KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Junior Thomas Wilder scored a career-high 38 points and senior Tucker Haymond registered his third career double-double as Western Michigan rolled to an 89-79 victory over visiting Bowling Green Tuesday.
After starting Mid-American Conference play . . .
After starting Mid-American Conference play . . .
. . . with a 2-6 record, the Broncos have won four of their last five, including the last three games in a row. With a 6-7 conference mark, (10-15 overall), the Broncos are just one game out of first place in the MAC West division.
Wilder scored 31 of his points in the second half after playing just 10 minutes in the opening frame as a result of picking up two offensive fouls. Haymond paced the offense in his absence, scoring 13 of his 16 points in the first half. Haymond added two boards in the first 20 minutes and closed out the game with 10 rebounds.
Western Michigan freshman Jarrin Randall hit a three at the halftime buzzer to give the Broncos a 40-37 lead.
"Hitting that shot at the buzzer, we executed really well," said WMU head coach Steve Hawkins. "We had to play some of the strangest lineups we've had this year because of foul trouble. Tucker was a real stabilizing force and really carried us through that stretch.
"We got Thomas back in the second half and he was rested, he was hungry, he was probably a little angry about not being able to play that much and he came out very aggressive."
Wilder shot 10-for-14 in the second half and was 11-for-11 from the free throw line. He went 15-for-15 at the stripe, marking just the second time a Bronco has gone to the line 15 times and knocked down all of their attempts. Wilder was also the first player to accomplish the feat, hitting a school record 16 free throws on 16 attempts as a freshman.
"We ran a lot of plays to post Thomas up in the second half and we won the free throw battle. That and our defense were big keys to the game," Hawkins said.
The Broncos were 31-for-37 at the line, while Bowling Green went 17-for-25. WMU shot 51.9 percent from the floor. The Falcons finished shooting 46.6 percent from the field.
Sophomore Seth Dugan turned in another solid game in the post for Western Michigan with nine points and six rebounds.
Rodrick Caldwell led Bowling Green (11-15, 5-8 MAC) with 15 points. Also reaching double figures were Zack Denny (13), Dylan Frye (13), and Wes Alcegaire (11).
Bowling Green is at Ohio Saturday (2 p.m. ET), while WMU hosts Eastern Michigan (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET)
(Courtesy of WMU Athletics)
Wilder scored 31 of his points in the second half after playing just 10 minutes in the opening frame as a result of picking up two offensive fouls. Haymond paced the offense in his absence, scoring 13 of his 16 points in the first half. Haymond added two boards in the first 20 minutes and closed out the game with 10 rebounds.
Western Michigan freshman Jarrin Randall hit a three at the halftime buzzer to give the Broncos a 40-37 lead.
"Hitting that shot at the buzzer, we executed really well," said WMU head coach Steve Hawkins. "We had to play some of the strangest lineups we've had this year because of foul trouble. Tucker was a real stabilizing force and really carried us through that stretch.
"We got Thomas back in the second half and he was rested, he was hungry, he was probably a little angry about not being able to play that much and he came out very aggressive."
Wilder shot 10-for-14 in the second half and was 11-for-11 from the free throw line. He went 15-for-15 at the stripe, marking just the second time a Bronco has gone to the line 15 times and knocked down all of their attempts. Wilder was also the first player to accomplish the feat, hitting a school record 16 free throws on 16 attempts as a freshman.
"We ran a lot of plays to post Thomas up in the second half and we won the free throw battle. That and our defense were big keys to the game," Hawkins said.
The Broncos were 31-for-37 at the line, while Bowling Green went 17-for-25. WMU shot 51.9 percent from the floor. The Falcons finished shooting 46.6 percent from the field.
Sophomore Seth Dugan turned in another solid game in the post for Western Michigan with nine points and six rebounds.
Rodrick Caldwell led Bowling Green (11-15, 5-8 MAC) with 15 points. Also reaching double figures were Zack Denny (13), Dylan Frye (13), and Wes Alcegaire (11).
Bowling Green is at Ohio Saturday (2 p.m. ET), while WMU hosts Eastern Michigan (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET)
(Courtesy of WMU Athletics)
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