KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan posted an 80-63 victory over visiting Central Arkansas Saturday. With the win, WMU improved to 2-4 on the season and 2-0 at home.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Broncos. WMU is coming off of three games at the Charleston Classic, where the Broncos played well but lost to tough competition: No. 3 Villanova, UTEP and Boise State.
"Today was a much-needed game," said WMU head coach Steve Hawkins. "We needed to get into the win column and we needed to play well."
The Broncos got . . .
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Broncos. WMU is coming off of three games at the Charleston Classic, where the Broncos played well but lost to tough competition: No. 3 Villanova, UTEP and Boise State.
"Today was a much-needed game," said WMU head coach Steve Hawkins. "We needed to get into the win column and we needed to play well."
The Broncos got . . .
. . . excellent play from its starters, as four players scored in double figures. Junior center Drake LaMont scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Thomas Wilder contributed 17 points and freshman Brandon Johnson recorded his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Tucker Haymond tallied 11 points and tied a career-high with eight assists.
The game was tied at 17-17 before the Broncos closed out the first half with a run, stretching their lead to 10 at the break, 35-25. LaMont and Johnson combined to score 16 of WMU's final 18 points of the half. Haymond had four assists to LaMont down on the low block during that stretch.
"We shared the ball offensively and, obviously, Drake was huge," Hawkins said. "They didn't really have an answer down there for him and we were able to take advantage of that early."
WMU built its lead up to a healthy 18-point advantage with 13:31 left in the second half. Central Arkansas was able to get the deficit down to 10 with just over six minutes left to play, but the Broncos outscored the Bears 12-5 over the next three minutes to put the game away. Wilder scored 11 of his points in the second half.
Western Michigan's defense held Central Arkansas to 28.6 percent shooting in the first half and 31.1 percent shooting for the game. The Broncos hit 44.1 percent from the field. WMU also forced UCA into 20 turnovers.
Derreck Jones led the Bears (1-4) with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Mathieu Kamba had 13 points and eight rebounds, while Jeff Lowery scored 12 points.
WMU returns to University Arena on Wednesday, hosting NCAA Tournament participant UNCW on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.
(Courtesy of WMU Athletics)
"We shared the ball offensively and, obviously, Drake was huge," Hawkins said. "They didn't really have an answer down there for him and we were able to take advantage of that early."
WMU built its lead up to a healthy 18-point advantage with 13:31 left in the second half. Central Arkansas was able to get the deficit down to 10 with just over six minutes left to play, but the Broncos outscored the Bears 12-5 over the next three minutes to put the game away. Wilder scored 11 of his points in the second half.
Western Michigan's defense held Central Arkansas to 28.6 percent shooting in the first half and 31.1 percent shooting for the game. The Broncos hit 44.1 percent from the field. WMU also forced UCA into 20 turnovers.
Derreck Jones led the Bears (1-4) with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Mathieu Kamba had 13 points and eight rebounds, while Jeff Lowery scored 12 points.
WMU returns to University Arena on Wednesday, hosting NCAA Tournament participant UNCW on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.
(Courtesy of WMU Athletics)
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