Box Score
Season Statistics
AKRON, Ohio ? Western Michigan struggled from the field for a second-straight game as the team lost at Akron, 75-53, Wednesday night. The Broncos (9-13, 6-6 MAC) hit only 15-of-46 shots (32.6 percent) and allowed the Zips (17-5, 10-2 MAC) to convert on 29-of-55 shots (52.7 percent) and 10-of-18 three-pointers.
Joe Reitz and Stane's Bufford led the Broncos with 10 points each while Shawntes Gary added nine points, all in the first half. Ten of the 11 Broncos who entered the game scored.
The Broncos traded shots with the Zips in the first half and took an early 7-6 lead on a Reitz bucket with 17:52 remaining in the half. Akron would tie the score five times, but could not wrest the lead from Western Michigan.
WMU still led by two, 17-15, after a pair of Gary free throws with 9:27 left when Akron went on a 25-5 run over the next 8:26 to build an 18-point lead, 40-22, with only :50 remaining before halftime. During the run the Zips hit 10-of-12 shots overall, including 5-of-6 from long distance.
Akron built the lead to over 20 points in the second half, but the Broncos made a 9-0 run over 2:40 to pull within 13, 52-39, with 10:37 left in the game. During the run Derek Fracalossi hit a three-pointer, Wes deVries scored three points and blocked a shot and Donald Cloutier knocked down a pair of free throws. Akron answered with a quick 9-2 run to push its lead back to 20 and clinch the game.
The Broncos return to University Arena for a season-long three-game homestand beginning Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. against 2005 MAC Tournament champion and preseason MAC favorite Ohio.
