Box Score
Season Stats
YPSILANTI, Mich. ? Western Michigan scored 54 second half points to come back from a six-point halftime deficit and defeat Eastern Michigan, 80-61, in front of 969 fans at the Convocation Center.
Still down by six, 34-28, 1:35 into the second half and with Joe Reitz about to leave the game because of a bruised tailbone suffered on a non-call in the first half, the Broncos (13-14, 7-6 MAC) went on a 19-2 over 5:52 to go up by 11, 47-36, with 11:40 remaining. David Kool scored seven of his nine points during the run and Andre Ricks scored five of his 11 points and the 5-foot-9 sophomore notched his third career blocked shot.
The Eagles (10-17, 4-9 MAC) hit a three-pointer to slow the run, but WMU went on a 10-2 run, including two of Derek Drews' five three-pointers, to go up by 16, 57-41, with 9:16 remaining and EMU pulled no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.
The Broncos started out fast by taking a six-point lead, 11-5, after back-to-back three-pointers from Michael Redell. Eastern Michigan fought back and eventually built an eight-point lead, 32-24, with 1:39 to go in the half before Ricks hit a jumper to cut the lead to six at halftime.
EMU only shot 37.5% in the first half, but outrebounded WMU, 21-17, including 10 offensive rebounds and WMU turned the ball over eight times. The Eagles took eight more shots than WMU in the first half.
After shooting 41.7% in the first half, the Broncos could barely miss in the second half by shooting 16-of-23 overall (69.6%) and 6-of-7 from three (85.7%). For the game, WMU shot 55.3% (26-47) and 10-of-16 from behind the three-point line (62.5%). For the year, WMU is shooting 19-of-30 from behind the arc against the Eagles.
The Broncos also picked up their free throw shooting in the second half. After going 2-of-5 in the first half, WMU finished the game shooting 18-of-24 (75.0%).
Western Michigan was just as good on defense as it was on offense. Eastern Michigan shot just 34.4% (22-64) and only 6-of-31 from deep (19.4%).
For the third time this season, five Broncos scored double-digit points. Shawntes Gary led all scorers with 16 points, 14 in the second half, going 8-of-10 at the free throw line, and his roommate Drews added 15 points on 5-of-6 three-point shooting. Redell added 12 points and Ricks scored 11 points off the bench. Reitz added 10 points and eight rebounds and Kool scored nine points and dished a career-high five assists.
Eastern Michigan had four players in double figures with Kalamazoo native Travis Lewis notching a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Jesse Bunkley scored 11 points and James Matthews and Jarred Axon each added 10 points.
The Broncos return to University Arena for two straight home games beginning on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. against Mid-American Conference West Division leader Toledo (15-11, 11-2 MAC) at 2:30 p.m. in the MAC TV Game of the Week.
Fans can also hear from Coach Hawkins tomorrow afternoon, Friday, Feb. 23, at noon at the Seelye Center on WMU's campus at the final Fast Break Club luncheon of the season. The cost is $10 for lunch and a chance to get an inside look into the Bronco basketball program.
QUOTES
WMU head coach Steve Hawkins
(On the game) “In the second half we probably played as well as we could play offensively and defensively. Offensively, I thought we settled down. We took a lot of bad shots in the first half and Eastern forced us into that and did a nice job defensively.
“In the second half we settled down and executed so much better offensively, which allowed us to score and when we scored we were able to get back and get our defense organized and that allowed us to get some stops.”
(On how the team responded when Reitz came out of the game) “I'm more and more comfortable with the fact that we have more than one offensive weapon. We've seen David ... the kid's unbelievable. I didn't tell him to turn it on. I didn't tell him to take a look around and get more aggressive. He just does it. Mike Redell did the same thing. Shawntes, who didn't get off to a great start tonight, put the clamps down and picked things up defensively and was able to score.”
WMU center Joe Reitz
(On the game) “The first half wasn't our best basketball, but when the game mattered there in the second half we had all kinds of guys stepping up and making plays. Coming off a big emotional win Saturday, I was really happy with the way we responded and came out here and got a big road win.”
(On how the team responded with him out of the game) “Everybody really rose to the challenge and stepped up and we went on a huge run. Guys were really stepping up and making plays without me in their and that's really good to see that we had a lot of different guys step up and make plays in the second half.”
(On Shawntes Gary) “Shawnee I thought had a really good game and in the second half he really, really stepped up. When we needed people to make plays, he's flying in there. With his athleticism and strength, when he plays at that high level and shifts in to that other gear he's as tough to stop as anybody in this league.”
WMU guard David Kool
(On how the team responded with him out of the game) “Obviously when Joe is out of the game we know we have to step our games up because he's obviously our main guy. When we see him on the bench we just try to come out with some extra energy and make more plays and just play harder.”
(On getting the ball to Derek Drews) “When a shooter gets into a zone like that, that's your main job, especially as the point guard, you've got to find the guy that's hot and when Drews gets hot he's as good as anybody.”
WMU swingman Derek Drews
(On his hot shooting) “It was just great execution by everybody. We started to realize how they were playing ballscreens again ... and our guys did a great job of executing and finding the open man and luckily I was the open man and I was able to hit those shots.”
