KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Freshman Reggie Jones poured in 20 second-half points and junior Thomas Wilder scored 22 on the afternoon to lead Western Michigan to a 74-67 victory over visiting James Madison Saturday at University Arena. The Broncos have split their last four games and improved to 3-6 overall after dispatchng the Dukes.
Jones finished with 24 points and . . .
Jones finished with 24 points and . . .
. . . eight rebounds, both of which were game highs. Wilder added five rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a steal. Junior center Drake LaMont chipped in 12 points and four rebounds.
"Reggie keeps coming along," said WMU head coach Steve Hawkins. "One thing that has become evident, especially after the Cleveland State game, was that we were wide-open with our offense and it wasn't working well. Today, we got back to running sets and calling the game more."
"Reggie keeps coming along," said WMU head coach Steve Hawkins. "One thing that has become evident, especially after the Cleveland State game, was that we were wide-open with our offense and it wasn't working well. Today, we got back to running sets and calling the game more."
As they have done several times this year, the Broncos were hot out of the gates, jumping out to a 14-7 lead. After the teams settled in, James Madison countered and held a 31-25 advantage with 3:50 left in the first half. WMU fought back and a three-pointer by Wilder closed out a 10-2 run to give the Broncos a 35-33 lead at the half.
The score stayed close early in the second half and was tied 48-48 with 12:56 left to go. Over the next seven and a half minutes, the Broncos had a streak of unfruitful possessions, allowing James Madison to own a seven-point lead with 5:34 remaining. Jones and Wilder, however, took over from there, scoring WMU's final 22 points. Jones provided 17 in that stretch, knocking down three jumpers and going 11-for-12 from the free-throw line.
Facing a nine-point deficit, JMU's Jackson Kent hit a pair of quick back-to-back three's with 18 seconds remaining.
With five seconds to go Jones came up with a steal and was intentionally fouled. A technical foul to the James Madison bench followed and, as a result, Jones was awarded four free throws. He stepped up to hit all four.
"They had their runs at us, but we were able to get over the top," Hawkins said. "I am proud of the way our team won today."
Western Michigan shot 41 percent in the game and out-rebounded the Dukes 37-28. WMU also forced JMU into five more turnovers.
James Madison (1-8) shot 51 percent from the field. Tom Vodanovich paced the Dukes with 18 points. Kent totaled 16 points while Yohanny Dalembert had 14.
The Broncos head west for their two next games, playing a pair of PAC 12 opponents. WMU first stops in senior Tucker Haymond's hometown of Seattle, Wash., to take on University of Washington, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET. WMU then treks to Los Angeles, facing assistant coach Larry Farmer's alma mater in UCLA at 11 p.m. ET on Dec. 21.
(Courtesy of WMU Athletics)
The score stayed close early in the second half and was tied 48-48 with 12:56 left to go. Over the next seven and a half minutes, the Broncos had a streak of unfruitful possessions, allowing James Madison to own a seven-point lead with 5:34 remaining. Jones and Wilder, however, took over from there, scoring WMU's final 22 points. Jones provided 17 in that stretch, knocking down three jumpers and going 11-for-12 from the free-throw line.
Facing a nine-point deficit, JMU's Jackson Kent hit a pair of quick back-to-back three's with 18 seconds remaining.
With five seconds to go Jones came up with a steal and was intentionally fouled. A technical foul to the James Madison bench followed and, as a result, Jones was awarded four free throws. He stepped up to hit all four.
"They had their runs at us, but we were able to get over the top," Hawkins said. "I am proud of the way our team won today."
Western Michigan shot 41 percent in the game and out-rebounded the Dukes 37-28. WMU also forced JMU into five more turnovers.
James Madison (1-8) shot 51 percent from the field. Tom Vodanovich paced the Dukes with 18 points. Kent totaled 16 points while Yohanny Dalembert had 14.
The Broncos head west for their two next games, playing a pair of PAC 12 opponents. WMU first stops in senior Tucker Haymond's hometown of Seattle, Wash., to take on University of Washington, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET. WMU then treks to Los Angeles, facing assistant coach Larry Farmer's alma mater in UCLA at 11 p.m. ET on Dec. 21.
(Courtesy of WMU Athletics)
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