THE MATCHUP
Western Michigan Broncos (4-9, 0-1 MAC)
at Akron Zips (11-3, 1-0 MAC)
Jan. 6, 2017 • 6:30 p.m. • Akron, Ohio • Rhodes Center (5,500)

Series Record: WMU trails, 27-19
Last Meeting: 1/9/16; in Akron - Akron, 62-53

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio • Bronco Radio Network - Robin Hook PBP (Pre-game show begins at 6 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: CBS Sports Network - Dave Ryan (PxP) and Steve Wolf (Analyst)
Twitter Updates: @WMUMBB

MACTION
Western Michigan begins Mid-American Conference play with a pair of road games. WMU opened league play with an 89-58 loss at Ohio University on Tuesday, Jan. 3. The Broncos head to Akron for a 6:30 p.m. contest on Friday, Jan. 6, which will be aired on the CBS Sports Network. WMU returns from the road trip for back-to-back MAC home games against Toledo (1/10) and Kent State (1/14).

SCOUTING THE BRONCOS
Western Michigan maintains a 4-9 record, with all four wins coming at home - vs. Marygrove (90-74), Central Arkansas (80-63), James Madison (74-67) and Alabama A&M (80-50).

> Junior point guard Thomas Wilder is averaging a team-best 16.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg while senior Tucker Haymond is averaging 12.8 ppg and 4.5 rpg. The two have 80 assists combined. Freshman post Brandon Johnson and junior center Drake LaMont are averaging just under double figures at 8.5 ppg and 8.4 ppg, respectively. Johnson is the team's leading rebounder with 5.8 rpg and has three double-doubles this season.

> The Broncos are averaging 73.8 ppg this season and allowing 79.1 ppg defensively. WMU is shooting 43.1 percent from the field, 33.2 percent from three and 68.5 percent from the free-throw line.

WMU - AKRON SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 47th meeting between the two teams, with the Zips owning a 27-19 advantage in the all-time series with the Broncos. Akron has won four in a row against WMU, taking last year's meeting 62-53 in Akron on Jan. 6 and taking three meetings in 2015 meetings (72-52, Jan. 6 in Akron; 71-69, Jan. 24 in Kalamazoo; 58-45, MAC Tournament second round March 11, Cleveland). The Broncos swept two meetings in 2014, downing Akron 57-54 during  the regular season in Kalamazoo and in overtime in the MAC Tournament semifinal, 64-60. WMU went on to defeat Toledo in the championship game to win the 2014 MAC Tournament.

LAST YEAR'S MEETING
Western Michigan gave Akron a good fight but eventually fell to the Zips, 62-53, in the Broncos' first Mid-American Conference road game of the season. WMU trailed by 11 at the half, 34-23, and outscored Akron by two in the second half, 30-28.

The Broncos trimmed an early 13-point second-half deficit down to two, 43-41, with 8:54 remaining and were still within two possessions (53-48) with three minutes left to play. WMU's Thomas Wilder shot 10-for-15 from the field and led all scorers with 26 points.

Rebounding was a huge factor in the Broncos' ability to run with the Zips, as Western Michigan out-rebounded Akron by 15 (50-35). The Broncos had a season-high 24 offensive rebounds and only allowed Akron to grab 11 on its offensive glass.

WILDER AMONG MAC LEADERS
WMU junior point guard Thomas Wilder has scored in double figures in 12 of 13 games this season and has three 20-plus point outings. Wilder's 16.2 ppg ranks ninth in the Mid-American Conference. He also ranks second in the MAC in 3-point percentage (47.9%), 14th in free-throw percentage (78.6%), 13th in steals (1.3 spg) and 12th in assists (3.0 apg).

SCOUTING AKRON
Akron maintains an 11-3 record and started MAC play with an 89-84 win over Bowling Green at James A. Rhodes Arena. The Zips are undefeated at home this season, going 7-0 on their home court. Akron is coached by Keith Dambrot in his 13th season. Dambrot became Akron's all-time winningest coach in the Zips' victory over Bowling Green.

> The Zips' offense features a balanced attack that has four players scoring in double figures and two more players scoring over 9.0 ppg. Isaiah Johnson is Akron's top producer with 14.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg and 51 assists - all of which are team highs.

> The Zips are averaging 79.5 ppg this season and allowing 68.4 ppg defensively. Akron is shooting 48.8 percent from the field, 39.7 percent from three and 70.6 percent from the free-throw line.