Multiple scoring runs lead Chippewas over Concordia


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Junior guard Chris Fowler reaches up to make a basket during the game against Concordia Friday night Dec. 19. 

Central Michigan basketball has improved to 8-1 on the season after defeating Concordia College by a final score of 97-60 at McGuirk Arena. 

In the process the Chippewas improved to 7-0 at home for the first time since a Jay Smith-led team did so to start the 2002-03 season.

"Concordia is a team that looked like we did a few years ago," said CMU Head Coach Keno Davis.  "Great intensity, really good shooters and they're a team that you can understand why they won eight straight."

CMU overcame a hot 3-point shooting start at the hands of the Cardinals by going on runs of 17-0 and 12-0 in the first half, followed by a 17-1 run to eventually put the game away in the second half.

Senior guard Austin Keel had 18 points in the victory, which was career-high for him as well.  Keel led all Chippewas in scoring on the night.  He was able to make all six of his shots from the field.

Junior guard Rayshawn Simmons had a career-high 15 points. He also had five rebounds and four assists against the Cardinals.

Rebounding proved to be key for CMU, as they out-rebounded the Cardinals by 20, getting 47 total rebounds to help secure the 37-point victory.  

"We're a bigger team and part of our inability to guard around the perimeter was we continued to go with our bigger lineup," said Davis.  "We had a tough time guarding them but we also had a great opportunity to rebound."

As a team, CMU shot 53.2 percent from the field.  On a night where the shots from beyond the arc were not falling, it did not seem to matter, as they put away Concordia with relative ease.

"It was really a nice win coming off of an emotional win," Davis said. "Now we'll see if we can come back and get another road win here in a few days."

The Chippewas will now travel to take on McNeese State at 8 p.m. on December 22, from Lake Charles, La.

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