BOX SCORE

KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan (9-8, 3-1 MAC) enters first place in the Mid-American Conference West Division after defeating the Toledo Rockets (5-11, 2-2 MAC), 75-62, Saturday afternoon at University Arena in front of 4,157.

Western Michigan was first on the board with a layup from Shawntes Gary followed by a fast-break dunk by Andrew Hershberger. With two more baskets made by Gary and Martelle McLemore, the Rockets finally added their first points after a three from Ridley Johnson. Donald Lawson came right back with his own dunk, 10-3, with 13:36 left in the first half.

Toledo went on an 8-2 run behind the scoring of Johnson to bring the Rockets within one, 12-11.

With a made jumper from Joe Reitz and a steal from Kool led to Derek Fracalossi's fast-break three-pointer, 17-13.

The Broncos continued their momentum after back-to-back three-pointers from Kool, sandwiched around a Toledo shot from behind the arc. Two layups added to the score for both teams, Fracalossi scored his second three-pointer of the game followed by one of his own from Derek Drews, 32-18. Before heading into the locker room, the Rockets were able to add nine points, all from shots behind the arc to bring the score within five, 32-27.

Western Michigan was able to dominate points within the paint, 12-8, points off turnovers, 7-0, as well as bench points, 17-2, at halftime.

To start the beginning of the second half, Hershberger was able to rip down two rebounds and Kool hit his third three-pointer followed by a jumper from Michael Redell, the Broncos went back up 10 points within the first 1:32 of the half, 37-27

With the Rockets shooting 54.5 percent from behind the three-point arc in the first half, Jonathan Amos was able to add another three points to the score, 37-30.

Western Michigan and Toledo each sent two players to the line within 2:11, with all four players connecting 8-for-8, 43-34.

With a block on the board from Fracalossi and the ball back in the Broncos hands, Redell was able to set up for his own three-pointer.

The Brown and Gold went on a 15-6 run after Kool hit a jumper to send the Broncos ahead by 15, the biggest lead of the game, 61-46, with 5:50 remaining.

The Rockets went on a 7-1 run before Reitz was able to add a layup followed by shooting 2-for-2 from the line, 66-53, with 2:32 left in the game. Both teams were brought to the line, but the Broncos were able to stay on-top with a final score 75-62.

Western Michigan was led by Reitz with 16 points and nine rebounds along with Kool adding his own 16 points with three rebounds and two steals. Gary followed up with 10 points, career-high tying nine rebounds, one steal and one block.

Toledo was led by lead scorer Tyrone Kent with 18 points and six rebounds. Johnson added 16 points and four assists followed by Jonathan Amos with 14 points before fouling out with 31.8 seconds left in the game.

The Broncos take on arch-rival Central Michigan at University Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 22nd at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.

QUOTES

Toledo head coach Stan Joplin

(On the game) "Give Western credit, they stuck to their gameplan and played the way that they wanted to and we got a little bit down when things weren't going our way."

WMU guard David Kool

(On the game) "I think we had a lot of momentum coming out (for the second half) after a good first half. We wanted to come out in the second half and reassert ourselves and know that we're here to stay."

WMU guard Michael Redell

(On winning today after losing at home to Toledo last season) "We definitely remembered the game from last year when we lost to them in overtime. That was talked about before playing them this year. It was nice to come out today and put out another good effort in, in back-to-back games.

WMU guard Shawnt?s Gary

(On the defensive effort) "Overall, we played pretty good. A couple of times we didn't get matched up in transistion and they got off some shots we shouldn't have let them get off, but overall I thought we did a pretty good job tonight."

(On helping hold Tyrone Kent, the MAC's leading scorer, to only 5-of-20 shooting) "I just wanted to come in and make it tough for him. Make him take shots with hands in his face, body up on him when he goes to the lane, just make it as hard as possible."

WMU head coach Steve Hawkins

(On the game) "I thought it was a pretty persistent effort on our kids part. We couldn't ever fully pull away. A lot of that certainly has to do with Toledo, but we just kind of stuck with it. One of the things I was most proud of, when we got out to a lead and Toledo punched us back ... we composed ourselves pretty well and were able to get the lead back up in double digits. The key stat of the day, 31.7 percent from the floor. A good solid, defensive effort, that's what I thought enabled us to get out and get the 'W' today."