Chippewas shut down Mavunga

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 7:47 AM Friday, January 29, 2010

OXFORD — If nothing else, the Central Michigan Chippewas put a crimp in Julian Mavunga’s game.

Miami’s 6-foot-8 sophomore scored only one point Thursday in its 64-51 victory and went 0-for-5 from the field.

According to Mavunga’s teammates, however, Eastern Michigan should not expect a repeat performance when the Eagles visit Millett Hall on Saturday.

“He’ll show up on Saturday,” Kenny Hayes said.

“He’s going to have to.” Nick Winbush said. “(The Eagles) have a real nice inside game.”

Mavunga, Miami’s second-leading scorer coming in with 9.9 points per game, did have five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot.

Lots of contributions

Miami got good performances from several players besides Kenny Hayes and Nick Winbush, who combined for 33 of the team’s 64 points.

Adam Fletcher totaled nine points, six rebounds and two blocked shots and Antonio Ballard pulled down eight rebounds.

Two other players who have struggled on offense, Rodney Haddix II and Kramer Soderberg, came up with big plays.

Haddix scored seven points off the bench and his three-point play helped Miami take control in the second half. Soderberg drilled a crucial 3-point shot and, on defense, was in shut-down mode.

“Everybody goes through a slump, when they can’t make a shot,” Hayes said of Haddix and Soderberg. “Rod and Kramer, they’re both tough and they’re going to meet the challenge.”

‘We’re No. 8!’

Miami’s attendance on Thursday was 1,407, well below their average of 2,240, which ranks eighth in the Mid-American Conference.

The best home attendance average? The Ohio Bobcats, at 5,036.

The worst? The Eastern Michigan Eagles, at 828.

Coming in red hot

The Chippewas came to Oxford as the hottest team in the Mid-American Conference, having won five of their previous six games.

From Miami to Miami

Gene Steratore, who officiated Thursday’s game at Millett Hall, also is an NFL referee and will be the alternate referee at the Super Bowl in Miami, Fla. next weekend.

Steratore, a resident of Washington, Pa., has been an NFL referee since 2003.

First-half reversal

Miami, which led CMU at halftime 23-20, has led at the break in two consecutive games after having trailed at halftime in the previous 12.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.

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