Mitten Hoop Scoop (12/22)

**Each week, the TSR team will file the Mitten Report, an in-depth look at college basketball around the great state of Michigan.**

MICHIGAN STATE (6-1, 0-1 B1G)

The Spartans only had one game this week. On Sunday, they travelled to Evanston to start Big Ten play against the Northwestern Wildcats. Michigan State looked lethargic, playing poorly for the entirety of the contest. The Spartans lost 79-65 as the team shot 8/31 from deep. They had no answer for Boo Buie, who dropped 30 points for the Wildcats. Aaron Henry led the team with 11 points, while Gabe Brown and Malik Hall had 10 points each.

MSU Basketball: Reactions to the Spartans’ Loss at Northwestern

Michigan State will be back in action against Wisconsin on Christmas Day. This game will take place at the Breslin Center at noon on FOX. They have some issues to work through if they are going to have a shot at their four-peat in league play.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN (3-3, 0-1 MAC)

The Chippewas had a trio of games on the docket this week. On Monday night, they hosted St. Francis (IL) of the NAIA’s Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. CMU got out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back. Although it was only 38-25 at halftime, Central Michigan outscored St. Francis 53-14 in the second half to secure a 91-39 blowout win. The fast-paced offense of CMU got 69 shots up, making 36 of them. Meikkel Murray was 6/10 from the floor to lead the team with fifteen points. Caleb Huffman (11) and Ralph Bissainthe (10) also got in double figures.

🚨🚨 PLAY OF THE GAME 🚨🚨

Travon Broadway Jr. ➡️ Meikkel Murray ➡️ DUNK! #FireUpChips 🔥⬆️🏀 pic.twitter.com/f2IuADzs4V
— CMU Men's Basketball (@CMUMensBBall) December 15, 2020

On Friday afternoon, Central Michigan travelled to Kalamazoo to take on their rival Western Michigan. The Broncos snapped a six-game losing streak in the series with a 76-61 victory. Meikkel Murray led the team once again with eighteen points, while Devontae Lane and Travon Broadway Jr. each added thirteen.

On Sunday, the Olivet Comets came to town for a non-league battle. CMU rolled to a 127-66 victory behind a 70-point first half. The team shot 56.4% from the field and had six players in double figures. Caleb Huffman led the way with 30. Ralph Bissainthe (17), Travon Broadway (15), Meikkel Murray (13), Aundre Polk (13) and Malik Muhammad (12) joined him in double figures, while Matt Beachler hit three triples to finish with 9.

👀TALE of the TAPE from today's win over Olivet. ⬇️

Caleb Huffman posts a career-high 30 points to lead CMU.

Aundre Polk (13 points, 13 rebounds) and Ralph Bissainthe (17 points, 11 rebounds) notch their first career double-doubles.#FireUpChips 🔥⬆️🏀 pic.twitter.com/nOE2LihFBZ
— CMU Men's Basketball (@CMUMensBBall) December 20, 2020

The Chippewas are off this week. They resume action on December 29 when they travel to Ypsilanti to take on Eastern Michigan in MAC play.

DETROIT MERCY (1-5, 0-2 HL)

The Titans hosted Wright State in a Horizon League doubleheader that opened the conference campaign. It was a frustrating weekend for Detroit, as they were swept by the Raiders. In Game 1, they lost 93-70. The Titans were 8/28 from deep, and Antoine Davis was held in check. He was 6/17 from the floor with 15 points. Marquell Fraser led Detroit with 19 points. Bul Kuol (12) and Matt Johnson (10) also got in double figures.

On Sunday, the Titans lost once again. This time, it was thirteen points again (85-72), but it was closer early on. It was 35-32 Raiders at the break before things began to unravel. The Titans struggled again from deep, posting a 7/24 night. Bul Kuol led the way with 21 points, and Matt Johnson added 20. Antoine Davis and Marquell Fraser chipped in 10.

Detroit’s weekend series against IUPUI on December 26/27 has been cancelled. The Titans are now planned to resume action on January 1 and 2 at UIC.

OAKLAND (0-9, 0-2)

The Golden Grizzlies took to the road, extending their road trip to open the 2020-21 campaign. This weekend, they began Horizon League play at UIC against the Flames (coached by former Michigan assistant Luke Yaklich). It was a tough opening series for the Golden Grizzlies, as they were swept.

Oakland went on a 13-0 run late in the first game, but ultimately UIC hit some key free throws to seal the victory. UIC’s 74-72 victory was their first over Oakland in Chicago. The Golden Grizzlies were doomed with a 2/16 three-point shooting night. Jalen Moore led the team with 25 points, while Trey Townsend (17) and Daniel Oladapo (15) joined them in double figures.

