DeKALB, Ill. - Freshman guard Chris Fowler led Central Michigan in scoring and assists and fellow guard Kyle Randall matched his team-high rebounding total as the Chippewas snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 69-50 win at Northern Illinois.
Fowler, making a stronger bid with each late-season game for Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year, scored a game-high 16 points to lead the Chippewas (10-18, 3-11 MAC) in scoring for the third consecutive night, but this time also grabbed a team-best five rebounds while dishing out a game-high eight assists to just three turnovers.
"He's quickly improving," said head coach Keno Davis. "We knew what we had in him early, but we're already seeing the transformation of a freshman into a sophomore right now. If he stays healthy and has a good off-season he can be a real weapon for us next year."
The Chippewas used a 15-2 run to go up 45-35 with 10:41 remaining, thanks in large part to their three-point shooting, which climbed as high as 64 percent before the final few minutes.
The Huskies (5-2, 3-11 MAC), meanwhile, hit just 1-of-14 from long range and had a significant disadvantage at the free throw line, as well. They put the Chippewas into the bonus just seven minutes into the contest and sent them to the line a total of 26 times - 15 more than their own 11 attempts.
Kyle Randall's 14 points and John Simons' 10 joined Fowler's 16 to comprise Central Michigan's three double-figure scorers. Fowler shot 4-of-6 from the field and 7-of-11 from the line. His five rebounds combined with Randall's five to account for one-third of the Chippewas' total.
Central’s victory avenged a loss to the Huskies earlier this season that started the 10-game skid.
"This team never lost that intensity or the enthusiasm or attitude, but you worry during a losing streak that you could lose it," said Davis. "A pre-emptive win is good medicine for us tonight."
The Chippewas will play their final home game of the season Tuesday night versus Eastern Michigan.
Northern Illinois is at Toledo Tuesday (7 p.m.).
-- Courtesy of Central Michigan Athletics
"He's quickly improving," said head coach Keno Davis. "We knew what we had in him early, but we're already seeing the transformation of a freshman into a sophomore right now. If he stays healthy and has a good off-season he can be a real weapon for us next year."
The Chippewas used a 15-2 run to go up 45-35 with 10:41 remaining, thanks in large part to their three-point shooting, which climbed as high as 64 percent before the final few minutes.
The Huskies (5-2, 3-11 MAC), meanwhile, hit just 1-of-14 from long range and had a significant disadvantage at the free throw line, as well. They put the Chippewas into the bonus just seven minutes into the contest and sent them to the line a total of 26 times - 15 more than their own 11 attempts.
Kyle Randall's 14 points and John Simons' 10 joined Fowler's 16 to comprise Central Michigan's three double-figure scorers. Fowler shot 4-of-6 from the field and 7-of-11 from the line. His five rebounds combined with Randall's five to account for one-third of the Chippewas' total.
Central’s victory avenged a loss to the Huskies earlier this season that started the 10-game skid.
"This team never lost that intensity or the enthusiasm or attitude, but you worry during a losing streak that you could lose it," said Davis. "A pre-emptive win is good medicine for us tonight."
The Chippewas will play their final home game of the season Tuesday night versus Eastern Michigan.
Northern Illinois is at Toledo Tuesday (7 p.m.).
-- Courtesy of Central Michigan Athletics
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