MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) — Trey Zeigler grabbed a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds to help Central Michigan fend off a second-half rally by Ferris State for a 65-60 win in the season opener for both on Saturday night.
The Chippewas pulled to a 48-21 halftime lead thanks partly to Austin Keel’s long-distance shooting. He hit four 3-pointers before the break but went cold in the second half and finished with 12 points.
What Keel lost at halftime, the Bulldogs found. Kenny Brown made three 3-pointers in the second half and Dontae Molden made two, including one with 26 seconds left to bring the Bulldogs within 61-59. They got no closer. The Chippewas’ Derek Jackson then made four free-throws to clinch it.
Jackson finished with 10 points and Olivier Mbaigoto 10 rebounds for the Chippewas.
Molden and Daniel Sutherlin finished with 11 points each for the Bulldogs. Brown led the game with 20.
