Michigan
4-7
Central Michigan
4-5
Wolverines Tripped Up at Home by Central Michigan
12/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena)
Score: Central Michigan 78, Michigan 67
Records: U-M (4-7), CMU (4-5)
Attendance: 8,829
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Dec. 22 -- vs. UCLA (Crisler Arena), 2 p.m.
Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery | Video Report
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's basketball team dropped a physical game, 78-67, to the Central Michigan Chippewas Saturday afternoon (Dec. 15) in Crisler Arena. After U-M built an early first-half lead, CMU responded with an 8-0 run that gave the Chippewas the advantage which they held until the final horn. The Wolverines cut the deficit to five or less three times in the second half but were never able to recapture the lead as CMU guard Giordan Watson tallied 15 of his game-high 22 points after halftime.
Three Wolverines scored in double figures against the Chippewas, with sophomore DeShawn Sims(Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS) leading the way with 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Each member of the freshman backcourt of Manny Harris(Detroit, Mich./Redford HS) and Kelvin Grady(Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids HS) was close to a double-double as Harris tallied 12 points and a career-high nine rebounds while Grady finished the game with 11 points and a career-best eight assists.
The Wolverines jumped out to a 6-0 lead and held an 18-15 advantage after eight minutes as Sims accounted for 12 points on six field goals. He finished the first half with a team-high 12 points on six-of-seven shooting. Over the next seven minutes, CMU gained a 23-18 lead on an 8-0 run, which included baskets from four different Chippewas.
Harris scored the Wolverines' final six points of the half, yet Michigan trailed CMU 38-29 at the break. In the game's first 20 minutes of action, Harris collected 10 points on three-of-five shooting from the field and four-of-four from the foul line. Michigan shot the ball effectively at 48 percent (12-25) but tallied 14 first-half turnovers.
The Chippewas maintained their halftime lead throughout the second half, but the Wolverines made it difficult, especially early in the period. Senior Ron Coleman(Romulus, Mich./Romulus HS) and Grady each connected on a pair of buckets to trim the CMU advantage to 42-39 five minutes into the half, but the combination of Watson and forward Nate Minnoy extended the Chippewas' lead back to double digits. That lead looked to be insurmountable until a Grady trey cut the lead to 70-64 with 2:39 remaining. Six free throws by Watson followed, slamming the door on U-M's comeback attempt.
Michigan will take the week off before returning to the hardwood Saturday (Dec. 22) against UCLA at Crisler Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. with game broadcast on CBS.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
