Men's Basketball | November 25, 2016

THE MATCHUP
Western Michigan Broncos (1-4, 0-0 MAC)
 vs. Central Arkansas (1-3, 0-0 Southland)
Nov. 26, 2016 • 2 p.m. • University Arena

Series Record: First Meeting

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio • Bronco Radio Network - Robin Hook PBP (Pre-game show begins at 6:30 p.m. ET)
Stations • WZOX — 96.5 FM: (Flagship) Kalamazoo, Portage, Mattawan; WMAX — 96.1 FM: Holland, Muskegon; WMAX — 96.1 FM: WTKG 1230 AM: Grand Rapids
Watch Live: ESPN3
Talent: Mike Monaco (PBP), Brian Snider (Color)
Twitter Updates: @WMUMBB

THE TIP-OFF
After playing its last four games away from Kalamazoo, Western Michigan returns to the friendly confines of University Arena to host two games in a row and a stretch of three of four at home. WMU welcomes Central Arkansas from the Southland Conference in Saturday's matchup and then NCAA Tournament participant UNCW next Wednesday, Nov. 30. The Broncos head to Ohio to face Cleveland State at Quicken Loans Arena, home of the MAC Tournament and the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Dec. 7. James Madison visits University Arena on Dec. 10.

ABOUT THE BRONCOS
The Western Michigan men's basketball team returns six letterwinners, two redshirt freshmen and brings in seven true freshmen for 2016-17. Tucker Haymond is the lone returning senior and averaged 15.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game last year. Point guard Thomas Wilder and center Drake LaMont are the returning juniors while the sophomore class consists of center Seth Dugan and guards Bryce Moore and Josh Davis.   

Joeviair Kennedy and Ryan Wade are the returning redshirts, unfortunately Wade will miss the season after suffering a knee injury in the preseason. The freshmen class consists of 6-4 guard Jared Printy, 5-11 guard Jarrin Randall, 5-10 guard Brandon Allen, 6-5 wingman Reggie Jones, 6-6 forward Adida Ikongshul, 6-8 forward Brandon Johnson and 6-8 center Maxwell Omili.

BRONCOS FACE TOUGH TESTS AT CHARLESTON CLASSIC
After opening the season with a 90-74 win at home against Marygrove, the Broncos have dropped four straight, including three at the ESPN Charleston Classic, Nov. 17, 18 & 20.

The Broncos fell to No. 3 Villanova, 76-65, in the opening game of the tournament. The score may not reflect how well the Broncos battled, as the contest was a one-possession game with five minutes remaining. Junior Thomas Wilder led all scorers with 19 points, including a stretch late in the first half where he scored 10 straight for WMU. Sophomore Josh Davis, who added two monstrous dunks, finished with a career-high 14 points and added two steals.

In a 75-65 loss, WMU also played UTEP close on Friday, as the game was a two-point differential with just over six minutes remaining. The Miners shot a blazing 60 percent from the field however to stymie any Bronco comeback.

Senior Tucker Haymond led the team in points (20), rebounds (8) and assists (6). Junior Thomas Wilder scored 16 and hit three 3-pointers while freshman Brandon Johnson scored 12 and grabbed five rebounds. Sophomore Bryce Moore scored 11 and hit three 3-pointers in the first half. Junior Drake LaMont was extremely efficient, scoring 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

WMU dropped its final game of the Charleston Classic to Boise State 91-70 on Sunday afternoon. The first half featured nine lead changes and the score was tied eight times. Boise State held a slight 39-35 advantage at the break. In the second half, Boise State came out on fire, connecting on 10 of its first 13 shots to take a commanding lead; WMU never was able to recover. Wilder had a team-high 14 points while LaMont chipped in 12.

SCOUTING THE BEARS
Central Arkansas is coached by Russ Pennell in his third season at UCA after playing for the Bears 30 years ago. Pennell owns a 9-48 (.187) career record at the helm. UCA returns 10 letterwinners including three key returnees: Derreck Brooks - the SLC Newcomer of the Year last season, Jordan Howard - the SLC Freshman of the Year, and junior Mathiew Kamba who averaged 10.5 points and 5.4 rebounds. The Bears posted a 7-21 overall record and 6-12 mark in Southland Conference play in the 2015-16 season.

GET WILD
Junior point guard Thomas Wilder is the WMU's top returning scorer, averaging 18.0 ppg through all games combined last season, while dishing out 98 assists and recording 52 steals on his way to Second Team All-Mid-American Conference honors. During the 18-game MAC schedule, Wilder led the league start-to-finish in conference scoring, averaging 20.4 ppg. Wilder has been tabbed a First Team All-MAC selection this preseason.

A LOOK AT LAST YEAR
The Broncos are coming off a 13-19 record last season and lost three seniors from that squad. WMU's 13-win season however may not properly reflect the level of play for the Broncos, who battled throughout the season and fell at the wire in a number of close games. Fourteen of WMU's 19 losses in 2015-16 were by 10 points or less, including four in overtime. Ten of WMU's losses were by six points or less, seven games by four points or less and WMU had two one-point losses.