Chippewas coast to 63-58 MAC victory

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) — Marcus Van had a career-high 18 points with nine rebounds to lead Central Michigan to a 63-58 win over Ball State Wednesday.

Van scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half as Central Michigan (11-14, 6-7 Mid-American) took an 18-7 lead and never trailed in the contest.

Ball State (5-20, 4-9) managed to get within two points at 56-54 with 1:25 to play after a Peyton Stovall jumper. But the Chippewas sealed the win at the free-throw line, where they converted seven of their final eight attempts.

Central Michigan’s leading scorer, Giordan Watson, had just six points on 1-of-6 shooting, but became the Chippewas’ all-time leading assist man on the night. Watson had three assists, giving him 458 for his career, as he passed Derrick Richmond, who set the all-time mark at 456 from 1986-89.

Jordan Bitzer had 12 points and eight rebounds for Central Michigan, while Chris Kellerman added 11 points.

Stovall had 19 points and five rebounds to lead the Cardinals, while Anthony Newell had 13 points and nine rebounds, and Rashaun McLemore had 13 points.