2008 Woodie Awards
Minnoy, Watson net 22 points each in exhibition win at home
By: Daniel Monson
Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: Sports
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With time running out and CMU clinging to a two-point lead, Hillsdale guard Evan Steward missed a last-second, running 3-point shot, and the Chippewas escaped with an 83-81 win at Rose Arena.
"Going into this game, we knew that Hillsdale was a very well-coached team," said CMU coach Ernie Zeigler. "Just like I thought, we're nowhere near where we need to be."
The game lasted nearly three hours and included 62 fouls and 53 turnovers between the two teams. Senior guard Giordan Watson and junior forward Nate Minnoy led CMU by 22 points.
"It just seemed like whenever we started getting on a roll, we'd have a turnover," Watson said. "I think we had a good rhythm, we just have to clean up the defensive end so we can get out in transition more."
Minnoy, who made his CMU debut, added four rebounds and three assists, but committed six turnovers.
"It was good to be out there. It was my first college game in a whole year, so was a little bit overwhelming for me," Minnoy said. "Everybody was jacked up, so you tend to make some mistakes that you probably wouldn't make."
Four Hillsdale players fouled out, including junior Tony Gugino, who led the team with 24 points.
CMU shot 56 percent from the field, but also allowed Hillsdale to shoot 50 percent.
Along with Minnoy and Watson, freshman Jeremy Allen and juniors Chris Kellerman and Marcus Van got the starting nod from Zeigler. But Zeigler said he's still trying to find the right lineup.
"We are trying to mesh different lineups and see who can play well on both ends of the floor for us," Zeigler said. "We're definitely in a mix-and-match stage."
Van and Allen both added eight points for the Chippewas. CMU showed its depth as 12 players took the floor during the game.
CMU opened the game with an 8-0 run to take the biggest lead of the game for either team. The game featured 16 ties and 18 lead changes.
"We're still struggling with assignments and understanding how to pressure the ball and stay in front, but we've got a ways to go," Zeigler said. "Last year, we lost this same type of game here at Rose Arena - games that we more or less had in hand down the stretch."
CMU went to the free throw line 31 times and shot 67.7 percent, while Hillsdale shot 74.1 percent on 27 attempts.
"Offense was not our problem," Zeigler said. "We did a good job in spite of the fact of having 23 turnovers. We had a good balance offensively, it's just our decision-making that has to get better."
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