University of Maine
Central Mich.
Maine Men's Basketball Offense Sputters As Black Bears Fall to Central Michigan, 76-48
11/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan men's basketball team limited Maine to just 48 points throughout the game and 37 percent shooting, as the Black Bears lost 76-48, at the Central Michigan tournament, Friday night. With the loss Maine dropped to 0-3 and Central Michigan stayed a perfect a 3-0.
The Chippewas held Maine to just one double-figure scorer, as Marko Pirovic led the squad with an 11 point, six rebound effort. Shaun Lawton chipped in nine points and four steals, giving him nine steals in three games this season.
The Black Bear offense struggled from all areas of the floor shooting 20-of-54 from the field, and just 3-of-18 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile the Chippewas shot an efficient 59 percent from the field (29-of-49) and knocked down 13-of-26 from long-range.
The Black Bears improved on their turnover numbers forcing 16 while only coughing it up 13 times, most of which came in the first half. However Rebounding went the way of Central Michigan as the squad took down 30 boards, to Maine's 27, while coming up with 26 points in the paint.
CMU forward John Simons led the way with 17 points and five rebounds while Austin Keel and Luke Meyer added 10 each.
The Black Bears got a quick start getting out to a 7-4 lead with the help of a pair of treys by Zarko Valjarevic and Pirovic, but Central Michigan narrowed the gap and took the lead at the 13:24 mark of the first half, thanks to a Rayshawn Simmons jumper.
A bucket by Aaron Calixte a couple minutes later gave the Black Bears their final lead of the game, 9-8 with 11:54 left in the first half.
Central Michigan got out to a 20 point lead before the break as Meyer took a Keel feed and slammed down a dunk to make it 37-17 with 3:04 left in the contest.
Central Michigan finished out the half on a 7-4 run to head to the break up 44-21.
Pirovic opened with a second half layup to make it 44-23 but Central Michigan never allowed the Black Bears to gain traction, responding on the next possession with a dunk by Meyer to go up 46-23.
CMU went on to outscore the Black Bears 32-27 in the second frame, led by 11 points from Simons.
Maine will have one more contest on Sunday as the Black Bears prepare for a showdown with Valparaiso at 9:30 a.m.
