remaining and CMU calls a 30-second TO with a 50-48 lead.
Nice feed to Lawson under the hoop where he gets fould. TO on the floor, CMU up 52-48, 7:24 to play.
3-ball by Douglas cuts the CMU lead to 54-52. WMU has been putting in a lot of energy to come back, but cannot seem to get the lead…
2 fouls on CMU in 15 seconds, Kool hits 2 FT to tie the game at 54-54. WMU gets a turnover and has the ball with under 5 min to play. Kool catches it in the lane and fades away…good. 56-54 WMU takes the lead. Kool with 17 of his 19 in the half.
Jump ball call favors WMU - official makes call from behind the action and blows it. Time Out on the floor, 3:44 remaining with WMU up 56-54.
Kool scores off the inbound pass, 58-54 WMU. Foul on CMU on the other end gives WMU the ball with a 4-point lead. Whitfield @ the line hits the first, hits the second, 60-54 WMU.
3:08 left, WMU up 60-56 with FTs becoming more and more important. WMU shooting 83.3% from the line, CMU 57.9% from the line. CMU foul sends Kool to the line.
Down 6 at 64-58 and just 58 seconds left, CMU now fouling. Ward misses both FTs, CMU bricks a 3-ball and Bitzer fouls out with 47 seconds left.
Kool hits 2 FT, CMU fouls on the rebound, WMU heads to the line up 66-60 with 24.2 seconds left.
Final Score - Western Michigan 69 - Central Michigan 60
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