By Staff
Former high school teammates became opponents Sunday as the Central Michigan University's men's basketball team opened its two-game exhibition season with an 85-74 victory over Northwood University.
Niles High School graduates Gerrit Brigitha, now a senior at Central Michigan, and Keith Barr, a sophomore at Northwood, were both members of the 1999-00 Vikings which made the Class B Semifinals.
Brigitha finished with six points, nine rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes of action. Barr played 18 minutes and finished with two points, three rebounds and two assists.
The Chippewas trailed by a 40-38 margin at the half as the Timberwolves went on an 11-0 run late in the half. However, CMU pulled away in the second half on a 13-0 run of its own.
Playing its first game without a quartet of standouts from last year's Mid-American Conference Championship (Chris Kaman, Mike Manciel, Whitney Robinson and J.R. Wallace), the Chippewas had three players in twin figures.
Sophomore Kevin Nelson led the way with 18 points, banging home 3-of-6 threes, while freshman David Hoskins and senior Adam Dentlinger added 14 each.
Game-high honors went to Northwood senior guard Dallas Logan who meshed 30 points, 19 of them coming in the first half. Fellow starting guard Nemanja Kreckovic was the only other Northwood player in double digits with 15, 12 of them in the second half.
Both teams shot 50 percent from the field on 29-of-58 with CMU holding a 40-30 edge in rebounding. Brigitha was the game's top rebounder with nine while frosh Sefton Barrett added seven.
The Chippewas held a lopsided edge at the foul line, making 20-of-34. Northwood converted only six of its 14 attempts.
The game was tied at 66-66 with 6:43 to play when CMU scored five quick points for a 71-66 lead and finished with a 13-3 run to ice it.
CMU coach Jay Smith played 10 men and all 10 scored.
The Chippewas play their second exhibition tilt on Monday, November 17, against Ferris State. The home clash is slated for Rose Arena at 7 p.m.
Central Michigan….85
Northwood…………..74
CMU: Brandon Voorhees 2 2-2 7, David Hoskins 4 4-5 14, Gerrit Brigitha 2 2-5 6, T.J. Meerman 4 1-2 9, Kevin Nelson 7 1-1 18, Sefton Barrett 1 2-6 4, Robert Sevalia 2 1-2 5, Tony Bowne 1 0-0 2, Joe Carr 1 3-4 6, Adam Dentlinger 5 4-7 14. Totals: 29 20-34 85
Northwood: D.J. Hughes 3 0-0 8, Derek Fillmore 2 0-0 5, Ryan Broker 1 0-2 4, Dallas Logan 11 4-7 30, Nemanja Kreckovic 6 0-1 15, Fayssal Akacem 0 0-0 0, Djordje Lukic 3 2-4 8, Carl Muhammad 0 0-0 0, Nick DeLaLuz 0 0-0 0, Petar Jovanovic 0 0-0 0, Keith Barr 1 0-0 2, Mike Wingard 0 0-0 0, Jeremy Rau 2 0-0 4. Totals: 29 6-14 74
Halftime score: Northwood 40, CMU 38
3-point shooting: CMU 7 (Nelson 3, Hoskins 2, Voorhees, Carr), Northwood 10 (Logan 4, Kreckovic 3, Hughes 2, Fillmore). Team fouls (fouled out): CMU 18 (none), Northwood 27 (Rau).