The CMU men’s basketball team plays for first place in the Mid-American Conference West Division against Northern Illinois at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Rose Arena.

The Chippewas enter the game second in the division with a 3-1 record, while the Huskies are first at 4-0.

“We’re going to have a huge challenge here,” said CMU coach Ernie Zeigler. “But this is what we want. We to be able to have these opportunities to compete to be at the top of our division throughout the season.”

The Huskies were 0-8 last season on the road, but are 2-0 this season and are the only team in the conference to start 4-0. NIU has won six consecutive and has not lost in 2010.

The Chippewas swept the season series against the Huskies last season, including a 63-44 victory in Rose Arena.

Xavier Salas (6-foot-5-inch junior guard), who averages 19.3 points per game after sitting out last season because of transferring from the University of Colorado, has been NIU’s most consistent scorer.

“Xavier Salas is an absolute bundle to guard,” Zeigler said. Fellow guard, junior Darion Anderson (6-foot-2-inch), averages 11.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Junior center Sean Kowal (6-foot-11-inch) averages 9.3 points per game.

“They’re a well-rounded team and we look forward to the challenge Saturday,” said senior guard Jordan Bitzer.

CMU’s goal coming into the season was to win every MAC game at home and at least split on the road. So far, CMU is 1-1 on the road and 2-0 at home.

The Eagles

CMU put itself in a position to play for first place by defeating Eastern Michigan 71-63 Wednesday at Rose Arena.

Bitzer led CMU with a career-high 28 points, outscoring the entire Eastern Michigan roster 19-18 in the first half.

The Eagles were held to 25 percent shooting in the first half and 35.7 for the game.

“I think you saw, in the first half, Central Michigan basketball at its best on both ends of the floor,” Zeigler sad.

CMU shot 51.2 percent, its highest percentage in MAC play. Bitzer said Monday’s extra shooting practices paid dividends in the game.

Eastern Michigan outrebounded CMU 38-30 in the game and outscored the Chippewas 45-36 in the second half.

Junior forward Jalin Thomas had 16 points and six rebounds and senior guard Robbie Harman had 15 points and four assists.

Thomas and junior Will McClure, who had eight rebounds and played a career-high 29 minutes, kept EMU’s star players in check for most of the game. Junior forward Brandon Bowdry was held to 11 points and six rebounds. Bowdry came into the game averaging a double-double (18.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game).

The team begins play against MAC East opponents Thursday in Miami (Ohio). CMU’s next home game is Feb. 4 against Buffalo.

The Chippewas went 2-4 against MAC East teams last season, losing all three of their road games. Under Zeigler, the team is 7-11 during the regular season and 1-2 in the MAC tournament against the East.

Notes

Junior forward Marko Spica did not play in Wednesday’s win against Eastern Michigan with a knee injury. Zeigler said he is day-to-day and can possibly play Saturday.