Central Michigan Beats Wolverines 78-67

The Wolverines fell to 4-7 on the season with a 78-67 loss to instate rival Central Michigan on Saturday afternoon at Crisler Arena. DeShawn Sims led Michigan scorers with 17 points, but the Maize and Blue were unable to overcome 23 turnovers in the 11-point loss to the Chippewas.

ANN ARBOR -- The Wolverines fell to 4-7 on the season with an 11-point home loss to the Central Michigan Chippewas on Saturday afternoon at Michigan's Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor. DeShawn Sims led Michigan scorers with 17 points in the 78-67 loss.

Michigan finished with 15 assists in the contest, but 23 turnovers were enough to do the Maize and Blue in in their attempt to get one game closer to .500.

"They got into us a lot. They were getting hands into us. We just have to get stronger with the ball. We've got to crash harder and snatch balls. That's what college basketball is all about. Teams are going to come out and pressure you hard, and we have to work through it," Captain Ron Coleman said.

Coleman and Sims opened the contest doing the scoring for the Wolverines. A Coleman jumper, sandwiched by a pair from Sims, made it 6-0 before the Chippewas got on the board with three free throws just over three minutes into the game.

Manny Harris added a bucked after forcing a Chippewas turnover to make it 8-3 with 16:03 left, but the Wolverines lead wouldn't last.

After exchanging buckets to make it 10-5, Central Michigan's Jeremy Allen hit from downtown to trim the lead to two points. Marcus Van tied it 10-10 less then a minute later.

Eight minutes into the half, Sims would connect on his sixth shot from the floor, but that would give the Maize and Blue their final lead of the contest.

Central Michigan responded with an 8-0 run to give them their first lead at 23-18. Manny Harris would end it with a bucket for the Maize and Blue, but Central extended the lead to 11 points behind a balanced offensive attack that 10 scorers in the first half.

The first 20 minutes ended with the Wolverines trailing 38-29. DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris combined for 22 of Michigan's 29 points in the first half.

The second half turned into Giordon Watson of Central against Michigan's Kelvin Grady. Watson, who finished as the games leading scorer with 22 points, scored 15 in the final 20 minutes. Grady scored 11 in the second half to lead the Wolverines.

Just over five minutes in the Wolverines cut the lead to two points, but Central Michigan answered with seven straight to push the lead back near double digits.

Grady would add seven straight points to bring the Wolverines within six at 64-70, but that was as close as the Wolverines would get.

Central Michigan held on over the final 2 minutes for the 78-67 win.