Rapid Reaction: Second half run leads men's basketball over Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Following a 91-81 victory over William & Mary on Tuesday, the Central Michigan men’s basketball team returned to McGuirk Arena on Saturday to play the second of its three-game home stand.
Behind junior Marcus Keene’s 31 points, the Chippewas (7-2) defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-7) 82-59.
CMU has won three games in a row after losing two straight in the Lone Star Showcase last week.
How It Happened
The Golden Lions jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the contest, behind a swarming 2-3 zone defense that forced two early CMU turnovers. The Chippewas quickly found holes in the zone which led to back-to-back 3-pointers from Keene and one from senior forward Blake Hibbits.
While Arkansas-Pine Bluff controlled the paint early on, junior Cecil Williams provided a spark for the Chippewas on the offensive glass and had two and-1 opportunities to counter the size advantage for the Golden Lions.
After a halftime tie, the Chippewas broke the game open with a 24-10 run, sparked by aggressive defense and several fast-break opportunities. Keene hit four 3-pointers in the second half while Rayson added two of his own.
The Golden Lions were held to just 38 percent shooting for the game after shooting 47 percent in the first half. CMU led by as many as 24 points in the second half.
Keene — the nation’s leading scorer — finished with 31 points on 8-of-15 shooting.
What’s Next
The Chippewas take on Wisconsin-Green Bay at 7 p.m. Tuesday. CMU beat the Falcons 89-77 last Saturday in Green Bay. Keene led the way with 31 points in the victory.
