Box Score
Overall Statistics
KALAMAZOO, Mich. ? The Bronco basketball team could not withstand a hot-shooting Akron team in the second half and a less than perfect night from the free-throw line as the Zips handed Western Michigan its second conference loss, 69-55, on Tuesday night in University Arena.
The margin of defeat matched the number of WMU (4-9, 1-2 MAC) free throws that did not find the bottom of the net as the Brown & Gold went 11-for-25 from the charity stripe in the loss. This did not mean the Broncos were without chances.
Trailing by seven at the half, Joe Reitz opened the second half with a lay up to pull to within five, 26-21. Reitz finished with a team-high 14 points, shooting 4-for-7 from the field and 6-for-8 from the line. Moments later, Akron's (9-3, 3-0 MAC) Matt Futch received a technical foul for arguing a foul call, giving the Broncos a chance for four foul shots. Trailing by seven, converting all four would put WMU within three. All four were missed, but the opportunities did not fall away.
Down 43-32, Reitz hit a pair of free throws and Brian Snider drained a pair of treys to pull the Broncos to within three points, 43-40. It was the closest the Broncos had been since trailing 9-6 early in the first half. It would be the closest WMU would get as Akron later went on a 14-3 run to push its lead to 14, its largest to that point of the night.
The Zips finished with four scorers in double figures with Nick Dials leading the way with 15. He was followed by Dru Joyce and Rob Preston with 11 apiece and Futch with 10 points.
The Broncos had a pair of shooters in double figures. Derek Fracalossi joined Reitz, scoring a career-high 12 points (5-for-12). Andrew Hershberger and Dan Hess paced Western Michigan on the glass with six boards apiece and Snider led the team with seven assists to move into fifth-place all-time at Western Michigan with 319 career assists.
WMU will look to bounce back, traveling to Buffalo on Jan. 14 and Kent State on Jan. 17. Both games tip off at 7 p.m. and both can be heard live on the Bronco Radio Network.
