THE MATCHUP
Western Michigan Broncos (14-15, 10-7 MAC)
vs. Central Michigan Chippewas (16-14, 6-11 MAC)
March 3, 2017 • 7 p.m. • University Arena (5,421)

Series Record: WMU leads, 89-48
Last Meeting: 86-82 CMU (in Mount Pleasant, 2/3/17)

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/Stream: ESPN3
Talent: Mike Monaco (PBP), Brian Snider ( Analyst)
Twitter Updates: @WMUMBB

MACTION AT IT'S FINEST
Friday, March 3 marks the final night of the regular-season in the Mid-American Conference as all 12 teams take the court. Western Michigan hosts rival Central Michigan at 7 p.m. Friday evening's results will determine MAC Tournament seeding. Only Akron (No. 1 seed) and Miami (No. 12 seed) know their tournament fate heading into the Friday's contests. WMU will be vying for one of the top four seeds and an automatic bid to the quarterfinals in Cleveland. Based on the outcomes, Western Michigan could be anywhere from a No. 2 to a No. 6 seed, as five teams enter the finale with 10-7 MAC records.

RIVALRY SPECIAL TICKETS
Fans can purchase Rivalry Special tickets for Friday's Central Michigan game, which includes an upper level game ticket, hot dog, popcorn, small fountain drink and NO CHIPS - a $20 value - for just $12 at wmubroncos.com/tickets or 1-888-4-WMU-TIX. *This offer is only good in advance of game day.

MAC WEST TITLE ON THE LINE
With a win on Friday, Western Michigan can clinch at least a share of the MAC West championship. The Broncos and Ball State are currently tied atop the division standings with a 10-7 MAC record. If WMU should win and Ball State should lose to Northern Illinois, the Broncos would secure the division title outright. It would be the eighth MAC West crown in 14 seasons under head coach Steve Hawkins.

WMU'S TURNAROUND
WMU has made one of the biggest turnarounds in the Mid-American Conference and the NCAA this season. After starting MAC play with a 2-6 record, the Broncos have won eight of their last nine, including seven games in a row. A win over CMU would equal the second longest MAC winning streak in WMU history. The 2014 Bronco MAC Tournament Championship team won eight regular-season conference games. The 1976 MAC Championship team holds the school record with 10-straight MAC wins.

SENIOR SALUTE
Western Michigan will honor its lone senior, Seattle, Wash., native Tucker Haymond prior to Friday's contest. Haymond was a member of the 2014 MAC Tournament Championship team and has totaled 1,497 points, 571 rebounds and 229 assists over his career. He ranks eighth all-time in scoring at WMU and is one of just 14 Bronco players with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in a career.

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
> Junior point guard Thomas Wilder is averaging a team-best 19.0 ppg and 4.2 rpg while senior Tucker Haymond is averaging 14.7 ppg and 5.1 rpg. The two have 185 assists combined. Freshman guard Reggie Jones (9.4 ppg),  freshman post Brandon Johnson (7.8) and junior center Drake LaMont (7.2) are all averaging over seven points per game. Seth Dugan is the team's leading rebounder with 5.4 rpg.

> The Broncos are averaging 75.9 ppg this season and allowing 75.9 ppg defensively. WMU is shooting 45.1 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from three and 71.8 percent from the free-throw line.

SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Central Michigan is led by fifth-year head coach Keno Davis and is 16-14 with a 6-11 MAC record. CMU has dropped its last six in a row. Junior guard Marcus Keene ranks No. 1 in the nation in points per game at 29.4 and senior Braylon Rayson is averaging 20.7 ppg. As a team, the Chippewas are scoring a MAC-best 88.0 ppg, however allow 86.8 ppg defensively.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE CHIPPEWAS
This will be the 138th meeting between the Broncos and the Chippewas, with WMU owning an 89-48 advantage in the all-time series against Central Michigan. WMU is 11-3  against CMU over the last 14 meetings, dating back to 2010. Central Michigan rallied from 18 down to defeat Western Michigan, 86-82, in Mount Pleasant earlier this season. With three seconds remaining and the game tied 81-81, Marcus Keene hit a 3-pointer to lift CMU to victory.

SAVE THE DATE - BANQUET MARCH 12
Both the Bronco men's and women's basketball programs will hold their yearly banquet on Sunday, March 12 at the Cityscape Center in downtown Kalamazoo. The women's banquet begins at 1 p.m., followed by the men's banquet at 5 p.m. Registration for the two banquets is separate, those who wish to attend both must make sure they fill out a registration for each. Registration deadline is March 6th.
Register online at wmuevents.com.