THE MATCHUP
Western Michigan Broncos (6-14, 2-6 MAC)
vs. Ohio Bobcats (13-6, 5-3 MAC)
Jan. 31, 2017 • 6 p.m. • University Arena (5,421)

Series Record: WMU trails, 67-63
Last Meeting:  1/3/17 in Athens; Ohio, 89-58

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
TV: American Sports Network (ESPN3 stream)
Talent: Jeff McCarragher (PBP), Bob Donewald (Color)
Twitter Updates: @WMUMBB

BRONCOS FACE OHIO ON ASN
The game between the Broncos and the Bobcats on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at University Arena will be televised live on the American Sports Network (ASN) with a 6 p.m. tip-off. The game will also be streamed on ESPN3.

WMU AT CMU RIVALRY GAME TO BE AIRED ON CBSSN
Originally slated for Saturday, Feb. 4 at 4:30 p.m., the game in Mount Pleasant between West Division rivals Western Michigan and Central Michigan has been moved to Friday, Feb. 3 with a 6:30 p.m. tip-off. The game will air live on the CBS Sports Network (CBSSN).

ROAD WARRIORS
WMU has had one of the tougher schedules to open the MAC slate, playing five of its first eight on the road. The Broncos will play seven of its first 11 conference games on the road and closes out with five of seven games at home during February.

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan maintains a 6-14 record, with all six wins coming at home - vs. Marygrove (90-74), Central Arkansas (80-63), James Madison (74-67), Alabama A&M (80-50), Toledo (90-74) and Kent State (92-88).  

> Junior point guard Thomas Wilder is averaging a team-best 17.7 ppg and 4.0 rpg while senior Tucker Haymond is averaging 14.1 ppg and 4.5 rpg. The two have 127 assists combined. Freshman guard Reggie Jones (8.7 ppg),  freshman post Brandon Johnson (8.1) and junior center Drake LaMont (7.8) and are all averaging over seven points per game. Johnson and Seth Dugan are the team's leading rebounders with 5.4 rpg.  

> The Broncos are averaging 74.7 ppg this season and allowing 79.1 ppg defensively. WMU is shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 36.7 percent from three and 68.5 percent from the free-throw line.

SERIES HISTORY VS. OHIO
This will be the 131st meeting between the two teams, with Ohio owning a 67-63 advantage in the rivalry with WMU that dates back to 1939. The Broncos have won four of the last six in the series. This is the second meeting between WMU and Ohio this season. The two teams faced each other in the Mid-American Conference opener on Jan. 3. The Bobcats took that meeting on their home floor, 89-58. Ohio has not won at University Arena since 2013. WMU head coach Steve Hawkins is 8-10 vs. Ohio.

EARLIER THIS YEAR IN ATHENS
Western Michigan fell to the hot-shooting Ohio Bobcats 89-58 to open Mid-American Conference play Jan. 3 in Athens, Ohio. Ohio started the game by making it's first three 3-pointers and went 9-for-16 from beyond the arc in the first half. The Broncos were never able to recover from the Bobcats terrific start, as once Ohio went up double-figures it stayed that way for the rest of the game. Ohio finished with 16 made 3-pointers in the game, which is the most against the Broncos this season and a season high by Ohio.

> Junior guard Thomas Wilder finished one point shy of of a double-double, with nine points and tying a career-high with 10 rebounds. It was the only game this season Wilder did not score in double figures.

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
Ohio is coached by Saul Phillips in his third season and is off to a 13-6 overall, 5-3 MAC record. The Bobcats are playing without their reigning MAC Player of the Year, Antonio Campbell, who suffered a season-ending foot injury on Jan. 14. Campbell averaged 16.4 ppg and 8.9 rpg before going down with the injury. Three other players however are  also scoring in double figures - Jaaron Simmons (13.2), Jordan Dartis (12.8) and Kenny Kaminski (12.8).  

> The Bobcats are averaging 76.3 ppg this season and allowing 67.5 ppg defensively. Ohio is shooting 45.0 percent from the field, 38.6 percent from three and 64.9 percent from the free-throw line.

WILDER AMONG MAC LEADERS
WMU junior point guard Thomas Wilder has scored in double figures in 19 of 20 games this season and has six 20-plus point outings. Wilder's 17.7 ppg ranks fifth in the Mid-American Conference (MAC 19.0 ppg ranks fourth). He leads the MAC in 3-point percentage (47.7%), is 11th in steals (1.4 spg), ninth in assists (3.5 apg) and seventh in FT percentage (80.2).

SMOOTH AROUND THE BASKET
Junior center Drake LaMont ranks eighth (53.3) in the MAC in field goal percentage while freshman post Brandon Johnson ranks 14th (48.6).
 
DUGAN DOING HIS THING
Over the last five games, sophomore center Seth Dugan is averaging 9.4 points and 6.6 rebounds a game, while shooting 54.3 percent from the floor. Dugan has scored in double figures in three of the last five games. On Jan. 21 he tallied 18 points and 12 rebounds against Buffalo for his second career double-double. The 18 points was also a career high.