Box Score
Season Statistics
HONOLULU -- Andrew Hershberger scored 19 points and hauled in a career-high 15 rebounds, but Western Michigan fell in the fifth-place game of the 42nd Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic to Oregon State, 73-68. The Broncos (3-6) finished the tournament with a 1-2 record.
The second half saw two lead changes and three ties before the Beavers (6-4) used a 16-4 run over 6:19 to open a 12-point lead, 61-49, with 9:16 remaining in the half. The Broncos did not quit and staged a rally in the game's final two minutes after still trailing by eight, 69-61, with 1:56 remaining. Shawntes Gary tipped in his own missed jumper and then Brian Snider followed with a three-pointer to cut the lead to four.
Oregon State hit only 1-of-2 free throws with :27 left and Andre Ricks followed with a short jumper to pull Western Michigan to within three, 71-68, with :11 on the clock. Oregon State was able to inbound the ball against pressure to Chris Stephens who was fouled and converted both free throws for the game's final margin.
The contest was tight throughout with five ties and eight lead changes. The Beavers led by six, 18-12, with 12:07 left in the game after a three-pointer. The Broncos turned around and went on a 16-3 run over the next 3:19 to grab a seven-point lead, 28-21, on Hershberger's three-pointer with 8:04 on the clock. The Beavers clawed back and took the halftime lead, 37-36, on a Marcel Jones three-pointer with 1:46 remaining in the half.
Stane's Bufford finished in double figures for the sixth straight game with 12 points and seven rebounds while Joe Reitz added 16 points and six rebounds. Hershberger recorded his third double-double of the season and Snider just missed his first with nine points, nine assists, six rebounds and two steals. Snider has recorded a career-high nine assists three times this season.
The Broncos once again crashed the glass to the tune of 18 offensive rebounds and 20 second-chance points. For the game WMU won the rebounding battle, 42-33, and limited Oregon State to only six offensive caroms. The Beavers used 50 percent shooting (27-of-54) in winning the game while the Broncos hit 39.1 percent (27-of-69) of their shots.
Stephens led Oregon State with 23 points while Nick DeWitz added 14 and Sasa Cuic contribued 11.
For the tournament, Bufford and Reitz averaged 14 and 13 points each to lead the team while Hershberger missed a double-double with 9.7 points and 10.3 rebounds.
The Broncos are off until Dec. 30 when they travel south to face head coach Steve Hawkins' alma mater, South Alabama, at 9:05 p.m. EST.