UIC dominated from the opening tip-off in the second game. They controlled the first half, and the Flames held a 53-35 lead going into the locker room. Oakland actually outscored UIC in the second half (38-37), but it was too little too late. Rashad Williams led the team with 20 points, while Daniel Oladapo added 19. Trey Townsend (13), Zion Young (11) and Jalen Moore (10) scored in double figures. Moore racked up a double-double with 10 assists as well. These were the only five players that scored for Oakland in this loss.

The Golden Grizzlies will finally have their first home game of the season against Northern Kentucky on Saturday. They will host the Norse on Sunday as well as the second game of the doubleheader.

WESTERN MICHIGAN (2-4, 1-0 MAC)

The WMU Broncos entered Friday afternoon’s rivalry game on a six-game losing streak in the series. WMU shot 71% from the field in the second half, as they won 76-61 against CMU. Greg Lee led the way with a double-double (17 points and 11 rebounds). B. Artis White added 16 points, while Patrick Emilien scored 10. This is Head Coach Clayton Bates’ first victory over a Division 1 opponent, first MAC win and first rivalry victory. The team was extremely excited:

We win. We sing. We Celebrate. 🐴 🏀 #WeWillReign pic.twitter.com/1cBet4ntMz
— WMU Men's Basketball😷 (@WMUMBB) December 18, 2020

WMU has just one game next week. They will welcome Ball State into town on Tuesday afternoon (2:00 PM) for their second MAC game of the year.

HILLSDALE (3-0, 3-0 G-MAC)

The Chargers had two games this week, as they travelled to Ohio Valley for a G-MAC battle. Hillsdale scored their highest total of points in a regulation contest since 2010 in this victory, as the Chargers won 106-76. The team shot 63% from the floor, as they were led by Patrick Cartier with 20 points. Connor Hill (19), Austen Yarian (17), Kyle Goessler (17) and Tavon Brown (14) also finished in double figures.

On Saturday, they hosted Kentucky Wesleyan in their final game of the month. Hillsdale rallied from a first-half deficit to win their third league game of the year. The Chargers won 72-58 despite shooting 2/21 from the field. Hillsdale held an advantage on the glass (36-28), as Patrick Cartier set the pace with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Austen Yarian (16) was the only other Chargers’ player in double figures.

OLIVET (0-1)

The Olivet Comets began their 2020-21 campaign with a road trip to Mt. Pleasant. They squared off with the Central Michigan Chippewas. They battled hard, but they fell 127-66 in this non-league game. Olivet was 22/69 from the field and 8/35 from beyond the arc. Perhaps the biggest cause for concern was the fact that the Comets were 14/24 from the charity stripe. Derrick Johnson took the lead with 26 points, while Eddie Thigpen chipped in 14 points. Noah Wiswary was third on the team in scoring with 8 points.

The Comets will take the next few days off. They will resume play on December 27, as they travel to Ypsilanti to play Eastern Michigan. That will be their final game of the 2020 calendar year.

GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN COLLEGE (2-7)

The Crusaders may have a tough time remembering what their home gym looks like. GLCC opened their season at home against Spring Arbor, but they have not played a game at home since. On Monday night, the road trip continued with a visit to Asbury (KY). It was a hard fought game for Great Lakes Christian College, but they would ultimately fall six points short of victory, losing 93-87. Isiah Reed led the team with 29 points, but Trent Temple nearly matched him with 27 points of his own. Whitney Harris just missed out on the twenty-point club with a 19 point game, and he just missed a double-double, finishing with nine rebounds.

GLCC is now off until New Year’s Eve. On the 31st of December, they will travel to Winona Lake to face off with Grace (IN). The schedule currently has five more road games before the Crusaders finally return home January 14.

NOT IN ACTION THIS PAST WEEK:

Adrian (0-6), Albion (0-0), Alma (0-0), Aquinas (0-0), Calvin (0-0), Concordia (0-2), Cornerstone (3-1), Davenport (0-0), Eastern Michigan (1-2), Ferris State (0-2), Finlandia (0-0), Grace Christian (2-1), Grand Valley State (0-0), Hope (0-0), Kalamazoo (0-0), Lake Superior State (0-0), Lawrence Tech (2-1), Madonna (1-1), Michigan (6-0), Michigan Tech (0-0), Northern Michigan (0-0), Northwood (0-0), Rochester (1-0), Saginaw Valley State (0-0), Siena Heights (0-1), Spring Arbor (2-5), Wayne State (0-0)

RANKING MICHIGAN’S COLLEGE TEAMS

Division 1