CMU ties MAC record, defeats SIUE 94-61
Three point shooting proved to be the difference in men’s basketball’s 94-61 win over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Saturday.
Improving to 6-1 on the young season, Central Michigan University utilized the long ball to set a team record and tie a Mid-American Conference for most 3-pointers made in a game with 20.
Seven different Chippewas made at least one shot from beyond the arc against the Cougars. As a team they managed to shoot 57.1 percent from 3-point range, while going 50.1 percent from the field.
“It’s awfully tough to be able to defend a team that has three point shooters,” said CMU’s head coach, Keno Davis said. “Not just one or two guys, but when you have four or five (that can shoot threes) you realize how tough it is to guard them.”
Sophomore guard Braylon Rayson had a career-high in points with 19, going 4-5 from long distance. Junior forward John Simons made three of his four three point shots, posting nine points and seven rebounds.
Contributing strictly from the 3-point line was sophomore Josh Kozinski, who went 4-5 and put up 12 points against SIUE.
“When we start off a game hot like that, you can’t help but take those shots,” said Rayson.
Kozinski ehoed Rayson’s claims.
“We know everybody on our team is capable of shooting the three,” he said. “Everybody came out really hot today, it was nice.”
On the defensive side of the ball, freshman forward DaRohn Scott had a career-high in blocked shots against the Cougars with four.
“We are a tough team to prepare against,” Davis said. “If you put guys on the three point line, we have guys like Chris Fowler who can get inside and shoot 20 free throws.”
CMU’s next matchup will be on the road against Big Ten opponent Northwestern University at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17.
