KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan improved to 8-2 at home and moved within a game of first place in the crowded Mid-American Conference West Division with its 76-67 win over Northern Illinois on Saturday night.
Three teams, including NIU, are tied atop the West race with 6-6 records. Eastern Michigann and WMU are one game back.
“This is the third game in a row that we’ve played well defensively,” head coach Steve Hawkins said. “That’s been our biggest problem for awhile, so if we can continue to defend like that, we made just enough plays offensively to get us over the hump. Having five guys in double figures was a really balanced attack.”
The five Broncos . . .
Three teams, including NIU, are tied atop the West race with 6-6 records. Eastern Michigann and WMU are one game back.
“This is the third game in a row that we’ve played well defensively,” head coach Steve Hawkins said. “That’s been our biggest problem for awhile, so if we can continue to defend like that, we made just enough plays offensively to get us over the hump. Having five guys in double figures was a really balanced attack.”
The five Broncos . . .
. . . in double figures scoring on the night were Tucker Haymond, Thomas Wilder, Brandon Johnson, Seth Dugan and Reggie Jones. Wilder led all Broncos with 17 points thanks in large part to his efforts from the free throw line, where he was 11-for-11.
Eugene German paced NIU with 20 points. Levi Bradley netted 16, while Marin Maric added 14.
Western Michigan (9-15, 5-7 MAC) jumped on the Huskies (14-11. 6-6 MAC) early, getting out to a 15-4 lead. The Bronco defense was stifling most of the first half and kept Northern off the board until nearly five minutes into the game.
WMU held the Huskies to just 33 percent from the field and 25 percent from the three-point line while forcing nine turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play.
NIU was able to get the Bronco lead to four midway through the first half before WMU went on a 12-6 run to end the first half, capped off by Bryce Moore’s three-pointer to give the team a 32-22 lead heading into halftime.
The Huskies answered coming out of halftime with a 17-4 run to take their first and only lead of the game at 39-36. The Broncos were able to respond, however, going on an 8-0 run of their own. The burst began on a three-pointer from Brandon Johnson at the top of the arc.
“It was really big for us to respond,” Hawkins said. “I didn’t like our energy in the halftime locker room. We were fine, but just not talkative. I warned the guys about the first four minutes of the second half right before we went out and sure enough they owned us.
"At one point we had a group out there with four freshmen along with Drake [Lamont] and they played well. We said it’s time for you guys to start contributing to building a lead instead of just playing minutes and I thought they were really good at it.”
Toward the end of the contest, veterans Haymond and Wilder were able to help ice the game away at the free throw line as they combined to make the Broncos’ last nine points from the charity stripe. Overall Western Michigan was 26-of-35 from the free throw line.
NEXT:
Western Michigan hosts Bowling Green (Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET)
Northern Illinois hosts Ball State (Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET)
Eugene German paced NIU with 20 points. Levi Bradley netted 16, while Marin Maric added 14.
Western Michigan (9-15, 5-7 MAC) jumped on the Huskies (14-11. 6-6 MAC) early, getting out to a 15-4 lead. The Bronco defense was stifling most of the first half and kept Northern off the board until nearly five minutes into the game.
WMU held the Huskies to just 33 percent from the field and 25 percent from the three-point line while forcing nine turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play.
NIU was able to get the Bronco lead to four midway through the first half before WMU went on a 12-6 run to end the first half, capped off by Bryce Moore’s three-pointer to give the team a 32-22 lead heading into halftime.
The Huskies answered coming out of halftime with a 17-4 run to take their first and only lead of the game at 39-36. The Broncos were able to respond, however, going on an 8-0 run of their own. The burst began on a three-pointer from Brandon Johnson at the top of the arc.
“It was really big for us to respond,” Hawkins said. “I didn’t like our energy in the halftime locker room. We were fine, but just not talkative. I warned the guys about the first four minutes of the second half right before we went out and sure enough they owned us.
"At one point we had a group out there with four freshmen along with Drake [Lamont] and they played well. We said it’s time for you guys to start contributing to building a lead instead of just playing minutes and I thought they were really good at it.”
Toward the end of the contest, veterans Haymond and Wilder were able to help ice the game away at the free throw line as they combined to make the Broncos’ last nine points from the charity stripe. Overall Western Michigan was 26-of-35 from the free throw line.
NEXT:
Western Michigan hosts Bowling Green (Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET)
Northern Illinois hosts Ball State (Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET)
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