Queens University 72, Bowling Green 66
Miami 95, Jackson State 78
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.— Central Michigan freshman guard Reggie Bass (25 points) and senior guard Brian Taylor (28 points) combined to score 53 of CMU's 74 points and the Chippewas outscored Purdue Northwest 18-0 over a six-minute span to claim a 74-67 home win Tuesday evening at McGuirk Arena. With the win, Central Michigan improves to 3-4 on the year, while Purdue Northwest drops to 5-3 overall.
On the evening, Bass hit 3-pointers all over the floor en route to a career-high 25 points. He also established new individual career-highs for 3-point field goals (six), 3-point attempts (12), field goals made (seven), and field goal attempts (14). He scored 17 of his 25 points in the first half and grabbed six rebounds. With his game-high 28 points, Taylor also set a new scoring career-high. It marked his second consecutive 20-point game as he finished with 20 points at California Baptist on Saturday. Taylor also pulled down eight rebounds.
The duo stepped up to carry the offensive load for Central Michigan as its top two leading scorers in guards Kevin Miller (18.5 ppg.) and Jesse Zarzuela (15.2 ppg.) both did not play.
Central Michigan outscored Purdue Northwest 18-0 over six minutes spanning the first and second halves. Trailing by nine points (34-25), Central Michigan went on a key momentum-changing 11-0 run to take a 36-34 lead into halftime.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Taylor and Bass cut Purdue Northwest's lead down to three points at 34-31 at the 2:01 mark. Bass then swished another 3-pointer to tie the game at 34-34. A key blocked shot by Nicolas Pavrette, then a missed shot by Purdue Northwest set the Chippewas on the run as Ola Ajiboye threw down a dunk when Bass banked a pass off the backboard for CMU's first lead of the game. Bass finished the first half with 17 points and Taylor added 14.
The Chippewas stepped up the defensive pressure and started the second half where they left off as Ajiboye found Taylor for a dunk. A blocked shot by Ajiboye set up an offensive rebound putback by Ajiboye for a 40-34 lead. Then Taylor blocked another shot that set up a corner 3-pointer by Bass and CMU held a 43-34 advantage.
Purdue Northwest trimmed the lead down to 52-50 on a 3-point play by Mikell Cooper with 11:02 to play, but that was as close as the Pride came. Central Michigan countered with a 7-0 run fueled by a Taylor jumper, Bass 3-pointer and a Miroslav Stafl layup for a nine point lead (59-50) with 8:20 to play. Two Taylor free throws pushed the lead to 61-51 at the 6:48 mark.
Central Michigan did the damage down low as it blocked eight Purdue Northwest shots and outrebounded the Pride 43-30. The Chippewas also held the Pride to 37.3 shooting (22-59).
Purdue Northwest was led by Cooper's 18 points. Anthony Barnard and Alou Dillon both finished with 12 points apiece.
By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Two games into a four-game home stand, the Miami RedHawks have wins to show for both their opportunities. The latest came Tuesday as MU downed Jackson State 95-78. Technically, it marked the first "win streak" of the Travis Steele area as Miami won back-to-back games for the first time this year while raising its overall record to 3-4. The loss dropped JSU to 0-6 -- all on the road.
Beyond their victory, however, the RedHawks . . . CONTINUE
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Bowling Green went down to the wire before falling to Queen University of Charlotte 72-66 on Tuesday night.
A late 10-2 stretch for the Falcons closed the gap and the Orange and Brown came within a bucket late, down 69-66, but Queens held on for the 72-66 final. The loss moves the Falcons to 2-5 on the season.
The Falcons were paced by 16 points from Samari Curtis and 15 from Chandler Turner. Turner added a team-high eight rebounds while Rashaun Agee followed suit, recording 14 points and seven rebounds for BGSU. The Orange and Brown went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The momentum stayed on the side of the Royals for the rest of the first half, taking a 40-29 lead into halftime.
Early in the second half, the Falcons put together a 6-0 run to cut the deficit down to 44-37 before the score was cut down to 46-43 with another 6-0 run for BGSU.
The lead was cut down to one at 56-55 Queens, going into the media timeout with the score at 58-55 Royals.
The Royals rebuilt their lead, but another surge from the Falcons drew the score back within one at 60-59 off a Rashaun Agee hook shot. Queens added a bucket before the media timeout, holding a 62-59 advantage at the break.
Out of the media timeout, the Royals went on a 7-0 run to extend their advantage back to 67-59, forcing a BGSU timeout.
The Falcons cut the lead down to 69-64 with a three by Chandler Turner followed by an Anthony McComb III layup through traffic to force a timeout from the Royals' bench.
Coming out of the timeout, Agee drew a foul and hit both free throws to bring the score to 69-66. However, Queens closed out the game with three straight free throws for the 72-66 final.