Men’s basketball team loses big lead in quarterfinals, ends season

CLEVELAND — Jalin Thomas has one distinct goal for his team next season — a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

But first, the junior forward and the other returning members of the CMU men’s basketball team must get past the Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

The Chippewas reached a familiar sticking point Thursday, losing in the tournament’s second round for the fourth consecutive season to finish 15-15. Western Michigan, which lost a night later against Akron in the semifinals, overcame a 14-point second-half deficit to end CMU’s season with a 69-60 win at Quicken Loans Arena.

“I think we underachieved at times — I think everyone on our team knows that,” Thomas said Saturday. “It was a successful season in that we won the MAC West. But we felt like we could have done so much more.”

No. 9 seed Ohio was crowned MAC champions Saturday, beating No. 3 Akron 81-75 in overtime to achieve the NCAA Tournament berth CMU realistically had in its sights for the first time in seven years.

Like the previous two seasons, the quarterfinals loss stung. But CMU, which had earned the tournament’s No. 2 seed because of its outright West Division title, was knocked out despite earning a first-round bye and a week off to prepare.

“It was worse because it was Western and they’re our rival,” said senior guard Robbie
Harman on Saturday. “Looking back on our season, it’s kind of been like that. We had high expectations and I don’t think we played to our level of where we could have been all year.
That’s why we were a .500 team in the end.”

Losing the lead

CMU took a 31-22 lead into halftime after a strong first half by Harman, who scored 13 of his 20 points in the first 20 minutes.

The Chippewas began the second half strong as well — senior guard Jordan Bitzer opened the half scoring five consecutive points.

Harman’s quick-release, step-back 3-pointer over WMU’s Flenard Whitfield from the left corner gave CMU a 42-31 lead just more than 4 minutes into the second half and impressed much of the crowd – and WMU coach Steve Hawkins.

“Robbie Harman looked like an NBA player on an NBA court,” Hawkins said after the game. “I thought we were in real trouble. I thought it could be one of those days. But our kids just played a consistent and persistent basketball game.”

Not long after, CMU extended its lead to 47-33 on Amir Rashid’s layup with 13:42 remaining in the game. One WMU timeout later, the game’s direction entirely flip-flopped.

WMU senior guard and MAC Player of the Year David Kool, who scored 24 of his 26 points in the second half, forced the issue. He relentlessly barged his way through seams in the CMU defense, scored 21 of Western’s final 36 points and energized WMU’s contingent of fans.

“There was a juncture there where he just strapped them on his back like he always does,” said CMU coach Ernie Zeigler after the game.

Kool’s jumper put WMU ahead 56-54 with 4:44 remaining and the Broncos led the rest of the way.

“(Kool) obviously drew a couple fouls and got going offensively,” Harman said. “It’s frustrating for us because we feel like he gets the calls every time. But that’s what he does.”

It was a slow walk off the court for the CMU players and a somber locker room after WMU ended the game on a 20-6 run.

“Everybody was disappointed and some guys took it harder than others did,” said Bitzer, who finished with 15 points. “Jalin was taking it real hard, and you had a bunch of guys come up to us seniors and apologize — they didn’t want to send us out that way. But with us being leaders, we’ve got to take responsibility for not being able to finish that game.”

As for next season, Thomas said the team has something to prove and the leadership necessary to get it done.

“Antonio (Weary) and Will (McClure) are right there ready to lead,” Thomas said. “Amir (Rashid) is right there with us. We’re all ready to lead and ready to prove that we’re going to be good next year.”