2008 Woodie Awards
CMU looks for third consecutive win against Cal State Fullerton at Rose
Chippewas defeat RMU on road, play Saturday at home
By: Daniel Monson
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Sports
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Two wins later, coach Ernie Zeigler said CMU is beginning to mesh.
CMU hosts Cal State Fullerton at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Rose Arena.
"I have to give our guys all the credit in the world," Zeigler said. "These last two games have been all about our seniors leading and doing everything we need to do to become a tougher basketball team."
The Titans (4-1) are led by a hot-shooting trio of guards. Five-foot, 11-inch junior Josh Akognon averages 24.2 points per game and is 26-of-57 (45.6 percent) from 3-point range.
"The No. 1 thing that makes (Akognon) so effective is that he's so confident," Zeigler said. "He has the green light to shoot the ball every time he steps across half-court. I actually remember the kid from when I was an assistant at UCLA, and he was a big-time scorer then - nothing's changed."
Joining Akognon in the backcourt is senior Frank Robinson, who scored 30 points in Fullerton's 100-91 win Nov. 30 at Montana. Robinson averages 16 points and more than six rebounds per game.
Junior Marcus Crenshaw, a Detroit native and Kent State transfer, is 13-of-27 (48.1 percent) from behind the arc.
Fullerton's roster consists of only upperclassmen - and every player transferred from another school. Zeigler said the CSUF coach Bob Burton has done an excellent job of building the program. Fullerton went 20-11 last season.
The Titans average 84.4 points per game, compared to CMU's average of 69.
"We want to be able to control tempo," Zeigler said. "I think that's going to be a key for us. They're somewhat similar to Robert Morris, where they're tough and they're quick and they're up-tempo."
CMU (2-5) defeated Robert Morris 83-72 on Wednesday in Moon Township, Pa., after falling behind 14-2 to start the game.
The Chippewas battled back behind the play of sophomore guard Jordan Bitzer and senior guard Giordan Watson.
"I definitely feel like I'm getting back closer to 100 percent," said Bitzer, who missed three games because of a knee injury. "The last couple games, I've been kind of struggling with my shot - my technique has been a little bit off."
Bitzer came off the bench for the second straight game and scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds. Watson started for the first time in three games and finished with 15 points and seven assists.
Central outrebounded Robert Morris by a margin of 14 (37-23), but committed 28 turnovers. The Chippewas' defense forced 25 of their own, however.
"We have a group of guys that are starting to come together defensively," Zeigler said. "We got back to being physical and outrebounding them and it gave us an opportunity to get another road win."
Senior guard Reynold Walters came off the bench to guard RMU's top player, junior point guard Tony Lee. Zeigler said Walters did a great job against Lee, who was held to 18 points on 4-of-11 shooting.
Lee's backcourt partner, junior Jeremy Chappell, was held out for a violation of team rules.
"There weren't very many people there, so we kind of had to make our own intensity and own atmosphere," Bitzer said. "I think we did that pretty well, and our bench did a great job of keeping us in the game."
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