Gregg Alexander scored a game-high 18 points against Central Michigan but it was not enough as the Chippewas came from a four-point deficit at halftime to defeat Illinois State, 74-69, in college hoops action at Rose Arena in Mount Pleasant, Mich., Tuesday night.
Illinois State falls to 0-2 on the year while the Chippewas improve to 2-0. Vince Greene chipped in 13 points while Andy Strandmark had 11. Chris Kaman was the leading scorer for Central Michigan with 16 points, 14 of which came in the second half, while Mike Manciel added 15.
The Redbirds jumped to an early eight-point lead through the 11 minute mark of the first half off of hot shooting from Greene, who made consecutive baskets before Strandmark was fouled and went to the line. Up 14-6, the lead stayed on Illinois States side through the first 20 minutes of play heading into the break with ISU up 32-28.
Two minutes into the second half, a bucket by Kaman gave the Chippewas their first lead of the game, 35-34, as CMU and Illinois State continued to bounce the lead back and forth for the next six minutes. At 11:58, however, Central Michigan jumped ahead by three, 49-46, of a trey by Whitney Robinson and never looked back, spanning a 7-0 run and keeping the lead until the end of the game.
The Redbirds came within three with 2:04 remaining, but Kaman stayed hot, hitting a bucket and layup in the last minute.
Illinois State returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7:05 p.m. against Illinois-Chicago at Redbird Arena.
