Streak is over, CMU wins
Loss, loss, loss, loss, loss, loss, loss, loss, loss...win.
Finally, the streak is over.
After nine straight losses, the Central men's basketball team got just what the doctor ordered Saturday with an 88-72 victory over Western Michigan.
The ingredients were perfect to end the skid.
1. Western: If any team could help Central refocus, it would be Western. Anyone who has ever worn the Maroon and Gold knows that this is a special game. It could not have come at a better time. In a losing streak, teams tend to look back instead of forward. Knowing Western was in town helped the team look forward again.
2. Rowdie Return: School is back in session. With the winter break over, the students have returned and that means the Rowdies are back in town. 3-10, 0-3 in the Mid-American Conference, "Who cares?" say the Rowdies. They turned out and filled their section again. Their presence was definitely a lift to a team that needed one.
"The crowd was into the game. We are not a top team in the conference (in the standings) but what support," CMU Head Coach Jay Smith said.
3. Socks: Okay, so this might be a stretch, but everyone was wearing the high socks, even if some opposed the idea. Apparently, it all started with Tim Kisner.
"I live with Luke (Johnson) and Jon (Borovich) and said 'Hey boys, we need to do something to change things up, how about high socks,' and Luke was for it, but Jon didn't like it. So we took it to the rest of the team and only two guys didn't want to do it, so we did it," Kisner said.
This was a sign of team unity. That unity was displayed throughout the night. Four guys hit double figures and everyone who played in the game, except Todd Simmons, scored, including the exciting buzzer beating driving layup by Teddy Baggett.
Smith seemed to go along with it.
"Whatever it takes. I don't care if they pull them over their ears if that works," joked Smith.
4. Free Throws: 26-of-27. One miss. That miss was Borovich's miss when Johnson went down with a hand injury on a three-point play attempt. So, let's throw that one out because Johnson was supposed to shoot anyway, therefore, CMU shot perfect from the line.
5. 1975 Team's Presence: The 1975 team, which was honored at halftime of Saturday's game, came and talked to the team Saturday morning.
"The 1975 team talked to our team and touched our team in a special way. They (our players) know those jerseys. They know who they are. We talk to our team, but it's not the same as when it's player-to-player," Smith said.
Denny Parks also made a prediction.
His prediction was Central would start out hot, then Western would come back and Central would fend them off. He was right.
