BOX SCORE

KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan Broncos earned their 400th conference win and clinched a share of the Mid-American Conference West title with a victory over Eastern Michigan, 70-52, Wednesday night at University Arena in front of 3,014.

Not only did the Broncos win their third MAC West title in the last five years, but they also ensured that the Michigan MAC Men's Basketball Championship will remain in Kalamazoo for one more season. WMU can clinch the title outright with a win against Central Michigan on March 4.

Joe Reitz was first on the board for Western Michigan (15-10, 9-3 MAC) shooting 2-for-2 from the free throw line but after a quick three-pointer from Jesse Bunkley put Eastern Michigan (10-15, 6-7 MAC) on top. Both teams traded baskets until a layup from Reitz put the Broncos ahead, 8-7, with 17:12 remaining in the first half, and the Broncos would never trail again. Reitz actually scored the first 12 points of the game for the Brown & Gold on his way to a game highs of 19 points and nine rebounds.

Western Michigan went on a 7-2 run until again both teams traded baskets until Derek Fracalossi scored from behind the arc followed by a jumper from Derek Drews to send the Broncos ahead by 10 with 2:07 remaining, 31-21. Reitz was the last to score before heading into the locker room adding a total of 17 points for the half leading the Brown and Gold, 33-23.

The Broncos started the second half with a 9-2 run along with the Eagles sending the Broncos into the bonus with 15:49 remaining in the game, 42-25. The Eagles would not let up continuing to trade baskets with Western Michigan until back-to-back shots from behind the arc by Andre Ricks brought the Broncos to their biggest lead of the game, 57-38, with 9:34 remaining.

Eastern Michigan was never able to get within 14 points the remainder of the game. A dunk from Shawntes Gary put the exclamation point on the win with 4:24 remaining and WMU ahead by 18 points, 65-47.

After a possible season ending shoulder surgery during the preseason kept him out of the lineup, senior Dan Hess took the court with a standing ovation from the crowd and connected on 3-for-4 from behind the free-throw line to add to the final score in Western Michigan's victory over Eastern Michigan, 70-52.

Reitz led with a game-high 19 points and only one rebound away from his sixth career double-double with nine rebounds. Kool followed with 15 points and five rebounds.

Eastern Michigan was led by Carlos Medlock with 11 points and three rebounds.

The Broncos head to Wisconsin to take on Green Bay (13-13, 7-9 Horizon) in the ESPNU O'Reilly BracketBusters Saturday, Feb. 23 at 8:05 p.m.

QUOTES

Eastern Michigan head coach Charles Ramsey

(On Joe Reitz) "Joe came out and played with a lot of enthusiasm. He was very productive. That really set the tone for them. We couldn't get anything out of our posts tonight. A lot of that credit goes to Western Michigan."

Western Michigan guard Shawt?s Gary

(On his dunk) "I saw Joe getting ready to drive it in there and he made a little guard move on three guys and then he went up. I knew there was a chance that it would come off. I was just trying to make a play on it, basically. I caught it kind of low and I just brought it around and tried to get it in there. I thought I was going to be a little short on it. My teammates said this might be the best one."

(On getting the MAC West title) "I think it's a great accomplishment for us still having four games left and already having a tie for it. That's what we've been working for all offseason to win the West and have a chance for the overall title."

Western Michigan center Joe Reitz

(On scoring the first 12 points for WMU) "To start the game they were really hugging our shooters and concerned about the three ball and they had single coverage in the post. Our guards and Hershberger did a good job of feeding me and I was able to make some moves. When you're shooting layups or close to layups it makes for an easy game. That good start playing from the inside-out, allowed us to get our shooters going later in the game."

(On winning MAC West) "That's great for our program to clinch a share of the MAC West with four games to go and only win one more to have it outright is a tremendous accomplishment. That's just the beginning of our goals. We want the MAC overall championship, still chasing Kent State. We want the MAC Tournament championship. I think this is the first step in what I hope will be a good finish for us down the stretch."

Western Michigan guard David Kool

(On Joe Reitz) "I was surprised they came out and single-covered him. We obviously wanted to go in there and do as much as we could to let Joe go to work. If you single-cover him you're going to be in big trouble cause he's such a great player and such a big guy that you can't really stop him down there."

Western Michigan head coach Steve Hawkins

(On the game) "I thought it was a very hard fought game. There were some I was extremely pleased with the way we played. Defensively, I thought that was really what carried us. We allowed them 32 percent from the floor. They had been shooting very well coming into the game. To only allow them 32 percent from the floor was really the story of the game for us. I thought we looked like a rusty basketball team that hadn't played in eight days. When we did execute and didn't turn it over we got some pretty good shots and knocked them down.

"I'm extremely proud to be part of a program that has won three MAC West titles in the last five years. To have these kids to be a part of a lot of those wins is something I told our kids they should feel very good about."

(On getting Dan Hess into the game) "It choked me up, it really did. To be able to call his number, pretty special moment. To me he epitomizes being a Bronco. He's a blue-collar guy, he's the ultimate teammate. All he cares about is winning. The guy's never been a scorer as long as he's been here. He loves playing defense and rebounding. Embraces his role. To be able to call his number was outstanding."