BOX SCORE
QUOTES
KALAMAZOO - The Western Michigan (3-8) men's basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak Thursday night after beating the Iona Gaels (4-6, 0-2 MAAC), 68-55, in front of 2,574 fans at University Arena. Head coach Steve Hawkins tallied his 99th career win at WMU, and with one more victory this year he would become only the third coach in school history to lead the Broncos to 100 wins.
Junior guard David Kool led all scorers with 19 points and went 3-of-5 from three-point land. Senior Shawntes Gary and junior Donald Lawson each added 12 points, and Gary chipped in eight rebounds.
The Broncos started the game on a 5-0 run courtesy of a Gary jumper and a three-pointer from Kool, who scored eight of the Broncos' first 11 points. The Brown & Gold never lost that lead throughout the game and only had one scare when the Gaels got within two points with ten minutes left in the game. Iona's Jonathan Huffman hit a three pointer with 10:40 left in the second half to cut the Bronco lead to two, 45-43, but the Broncos countered with a 17-7 run and never looked back.
The Brown & Gold went a pair of 6-0 runs in the first half, accompanied by a 7-0 run that helped build a 13-point lead in the first half. The Gaels were able to fight back and Jermel Jenkins hit a runner at the buzzer to cut the Bronco lead to nine points, 39-30, at halftime.
WMU shot 62% (16-of-26) from the field in the first half compared to just 34% for the Gaels, and made four-of-nine shots from beyond the three-point line. Iona made just one three-pointer on six attempts in the first half.
The Gaels were able to stay in the game in the first half thanks to 78% (11-of14) free throw shooting, compared to only 33% (3-of-9) from the charity stripe by the Broncos.
Despite shooting just 31% from the floor in the second half, the Broncos outscored the Gaels 29-25 in the final 20 minutes and converted on 14-of-17 free throws (82%). As a team, Iona shot 35% from the floor and only 23% from beyond the arc. The Broncos pushed the ball down the court all game, ending up with 21 fast break points compared to just eight for the Gaels.
Jermel Jenkins led the Gaels with 13 points and was 2-of-2from three-point land. Scott Machado chipped in ten points and five rebounds.
The Broncos take to the court next on Monday, Dec. 22 when they travel to Southern Illinois to take on the Salukis. Tip-off is set for 8:05 p.m. ET
