The CMU men’s basketball team was eliminated in the Mid-American Conference tournament quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive season last week with a 69-60 loss against rival Western Michigan.

Senior Reporter Daniel Monson talked with coach Ernie Zeigler about the team’s 15-15 finish, the program’s status and its future.

0Athletics Director Dave Heeke said Tuesday he expects to re-sign men’s basketball coach Ernie Zeigler to a multi-year contract in the next few weeks.
“We’re looking at a multi-year agreement,” Heeke said. “I hope to pull this together in short order and continue to move forward.”
Zeigler has one year remaining on his five-year contract, which was [...]

CLEVELAND — Like many times in their careers, Jordan Bitzer and Robbie Harman walked off the court Thursday without a win.

But like so many other times, there was little doubt they left it all on the floor despite a a 69-60 loss against Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference quarterfinal

CLEVELAND — Jalin Thomas has one distinct goal for his team next season — a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

But first, the junior forward and the other returning members of the CMU men’s basketball team must get past the Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfin

Senior guard Jordan Bitzer could only watch as his team’s biggest rival, Western Michigan, put the finishing touches on a 14-point comeback to advance to the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.

0Thursday marks the third meeting of the season between the Central Michigan and Western Michigan men’s basketball teams. But for CMU coach Ernie Zeigler, the other two don’t matter.
It’s ‘win or go home’ time for the rivals, which meet at noon Thursday for the first time ever in the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Quicken Loans [...]

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YPSILANTI — Leave it to the CMU men’s basketball team to win a title by defying odds. Afterall, the Chippewas did it all season.
The Mid-American Conference West Division belongs solely to the Chippewas, who held Eastern Michigan (8-8 MAC) scoreless in the game’s final 2:35 and overcame a five-point deficit Thursday at the Convocation Center.
They [...]

It is a big game when Eastern Michigan coach Charles Ramsey and CMU’s Ernie Zeigler don’t speak during the week before it.

That is what has happened this week — the friends’ focus lies squarely on preparing their teams for their 6:30 p.m. Thursday matchup in Ypsilanti. Both teams’ final game of the regular season will be televised on Fox Sports Detroit.