Jan. 23, 2010

Final Stats

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - Junior guard Xavier Silas poured in a game-high 26 points, and junior center Sean Kowal posted his second double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, but host Central Michigan (9-8, 4-1 MAC) out-scored the Northern Illinois men's basketball team (8-9, 4-1) 16-8 over the final 4:08, and held off the Huskies for an 81-75 win at Rose Arena Saturday night.

There were a combined 27 ties and lead changes in the game, and both teams shot better than 42 percent from the field. But the Huskies committed 18 turnovers to CMU's 11, and the Chippewas capitalized with 22 points off those mishaps. The Huskies and Central Michigan enter Mid-American Conference crossover divisional play tied atop the MAC-West standings. CMU has now defeated NIU eight-straight times, dating back to the 2006-07 season.

There were a combined 54 personal fouls called in the game, with Northern Illinois being whistled for 29. A combined four players fouled out of the contest, including Silas and junior guard Darion "Jake" Anderson. CMU's Jordan Bitzer and Antonio Weary also fouled out of the game.

Anderson joined Silas and Kowal in double figures with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting - he also had seven assists with three rebounds. CMU was led by senior backcourt tandem Robbie Harman and Bitzer, who each finished with 17 points, leading a foursome of Chippewas in double figures.

"Coming into this game, I thought a major key for us was to rebound the basketball effectively," said NIU head coach Ricardo Patton. "In the second half, I thought we did a better job limiting their (CMU's) second chance opportunities and rebounding the basketball. But on the offensive end, we missed far too many layups. You have to finish those, and they came back to hurt us tonight.

"Even when we got CMU down, they continued to make plays, and you expect a good team to do that in a big game, especially on their home floor. We weren't able to extend our lead to a point that would prevent them from coming back. We've been able to do that in our other league games leading up to tonight."

CMU jumped out to the early 7-2 lead, but the Huskies knotted the score at 14-14 at the second media timeout (11:46). Both teams spent the outset of the contest attempting to establish their own tempo. Out of the break, CMU went on a 13-4 run, and claimed a 27-18 lead after a layup by Marco Spica.

The Huskies began chipping away at the deficit, and eventually cut the deficit to just five, 29-24, with 3:56 remaining in the opening half. Silas and Michael Patton combined for six points during the stretch. The Chippewas' lead reached eight points (32-24) again with 2:47 remaining after a Bitzer transition three, but NIU scored seven-of the final eight points of the half, including a driving runner by Silas with just seven seconds remaining, to cut CMU's advantage to 33-31 heading into the locker room at halftime.

NIU claimed a 34-33 lead just 14 seconds into the second half, after Silas' fourth field goal, and second three-pointer. The score was tied two more times in the ensuing 1:07, but Harman drilled a three-pointer right before the first media timeout (14:46) of the second half, claiming a 44-41 lead.

A three-pointer by Chris Kellerman at the 13:16 mark gave the Chippewas a 49-43 lead, but NIU answered with six-consecutive points, and tied the game at 49-49 after a Silas trey. CMU then quickly countered with a 7-2 spree, and pushed its lead back to five, 56-51, with 10:11 remaining.

The Huskies then answered, stringing together a 9-3 run, and took a 60-59 lead with 6:44 remaining following a layup by Kowal. The Huskies' lead reached 67-65 with 4:07 remaining after Anderson received an outlet pass from Kowal, stormed down the lane and finished off glass, drawing the foul on Bitzer. Anderson's ensuing free throw completed the conventional three-play and gave NIU a two-point edge.

Anderson was whistled for his fourth foul just 14 seconds later, and committed his fifth personal with 3:39 remaining. Silas gave NIU its final lead with 3:29 left, drilling back-to-back free throws to make the score 69-68. CMU's Antonio Weary quickly gave the Chippewas the lead back, converting both free throws after an ensuing foul on Jeremy Landers.

With the score tied at 70-70, the Huskies had the chance to take the lead with just over two minutes remaining. But after a missed layup by William McClure, Silas took the outlet pass, drove the lane and was stripped by Harman while attacking the basket. Diving for the ensuing loose ball, Silas was called for his fourth personal foul, and Harman sank both of his free throws to give CMU a 72-20 lead that it would not relinquish.

Northern Illinois will begin cross-divisional play by hosting Ohio Wednesday night at the Convocation Center beginning at 7 p.m., kick-starting a two-game home stand. The "Jesse White Tumblers" will perform at halftime as part of NIU's ongoing partnership with the Secretary of State Jesse White's "Life Goes On" initiative, promoting the state's tissue and organ donation registry.