Rapid Reaction: Central Michigan 91, William & Mary 81
After four straight road games, the Central Michigan men's basketball team returned home to McGuirk Arena, where it was undefeated heading into Tuesday's game against William & Mary.
The Chippewas are still undefeated.
CMU knocked off the Tribe 91-81 to improve to 6-2 on the season, including 3-0 at home.
Junior guard Marcus Keene led the way 36 points, which ties his career high. Senior guard Braylon Rayson totaled 23 and scored the Chippewas' first five points of the game within 66 seconds. Keene hit a 3-pointer before the buzzer sounded in the first half.
The Review
Rayson exited the game with 18:31 remaining in the second half an apparent facial injury.
The Chippewas were charged a timeout while time was stopped for reviewing the play. Head Coach Keno Davis and Tribe Head Coach Tony Shaver each exchanged heated words with the officials.
After the charging of the timeout, junior guard Josh Kozinski hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 47-47.
Rayson checked back into the game with 16:43 remaining and the Chippewas never looked back.
The Run
With the two teams tied at 49-49, Keene and Rayson scored the next 12 Chippewa points as they embarked on a 14-3 run to put the game out of reach.
Keene knocked down a jumper before a Rayson 3-pointer made it a 54-49 game. Rayson followed with his own jumper. Keene added six straight points to bring the lead to 60-51. David DiLeo knocked down a jumper in the paint to make it a 64-52 game with 11:32 remaining.
The Free Throw
Keene scored 36 points against Pepperdine in Texas during the team's last road trip. In his fourth game since then, Keene earned another career high at home.
Just eight days removed from setting his career high of 36 points, Keene had 35 late in the game against the Tribe when he knocked down one free throw with 1:48 left, tying his career high at home. He missed his second free throw and was unable to break his record.
What's Next
CMU will have its first Saturday afternoon game of the season when it hosts Arkansas Pine-Bluff at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 3.
The Golden Lions (1-5) have lost four straight heading into Thursday's game against Tennesse-Martin, who knocked off CMU in the opening round of last season's CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.
