KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan never trailed and led by as many as 20 as the Broncos soared to a 73-58 victory over Ball State Saturday at University Arena.
WMU improves to 3-1 in Mid-American Conference action and 11-6 overall. The Cardinals, losers in two of their last three outings, fell to 11-6, 2-2 MAC.
Western Michigan's 3-1 start . . .
WMU improves to 3-1 in Mid-American Conference action and 11-6 overall. The Cardinals, losers in two of their last three outings, fell to 11-6, 2-2 MAC.
Western Michigan's 3-1 start . . .
. . . to conference play is its best start since 2014 as WMU clinched its sixth home victory this season.
WMU shot just 39 percent from the floor compared to Ball State’s 42 percent, but the Broncos were lethal from beyond the three-point line, knocking down nine threes’. WMU also made the most of its opportunities at the free-throw line, attempting 26 free-throws compared to BSU’s, 10.
Leading Western in scoring for the 12th time this season was senior guard Thomas Wilder with 14 points. Wilder also corralled five rebounds and a season-high eight assists. The Montgomery, Ill., native scored eight of his 14 from the free-throw line, going 8-of-9.
Junior Bryce Moore continued his hot shooting over the past month, notching his fourth straight double-digit performance with 12 points. Moore went 3-of-5 from beyond the three-point line and in the last four games has connected on 13 threes.
Back-to-back MAC West Player of the Week, junior Josh Davis neared his second double-double of the season with 11 points and nine rebounds in 31 minutes played. Davis went 4-of-7 from the field and shot 75 percent from the three-point line.
It was a balanced attack by the Broncos against Cardinals as eight of the nine players that saw the floor scored at least five points. Freshman Michael Flowers had a perfect night off the bench, scoring eight points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field while connecting on both three-point attempts.
Sophomore Brandon Johnson neared a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds while senior Drake LaMont registered six points and five rebounds. The starting five of Moore, Davis, Wilder, Johnson and LaMont combined to score 51 of the team’s 73 points against the Cardinals.
WMU outrebounded Ball State, 40-35 including 13-7 on the offensive glass. The Broncos forced BSU to commit 15 turnovers, scoring 18 points off those turnovers.
Western opened up the game with a 13-3 run to push its lead to double digits just five minutes into the contest. Moore was a key contributor, providing five of the team’s first 13 points. After going up by double digits, WMU made just one of its next seven shots, yet still held a 20-7 lead midway through the first.
Ball State cut the lead to single digits late in the first half after WMU went 1-of-17 during an eight-minute stretch. However, with time winding down, Flowers nailed a three in the corner to put the Broncos up 36-25 at half.
It was a scorching start for the Broncos in the second half, forcing Ball State to commit four turnovers in a two-minute span, and extended WMU's lead to 42-25. despite runs of 11-2 and 9-0.
WMU was leading 66-56 when Moore hit a three in front of the Bronco bench to put the game out of reach and secure the victory.
The Broncos hit the road to take on Kent State on Tuesday, Jan. 16 before returning home to take on preseason MAC East favorite Buffalo on Friday, Jan. 19 on ESPNU.
Ball State hosts Central Michigan Tuesday (7 p.m.) and is at Miami Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET).
(Courtesy of WMU Athletics)
WMU shot just 39 percent from the floor compared to Ball State’s 42 percent, but the Broncos were lethal from beyond the three-point line, knocking down nine threes’. WMU also made the most of its opportunities at the free-throw line, attempting 26 free-throws compared to BSU’s, 10.
Leading Western in scoring for the 12th time this season was senior guard Thomas Wilder with 14 points. Wilder also corralled five rebounds and a season-high eight assists. The Montgomery, Ill., native scored eight of his 14 from the free-throw line, going 8-of-9.
Junior Bryce Moore continued his hot shooting over the past month, notching his fourth straight double-digit performance with 12 points. Moore went 3-of-5 from beyond the three-point line and in the last four games has connected on 13 threes.
Back-to-back MAC West Player of the Week, junior Josh Davis neared his second double-double of the season with 11 points and nine rebounds in 31 minutes played. Davis went 4-of-7 from the field and shot 75 percent from the three-point line.
It was a balanced attack by the Broncos against Cardinals as eight of the nine players that saw the floor scored at least five points. Freshman Michael Flowers had a perfect night off the bench, scoring eight points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field while connecting on both three-point attempts.
Sophomore Brandon Johnson neared a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds while senior Drake LaMont registered six points and five rebounds. The starting five of Moore, Davis, Wilder, Johnson and LaMont combined to score 51 of the team’s 73 points against the Cardinals.
WMU outrebounded Ball State, 40-35 including 13-7 on the offensive glass. The Broncos forced BSU to commit 15 turnovers, scoring 18 points off those turnovers.
Western opened up the game with a 13-3 run to push its lead to double digits just five minutes into the contest. Moore was a key contributor, providing five of the team’s first 13 points. After going up by double digits, WMU made just one of its next seven shots, yet still held a 20-7 lead midway through the first.
Ball State cut the lead to single digits late in the first half after WMU went 1-of-17 during an eight-minute stretch. However, with time winding down, Flowers nailed a three in the corner to put the Broncos up 36-25 at half.
It was a scorching start for the Broncos in the second half, forcing Ball State to commit four turnovers in a two-minute span, and extended WMU's lead to 42-25. despite runs of 11-2 and 9-0.
WMU was leading 66-56 when Moore hit a three in front of the Bronco bench to put the game out of reach and secure the victory.
The Broncos hit the road to take on Kent State on Tuesday, Jan. 16 before returning home to take on preseason MAC East favorite Buffalo on Friday, Jan. 19 on ESPNU.
Ball State hosts Central Michigan Tuesday (7 p.m.) and is at Miami Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET).
(Courtesy of WMU Athletics)
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