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Losing streak ups to five games for CMU

Marcus Keene went to the bench with 7 minutes left in the first half after committing 3 fouls. [Photo by Zach Libby]
Marcus Keene went to the bench with 7 minutes left in the first half after committing 3 fouls. [Photo by Zach Libby]

It's transparent that Central Michigan will only go as far as Marcus Keene will take them.

Keene, the nation's leading scorer, has done things on the court this season that can't be replicated. But there are moments when the junior guard falls back to reality, leading the Chippewas to search for answers elsewhere.

And sometimes they do, with heavy contributions from senior Braylon Rayson, junior Cecil Williams and others. There are other times though where CMU can't catch a glimpse of explosiveness offensively.

That most certainly was the case at Savage Arena, where Central Michigan scored just 20 points in the first half, leading to its five straight defeat this season, with two games left on the schedule.

“It would be nice to win the last couple games going into the (MAC) tournament," CMU coach Keno Davis said. "But I think more important is that we we’ve got to get back to playing like we had played."

The Chippewas (16-13, 6-10) had won six consecutive games against Toledo before Friday, but after a 20-point deficit with five minutes before halftime, they suffer their seventh loss on the road this year.

Central Michigan allowed all five starters for the Rockets to finish in double-digit scoring in the 87-66 defeat. CMU also fell by over 20-points last Tuesday against Northern Illinois at McGuirk Arena.

“For the full 40 minutes against Northern Illinois and the first half here we didn’t resemble anything near what we were,” Davis said. “We’re going to have to get back to playing the way we’re capable of to be able to make a run."

There were two sides that's Keene showcased, the first where he was pulled from the game with seven minutes left in the first half after committing his third foul, just a second after his caused his fifth turnover.

Keene fouled out within the final minute of the game, the first time this season that he's recorded five fouls, notching nine turnovers and 27 points as well for a CMU team-high.

What's remarkable is that Keene's points total was all scored in the second half. He reached double-digits at the 13:05 mark by knocking down a 3-pointer, finishing at 50 percent shooting from the field.

Williams, who led Central Michigan at the half with seven points, combined for 24 with Rayson. Junior Luke Meyer contributed eight, grabbing five rebounds and two steals.

The closest the Chippewas came to mounting a comeback was at the 12:37 mark of the second half, when a corner three by Josh Kozinski made it a 12-pojnt game. CMU couldn't get it down to single-digits for the remaining time.

“I felt like we came out in the second half and had the energy that we needed and cut into the lead and kept cutting into it," Davis said. "But that’s tough to cut into 20 on the road."

The Chippewas shot just 29% from the field and 18% from 3-point range in the first half. They recorded a total eight shots from beyond the arc, missing 21. They rank second nationally in total 3-point field goals made per game with 12.7.

Senior guard Johnathan Williams, who ranks third in the Mid-American conference in scoring behind Keene and Rayson, scored 22 points on 56 percent shooting. Senior forward Steve Taylor gained a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

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