Box Score
Season Statistics
KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan freshman guard David Kool scored nine of his career-high 26 points in the final minute to finish off Eastern Michigan, 84-80, in front of the largest crowd of the season, 4,123, at University Arena on Saturday afternoon.
With a minute remaining in the second half, the Broncos (8-10, 3-2 MAC) clung to a 75-74 lead over the Eagles (7-11, 2-3 MAC). Junior forward Derek Fracalossi found Kool open on the wing and Kool buried his fourth three-pointer of the night to put the Broncos up by four. Kool would then go on to hit six consecutive free throws to ice the game for WMU. Kool came into today's game leading all MAC freshmen in scoring with 8.1 points per game and is now averaging 9.3 points overall and 13.6 points in conference games.
The game was neck-and-neck all afternoon. EMU's largest lead of the game was seven points, and WMU's largest lead of the game was five points. The lead changed 18 times and was tied eight times.
In the first half, EMU led from the 9:58 mark until Kool buried a three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining in the half to give WMU its first lead since the 10:57 mark, 34-33.
Western Michigan has picked up its offense in conference games at home averaging 81 points per game. The Broncos also shot over 50-percent from the field for the second straight game. Tuesday night, WMU shot 56-percent from the field in a win against Central Michigan and shot 52 percent from the field tonight. The Broncos also shot 64 percent from the three-point line (9-of-14). The Broncos also continued their aggressive play in earning 34 trips to the free throw line. WMU was 25-of-34 (.735) at the line, while EMU was 14-of-17 (.824).
Sophomore Michael Redell had another quality outing with 16 points, eight assists, three rebounds and only committed two turnovers. Redell also turned the game around for the Broncos by sinking a three-pointer and then finding Andre Ricks who sank an open three pointer. Junior center Joe Reitz scored 11 of his 18 points in the second half and finished the game with a team-high seven rebounds. Shawntes Gary contributed 10 points, four rebounds and three steals.
Sophomore Carlos Medlock led the Eagles with 21 points and five assists. Zane Gay also contributed a career high 16 points for EMU.
The Broncos, who are now 7-0 at University Arena, will travel to Anderson Arena to take on the Bowling Green Falcons on Wednesday, January 24 at 7 p.m.
QUOTES
WMU head coach Steve Hawkins
(On the game) “I thought it was a terrific crowd and we needed all of them to get through it. I thought Eastern Michigan was terrific today. They played harder than we did for the great majority of the game. We simply made some plays throughout the games and landed a haymaker every once in a while to keep ourselves hanging around and had that one little run late where we were able to put a little distance between us and we ended up needing every one of those points. We simply made enough plays down the stretch to come away with the win. It's the sign of a good basketball team that doesn't play its best basketball, but comes away with a win.”
(On David Kool) “We ran some stuff today, late, where him and Joe were primary options and David stepped up when his number was called and hit some big shots. It's not just his ability to shoot the three. He gets into the lane ... and finishes. He's just a crafty player who combines his craftiness with ice cold water running through his veins.”
(On the offensive execution late in the game by both teams) “I thought we couldn't get them stopped and they couldn't get us stopped. There was a little bit of defensive mistakes, but for the most part those kids still have to make those shots. I thought both teams just had kids making shot after shot after shot, making plays in a tight game with 4,100 people, second place on the line. I thought the kids on both teams just deserve a round of applause. Both teams left it all out on the floor.”
WMU center Joe Reitz
(On David Kool) “We see it everyday in practice. We know the type of player Dave is and the type of player he can be when the game is on the line. To quote his name a little bit, he is Kool under pressure. When he goes to the line, he's almost automatic. To get the ball in his hands in late game situations is good for us and bad for the other team.
“The MAC's a war every night. Knowing we have another guy who's capable and wants the ball in his hands is great for our team because we have a couple options down the stretch.”
(On the game) “I thought it was really physical, but that's the MAC. It's just a MAC war in the paint and out on the perimeter. That's the type of game as Broncos we pride ourselves on being able to play and being able to win. I was really happy with the way we played down the stretch and we gutted out a win on a night when we didn't play our best. I think that says something about this team, because when it mattered we made shots, got stops and gutted out a win.”
WMU guard David Kool
(On his performance) “My teammates were finding me all night and that's my job to knock down open shots and I did that pretty well tonight. I got into a rhythm late and had no conscience and just released everything I had.”
(On hitting late game free throws) “I've been there so many times before, you know the game's on the line, so it's a little different, but you just have to do your normal rhythm and shoot the ball.”
WMU guard Michael Redell
(On David Kool) “He had a tremendous game. He hit a lot of huge shots for us, as well as Joe and Shawntes. Overall, as a team we hit a lot of clutch shots. He had a heck of a game. When you have someone on the floor who shoots free throws in the upper 90s right now, which is unbelievable, it just gives you a lot of confidence when you get in late game situations and have a lead it's going to be tough for the opponent to come back because if he gets the ball he's not going to miss.”
