Rapid Reaction: CMU 107, Green Bay 97


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Junior guard Marcus Keene drives to the basket during the game against Green Bay on Dec. 6 at McGuirk Arena.

Central Michigan’s men’s basketball team won its fourth game in a row Tuesday night as the Chippewas (8-2) defeated Wisconsin-Green Bay 107-97 in front of 2,226 fans at McGuirk Arena.

First Half:

CMU broke away from its regular routine of starting slow at home and having to cut the deficit before half time — only to go on a large run to start the second half and put the game away.

Tuesday night, CMU came out fast behind the play of senior guard Braylon Rayson. Within the first 10 minutes, the Dallas, Texas native had 13 points and had scored nine-straight Chippewa points to give CMU a 7-point lead.

The Phoenix kept within striking distance with their low-post play, but the Chippewas pace and energy were too much and forced 14 UW-GB first-half turnovers. CMU led 50-41 at the half with 18 points from Rayson.

Rayson tied his career high with 30 points on 11-of-26 shooting.

Second Half:

The second half belonged to junior point guard Marcus Keene.  

Keene — who leads the country with 30.2 points per game — began to heat up and scored 31 points after half time. The transfer from Youngstown State finished with a career-high 40 points on 12-of-23 shooting. 

UW-GB forward Kerem Kanter — younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Enes Kanter —would keep the Phoenix in it with 20 second-half points of his own on 11-of-13 shooting from the free throw line. 

Each team continued to go back-in-forth, but the shooting of Rayson and Keene proved to be the difference in giving the Chippewas the season sweep of the Phoenix. 

What’s Next

The Chippewas travel to Champaign, Illinois Saturday to take on the University of Illinois Fighting Illini (6-3). 

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