Toledo entertains men’s basketball in late season showdown
Junior guard Shawn Roundtree shoots the basketball during the basketball game against Toledo on Jan. 13 at McGuirk Arena.
Following the Central Michigan men’s basketball team’s loss earlier this season, head coach Keno Davis said, “(Toledo is) going to be a dangerous team throughout the year.”
Turns out, Davis was correct.
The Rockets (19-9, 11-4 Mid-American Conference), holding the best record in the MAC West Division, battle the Chippewas (16-12, 5-10 MAC) at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 at Savage Arena.
The Chippewas' most recent game was an 83-81 overtime loss to in-state rival Western Michigan. CMU missed the final shot with a chance to tie the game.
“Our guys played extremely hard,” Davis said. “That’s what it comes down to — being able to get one more rebound, one more call, or one more bucket.”
The Chippewas have four players scoring in double figures, all of which could help CMU bounce back against the Rockets.
Junior guard Shawn Roundtree leads the team with 15.0 points, followed by senior forward Cecil Williams (14.6), sophomore forward David DiLeo (12.1) and sophomore guard Kevin McKay (11.4).
DiLeo, McKay and Williams consistently rebound, registering 6.9, 6.8 and 6.4 rebounds per game, respectively. Roundtree leads the team with 3.9 assists per game.
Senior forward Luke Meyer averages 9.3 points and 5.2 assists. Meyer scores at a 41.3 percent rate from 3-point range.
After falling out of first place for a few games, CMU climbed back to the top of the nation in team free throw percentage. The Chippewas have made 446-of-556 from the free throw line this season, good for 80.2 percent.
Following CMU on the list is William & Mary, converting on 80.0 percent of its free throws.
Scouting Report
The Rockets have lost just nine games this season to Syracuse, Cornell, Kansas, Marshall, Wright State, Buffalo, Ball State and Eastern Michigan. Toledo has only lost twice to one team – Ball State.
Toledo is commanded by senior guard Tre’Shaun Fletcher, junior guard Jaelan Sanford, junior forward Nate Navigato and sophomore forward Luke Knapke, all of which average double figures in scoring.
In CMU’s early season battle with the Rockets, Fletcher and Sanford set the tone, scoring 22 and 21 points, respectively. Along with his impressive scoring total, Fletcher chipped in six rebounds and four assists.
Navigato, a 6-foot-8 forward, put up six 3-pointers against CMU to give him 18 points.
“The numbers (Toledo) is able to put up offensively are really good,” CMU head coach Keno Davis said. “Not only from the regular field but from the 3-point line.”
On the season, Fletcher averages 18.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
In the NCAA Division I RPI, Toledo is ranked No. 77 of 351 programs. CMU sits in the No. 191 position.
Of all the MAC teams, Buffalo sits at the top of the RPI in the MAC at No. 37. The Bulls are 20-8 on the 2017-18 campaign.
Last Matchup
Earlier this season, CMU fell to Toledo at home, 93-82. In spite of the loss, Roundtree poured in 29 points for the Chippewas.
In the all-time series between the two squads, Toledo owns a 60-39 edge. In the Davis era, CMU is 6-6 against the Rockets.
“I think our potential could be off the charts,” said CMU redshirt sophomore Corey Redman. “We just have to keep working hard. It depends on each night.”
