Dugan’s 22 rebounds are tied for the fifth most in a single-game in program history. The Otsego, Mich., native became the first WMU player to have 22 rebounds since Tom Cutter did so back in 1975.
With the career-night on the glass, Dugan also became the first Bronco since Ben Handlogten in 1994 to have 20 rebounds in a game.
Heading into the night, Dugan’s previous career-high in points was 18, but he shattered that in the first half with 20 points and 13 rebounds. It’s the 14thtime in his career Dugan has scored in double figures and the first time a Bronco has scored 30 or more since Thomas Wilder scored 34 at Buffalo last season.
In 35 minutes, Dugan shot 12-of-18 from the floor and was 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. Of his 22 rebounds, nine were offensive while nearing a triple-double with six assists.
Fellow senior Josh Davis registered his first double-double of the season, scoring 15 points to go along with 10 rebounds, four assists and one block. Davis shot a staggering 60 percent from the field (6-of-10) and was 2-of-5 from long distance.
Playing in their first collegiate games as Broncos, sophomore Kawanise Wilkins and freshman Patrick Emilien each recorded 11 points on the night. Wilkins neared a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds, along with three assists in 23 minutes played. Off the bench, Emilien had 11 points, four rebounds, two steals, two assists and one block.
As a team WMU registered 20 assists on 31 made shots while shooting 47 percent from the floor and knocking down eight threes’. On the glass, WMU outrebounded Detroit, 56-38 and forced the Titans to commit nine turnovers. The Brown & Gold starting five was dominant in the victory scoring 68 of the team’s 89 points.
Western Michigan begins the season 1-0 for the third straight year and won its eighth straight home opener. The Broncos are on the road for their next two games beginning on Saturday, Nov. 10 at Ole Miss. WMU then hits the road for an in-state match-up against Oakland on Tuesday, Nov. 13.
In the first half, Detroit Mercy held a five-point lead just two minutes into the game before the Broncos embarked on a 17-3 run to grab a 19-10 at the 13-minute mark. The first half run was highlighted by stifling defense from the Broncos, holding the Titans to 1-of-9 shooting from the floor.
Midway through the first half, WMU embarked on another run to earn a 33-17 lead with six minutes remaining. The run was highlighted by a contested lay-up and foul by Wilkins that ignited the nearly 1,800 fans in attendance. After the hot start offensively the Broncos went just 2-of-12 from the floor down the stretch to take a 45-28 lead into halftime.
Through the first seven minutes of the second half, Detroit Mercy embarked on a 9-0 run to cut the Bronco lead down to 11. Detroit Mercy’s Antoine Davis nailed a jumper from the free-throw line at the 10-minute mark to cut the WMU to 10 before the Broncos made four of their next five field goals to extend their lead. Davis had 32 points on 12-of-26 shooting from the field in 38 minutes.
Josh Davis provided the final blow to the Detroit Mercy comeback, throwing down a monster put-back dunk at the five-minute mark. After a scramble for the ball, junior Jared Printy fired a three from the corner that bounced off the rim and into the hands of Davis for the rim rattling jam. The dunk by Davis lifted WMU’s lead back to 18 as the Bronco offense cruised down the stretch to earn the 89-76 victory.
(Courtesy of WMU Athletics)