CMU improves to 16-6 overall and 5-4 MAC en route to its third consecutive victory over WMU as the home team. The Broncos fall to 6-15 overall and 0-8 MAC.
"We knew with the rivalry game we had to play our best, even though we were at home, to be able to win," said CMU head coach Keno Davis. "It was nice to have that kind of effort and that kind of execution in the second half to be able to pull away and get a great win."
With the victory, the Chippewas' 10th in McGuirk Arena this season, CMU has reached double-digits in wins at home for five consecutive years. Its overall record in that span is a stout 50-17.
HOW IT HAPPENED
CMU found success and momentum early, opening a 23-8 lead just over six minutes in. WMU trailed by 13 at 35-22 after a Larry Austin Jr. free throw with 4:42 remaining but managed to trim the Chippewas' lead to four points behind a 9-0 run to finish the first half.
The Broncos pulled within two points to open the second half, but the Chippewas answered back.
CMU subsequently embarked on a 26-7 run with all five Chippewa starters contributing to a 21-point lead with just over nine minutes left to play.
The Broncos could only get as close as 12 points thanks to a CMU offense that shot 53 percent in the second half. The Chippewas outscored Western, 13-4, down the stretch to secure the victory.
LEADERS
Larry Austin Jr. earned his fifth career double-double, totaling a team-high 22 points and game-best 11 rebounds. The MAC's leader in assists also added five to his season total.
Rob Montgomery added 16 points behind 50 percent shooting (7-of-14) from the floor. Shawn Roundtree Jr. finished in double figures for the 18 straight game, posting 13 points.
Dallas Morgan added 11 points in 15 minutes of action. Eight of his 11 points were scored during CMU's opening 23-8 run.
Western's Michael Flowers led all scorers with 27 points. Seth Dugan followed with 18 for the Broncos.
AUSTIN ON MISSION
With CMU's lead trimmed to two points early in the second half Austin scored 13 of his 22 points and earned seven of his 11 rebounds in the second half.
"We feed off of Larry; nobody wants to win more than him." Davis said. "All our players can learn (from Austin) that there's another gear, another level out there."