Adrian Hunter led the men’s basketball team with 18 points Thursday, but CMU lost 84-74 to Chicago State in Chicago.

The freshman guard made his collegiate debut off the bench and made three 3-pointers in 28 minutes.

“It felt good,” Hunter said. “At first, I was a little bit nervous but I got comfortable real quick within the first minute or so. I just wanted to go out and help my team any way I could.”

Hunter’s 18 points was the most in a CMU freshman debut since Thomas Kilgore’s 35 points against Iona in 1994. Hunter was suspended for the team’s first two regular season games for a violation of team rules. CMU now returns home for a matchup with Wright State at 2 p.m. Saturday at Rose Arena.

“Adrian gives us No. 1 another ball handler, and when teams are pressuring you he can hit open shots,” said coach Ernie Zeigler. “He was really steady for us, and hopefully it’s something he can continue to build upon as he moves forward.”

Four players scored in double figures for CMU, including junior Jacolby Hardiman (17), senior Chris Kellermann (15) and sophomore Jeremy Allen (12). However, Zeigler said Allen was limited by foul trouble and played only 20 minutes. He fouled out midway through the second half.

“I thought we did a better job offensively, but our inability to handle their pressure definitely contributed to them getting out and transition and getting a lot of easy opportunities and open threes,” Zeigler said. “It’s just hard to get your defense set when you’re unable to handle their pressure.”

CMU’s defense keyed in on CSU senior guard Marcus Holston, who averaged about eight 3-pointers per game coming into Thursday. Holston went 0-for-7 from 3-point range and finished with 11 points after scoring 32 and 33 in his first two games, respectively.

But it was another senior guard, John Cantrell, that was the recipient of many of the Cougars’ fast-break opportunities. He finished with 25 points in 40 minutes.

All five CSU starters scored in double figures, and six total players reached the plateau.

CMU used only three players off the bench – Hunter, sophomore William Eddie and freshman Lawrence Bridges.

Zeigler said Wright State junior guard Vaughn Duggins presents a threat.

“Wright State’s a really good team. It doesn’t get any easier,” he said. They’re picked second in (the Horizon League). We have to try to figure out how to handle pressure. I think that’s the formula we’re going to see from a lot of teams until we find a solution.”

Hunter said Central (1-2) wants a win after dropping two consecutive.

“We’re definitely going in with a bitter taste – we’ve got to get a win,” he said. “We’re hungry, we’re ready to go out and get a win at home. You’re going to see an angry Central Michigan men’s basketball team coming back home on Saturday.”

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E-mail the author: Daniel Monson