Five players score in double figures as Chippewas top Chicago State
On a night where the nation’s leading scorer wasn’t able to dominate the game, freshman David DiLeo and junior redshirt Josh Kozinski answered the call for the Central Michigan men’s basketball team.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from DiLeo late in the second half helped push the Chippewas past Chicago State, 90-82 Friday night at McGuirk Arena.
After trading baskets for most of the second half, DiLeo knocked in a 3-pointer with 4:57 left to play to give CMU a 78-76 lead and then followed up with another triple to push the lead to 81-76. CMU would not look back from that point.
DiLeo finished the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds for his second career double-double.
Seniors Josh Kozinski and Braylon Rayson also helped pick up the scoring for the Chippewas all game. Kozinski hit six 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 20 points and a career-high seven rebounds, while Rayson scored 18 points and added six assists.
After struggling to score early in the game, the nation’s leading scorer, Marcus Keene, found his shot in the second half. He scored 11 of his 16 points in the second period and added eight assists. He leads the country with 30.6 points per game.
Every time it seemed CMU would pull away, the Cougars answered with a run of their own. CSU battled back with a 10-0 run to take a 58-56 lead with 14 minutes to play.
After Kozinski scored five quick points to give CMU a 68-61 lead, the Cougars answered with an 8-0 run to regain the lead at 69-68 with 8:33 to play.
The Chippewas shot 46 percent from the field and 35 percent from the 3-point line. Despite being outrebounded, CMU finished with 16 assists.
CMU had five players score in double figures. Senior forward Cecil Williams scored 15 points and five rebounds.
Rayson opened the game fast scoring nine points in the first 10 minutes of action. Keene was held scoreless until he drained a 3-pointer at the 10-minute mark of the first half.
Kozinski found his rhythm from deep hitting four 3-pointers in the first half as Keene attempted to find some momentum.
CMU led by as many as 12 in the first period, but Chicago State battle back to cut the deficit to 37-33 with four minutes left in the half and trailed 47-43 at halftime.
Although Keene didn’t reach his average, he found shots for his teammates and ended the half with five assists.
The Chippewas finished non-conference play at 9-4 and will open Mid-American Conference season on Jan. 3 against Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti.
