Chris Fowler, Xavier Ford

Central Michigan's Chris Fowler (15) missed the first seven games of the season, but he has returned for the last two leading the Chippewas to a pair of wins. (Tony Dejak | AP Photo)

(Tony Dejak | AP Photo)

MOUNT PLEASANT, MI -- Star point guard Chris Fowler has returned for Central Michigan's last two games.

And the Chippewas have won them both.

Fowler, a four-year starter, missed the first seven games of the season with an undisclosed injury, but returned for a non-conference tilt against NAIA Aquinas scoring 14 points and handing out four assists before dropping 20 points on Texas Southern in a 79-71 win.

"It felt good to be back out there and play with the team," Fowler said in a statement for CMU Athletics. "They've been preparing hard without me on the court. I've been trying to do my best to stay prepared with them."

With Fowler in the lineup, the Chippewas have averaged 84.5 points a game.

As a freshman, Fowler set a program record with 176 assists, and he set the program record for a career last year with 533 assists earning first team All-Mid-American Conference honors.

He was runner-up for the MAC Player of the Year award and a finalist for the Lou Henson National Player of the Year award.

Schedule

CMU faces its toughest test of the season Dec. 18 when it hits the road for a contest against Brigham Young University. The Cougars are 6-3 overall coming off a 92-83 loss to Colorado. Nick Emergy leads the team averaging 16 points a game, while Kyle Collinsworth and Chase Fischer average 14.8 and 14.7 points, respectively. Kyle Davis averages 12.4 points and 11.2 rebounds a game for BYU.

The Chippewas close out the pre-Christmas schedule on Dec. 22 against Howard. The Bison are 6-5 overall coming off a 92-91 double-overtime loss to Radford. James Daniel III leads Howard averaging 29.4 points a game, while Damon Collins chips in 11.6 points.

Chippewas leaders

Points: Chris Fowler 17 ppg, Braylon Rayson 16.6, Rayshawn Simmons 14.2, John Simons 10.1

Shooting: DaRohn Scott 64.7 percent, Fowler 60, Luke Meyer 55.8

Assists: Simmons 5.8 apg, Fowler 5.0, Rayson 2.8

Steals: Rayson 13, Josh Kozinski 8

Rebounds: John Simons 6.9 rpg, Austin Stewart 5.4

Is there a great story we should be aware of? Email me at cbutzin1@mlive.com or message me on Twitter: @CoryButzin.