Davis, for the second time in his career, finished a game with a 100 percent field goal percentage, going 9-of-9 from the field and tying an Emerald Coast Classic record for best individual shooting percentage. Davis scored 24 points and led the team with seven rebounds.
Fellow senior Seth Dugan notched his third double-double of the season with a game-high 28 points and 10 rebounds. Dugan was 11-of-15 from the field along with two assists and three blocks in 31 minutes played. The seven-foot center also knocked down two three-pointers, the first two of his career.
The senior duo combined for 52 points against Southern and 61 percent of WMU’s total offense. Combined Dugan and Davis went 20-of-25 from the field, 4-of-5 from long distance and had 17 rebounds.
Off the bench sophomore Kawanise Wilkins registered 11 points in 14 minutes going 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. Wilkins knocked down a crucial three-pointer with six minutes left in the game that sparked a 15-5 run by the Broncos to secure the victory.
Sophomore Michael Flowers continued his stellar play at the point guard position with eight points and six assists. Flowers was 3-of-7 from the field and 1-of-3 from the three-point line. Over the past three games, Flowers is averaging four assists per contest.
With the win WMU improves its overall record to 4-2, marking the best start for the Broncos since 2014. Western Michigan will play either North Carolina Central or Nicholls State on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 1:30 p.m.
The Broncos led by 20 to begin the second half after shooting a staggering 71.4 percent from the floor in the first. WMU quickly had a double-digit lead at 21-10 at the 13-minute mark with Davis leading the way with 10 points.
The Brown & Gold continued to extend its lead midway through the first as WMU went on a 7-0 run, highlighted by Dugan’s three-pointer from the top of the key to give WMU a 42-29 advantage.
Down the stretch Southern made just one field goal in the final four minutes of the first half that propelled the Broncos to a 52-34 halftime lead. Through the first 20 minutes of play, WMU shot a staggering 71.4 percent from the floor and 75 percent from behind the three-point line.
The Jaguars came out roaring to begin the second half, embarking on a 14-4 run to cut the Bronco lead down to ten at the 16-minute mark. At the midway point of the second half neither team was able to find the basket as Southern was 0-of-4 from the field while WMU was 1-of-10.
Despite the cold shooting, the Broncos held on to a 12-point lead.
Southern cut its deficit to single digits at the eight-minute mark after going on an 8-0 run.
With 6:30 left to play, Southern trailed 65-60 before Wilkins knocked down a three from the corner with the shot clock winding down to spark a Bronco run. The corner three started a 15-5 run for the Broncos that pushed their lead back to double digits.
WMU iced the game going 12-of-15 from the free-throw line ove the final three minutes of play to secure the 85-70 victory.
(Courtesy of WMU Athletics)