VALPARAISO 81, WESTERN MICHIGAN 65
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.--Displaying a quick, fast-break offense and suffocating pressure defense, the Central Michigan men's basketball team raced to a 76-60 win over Eastern Illinois Sunday in its home opener at McGuirk Arena. The victory evened CMU's record at 1-1 on the young season.
Sophomore point guard Kevin Miller led Central Michigan with game-highs of 23 points and nine assists. He converted eight of 11 field goals and played a role in 17 of CMU's 29 field goals while playing in 39 minutes on the day. In his second game in a CMU uniform, sophomore forward Markus Harding finished the day with 19 points on eight of nine shooting and nine rebounds, while senior Brian Taylor totaled career-highs for rebounds (13) and blocked shots (four), while also adding eight points.
Junior guard Jesse Zarzuela came off the bench to score nine points, junior forward Carrington McCaskill finished with eight points, and freshman guard Reggie Bass added seven. At the end of the day, the Chippewas outrebounded Eastern Illinois 49-37, blocked seven shots, and scored 42 points in the paint.
VALPARAISO 81, WESTERN MICHIGAN 65
VALPARAISO, Ind. – Western Michigan senior guard Lamar Norman Jr. scored a team-high 25 points as the Broncos fell, 81-65, at Valparaiso in non-conference action on Sunday evening.
Norman's 25 points were the most scored by a Bronco so far during the young 2022-23 season. The Grand Rapids, Mich., native has scored in double-figures in 31 of 33 games since arriving at Western Michigan, with 16 games of 20+ points. He has led WMU in scoring 27 times in his career.
Joining Norman in double-figures was Tray Maddox Jr., who tallied 16 points, his highest total since transferring to WMU in the offseason. Titus Wright secured a game-high 12 rebounds to help the Broncos win the rebounding battle, 42-37. The 12 boards tied Wright's career high.
The Broncos trailed by just four (40-36) at intermission, but were outscored 41-29 in the second half.