Polish Players - Chicago State vs EMU

DETROIT  – The Chicago State men’s basketball team, which will travel to Detroit later in the month, opened the new year with a tough loss at Eastern Michigan University, 59-47.  The Cougars started the game with a 9-2 lead and went in at halftime, up 26-19.

It was a reunion for two Polish natives who finished their high school basketball in the Chicago area.  Pawel Kielbasa, Chicago State’s 6-10, junior, center, (Kennedy) and Kamil Janton, Eastern Michigan’s 6-10, sophomore, center, (Bartlett), got to talk about the holidays and Wigilia after the game.  Kielbasa grew up in Opole, Poland. 

“Kielbasa is having some quality minutes for us”, said third year Cougar coach, Benjy Taylor.  Taylor added, “He defended well and protected the ball, and Montgomery had a good game for us.”   Junior Carl Montgomery, (Shepard) had 10 points in the loss.

At Chicago Kennedy, Kielbasa was also an All-State volleyball player.

Janton, from Tarnow, Poland, also got to spend time for the holidays in Chicago.  “It was great to get some home cooking, Bardza-Dobrze”, said Janton.  EMU coach Charles Ramsey added, “Kamil is an outstanding team player and gives everything he has.  His efforts will get him more court time.  Janton, who got in 16 games as a true freshman, also has the best Grade Point Average on the team.  In high school he was on the honor roll all four years.

EMU junior, Brandon Bowdry, (Taylor Truman) led all scorers with 23 points and nine rebounds and Antonio Green, (Inkster Robichaud) finished with 11 points for the Eagles.

Both Polish natives agreed that NCAA basketball is another universe above high school competition.  “Everything is so much faster,” said Kielbasa.

Chicago State (5-12), will host Utah Valley, January 28, in Great West Conference play at the Jones Convocation Center on campus.  They lost their last home game to Northern Illinois, 99-93.

Eastern Michigan University (8-6), will travel to Northern Illinois in DeKalb, on January 16, for a Mid-American Conference game.  They are home January 23, against Ball State at 2:00 PM.

CSU will again travel to the Detroit area for a non-conference game against the University of Detroit-Mercy on February 8, at 7:00 PM at Calihan Hall.