BOX SCORE

QUOTES

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. -- David Kool scored 26 points and Andre Ricks added 17 points off the bench to lead Western Michigan past Central Michigan, 72-63, in front of 1,741 at Rose Arena in Mt. Pleasant in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams Sunday night. The win was also the 100th at WMU for head coach Steve Hawkins, as he joins Herbert "Buck" Read and Bob Donewald as the only Bronco head coaches to compile 100 wins in Kalamazoo.

Kool hit 9-of-17 shots and 7-of-8 free throws, while adding a career-high nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. Kool is now in a tie for 20th all-time at WMU with 1,099 career points.

Ricks' 17 points were the most since he scored 20 on March 4, 2007 at Ball State. He hit 6-of-12 shots, including 4-of-8 three-pointers, to give WMU a 19-9 advantage in points off the bench.

The Broncos (4-10, 1-0 MAC) shot 47.9 percent (23-48) for the game, including 8-of-20 three-pointers, and also knocked down 18-of-20 free throws. The Broncos made 13 consecutive free throws in the final 6:10 to finish off the Chippewas (3-10, 0-1 MAC) in the Broncos' first win at Rose Arena since the 2005-06 season.

Defensively, the Broncos held the Chippewas to only 37.7 percent shooting (23-61) and just 7-of-23 three-pointers (.304), although three of those came in the final 3:10 when the Broncos already led by 11.

After leading by seven at halftime, Western Michigan's lead had been cut to three, 37-34, with 16:56 remaining. The Broncos responded with a 13-3 run over 3:17 with six points from Ricks and five points from Drews to go up 13, 50-37, with 12:03 remaining. The Broncos then went scoreless for the next 5:18, but were able to hold the Chippewas to only six points during that stretch to still hold a seven-point lead, 50-43, with 7:35 to play.

Kool finally ended the drought with a drive and finish with 6:45 remaining, followed by an old-fashioned three-point play on the next possession to put WMU back up 10, 55-45, with 6:10 remaining. A few minutes later, CMU had cut the lead to eight, but Kool hit his only three-pointer of the night with 3:19 left to put the Broncos up 11, 60-49. 

Central Michigan wouldn't go away. Jordan Bitzer hit a three-pointer after a pair of offensive rebounds and Marcus Van converted a free throw after a foul on the shot for a four-point play to get back to within seven, 60-53, but Shawntes Gary hit two free throws and Kool added a layup to put WMU back up 11, 64-53, with 55 seconds remaining and CMU had no more answers.

Van dunked to start the game for CMU, but then Michael Redell knocked down a three-pointer. Bitzer scored on the next possession to put CMU back up before Flenard Whitfield scored to put WMU on top for good, 5-4, with 17:12 to play. Whitfield's bucket started a 12-0 run keyed by Ricks. He hit a pair of three-pointers and another long jumper to put the Broncos up 11, 15-4, with 12:47 to play.

The Chippewas then went on a 11-2 run to get back to within two points, 17-15, with 6:36 to play before Drews canned a three-pointer. Harman came right back with a three-pointer of his own, but Whitfield scored on a nice drive and Kool hit a jumper to put WMU back up six, 24-18, with 4:31 to play.

The Broncos kept the lead around six points, but were just up four when Redell drove the lane and kicked out to Ricks for a three-pointer with 55 seconds left in the half, 33-26, to account for the 20-minute margin.

Drews added eight points and four rebounds, while Redell finished with seven points and three assists.

Van led the Chippewas with 18 points and six rebounds, while Bitzer had 15 points, 10 rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks.

The Broncos are back in action with a two-game homestand this week against Toledo on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Northern Illinois on Saturday at 2 p.m.