The Central Michigan basketball team hadn’t tasted victory since it traveled to Ypsilanti in early January.
When Eastern Michigan made its return visit to Mount Pleasant on Tuesday night, the Chippewas snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 55-52 win over the Eagles at the McGuirk Center.
Freshman guard Austin McBroom led the Chippewas (8-17, 3-9 MAC West) with 14 points, including three straight baskets during a key 10-3 run that gave Central Michigan a 46-36 lead with 5:21 left to play.
Eastern Michigan (11-15, 6-6) wouldn’t get back within six points until Derek Thompson hit a 3-point basket with 1 second left.
For the second straight game, Thompson came off the bench to lead the Eagles in scoring with 18 points. The junior guard scored a season-high 23 points in a win over Ohio on Saturday and is 12-of-18 shooting, including 7-of-9 from 3-point range, over the past two games.
It’s the fifth loss in seven games for the Eagles, who still maintain their MAC West lead. Second-place Ball State (12-11, 4-7) and Western Michigan (10-15, 4-7) can pull closer when they play Wednesday night.
Trey Zeigler added 11 points and nine rebounds for CMU. Jamell Harris finished with 10 points and seven rebounds for the Eagles.
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