BOX SCORE
QUOTES
KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan men's basketball team (6-10, 3-0) downed the Northern Illinois Huskies (5-10, 1-2), 71-52, for its 11th straight conference win at home on Saturday afternoon in front of 3,128 fans at University Arena. The Broncos have scored 70 or more points in three straight games, which is something they had not previously done in nine games.
The Brown & Gold excelled from beyond the arc against the Huskies, hitting a season-high 14-of-28 attempts, which is tied for the second-most three-point makes in school history. Seniors Mike Redell and Derek Drews set the tone from three-point land as they each hit 4-of-7 triples, which is a career-high for Redell. Senior guard Andre Ricks added three triples and contributed 11 total points.
Drews finished with a game-high 17 points, while Redell chipped in 15 points and seven assists. Junior David Kool scored in double-digits for 15th time this season with 12 points.
Freshman LaMarcus Lowe threw three Huskie shots into the stands, giving him 11 blocks in the past three games, and he also grabbed eight boards for the Broncos.
Six minutes into the game, WMU had already sank two three-pointers and NIU struggled to get any type of field goal to land, but a 7-2 run by the Huskies narrowed the Bronco lead to just three points, 12-9, with 11 minutes left in the first half. WMU answered back with a 22-8 run of its own in the final ten minutes of the half and cut the lead open at the break, 37-20.
NIU was only outscored by two points in the second half by WMU, but the early first half deficit was insurmountable for the Huskies as they were unable to get within eight points after the break. With just under 13 minutes left in the second half, NIU center Sean Kowal made back-to-back lay-ups to cut the lead to eight, but Ricks and junior Martelle McLemore hit three-pointers on consecutive possessions and the Broncos continued to pour it on.
The Broncos shot 43 percent from the field and held NIU to just 37 percent shooting, which is the third straight time they have held an opponent under 40 percent shooting this season.
Kowal led the Huskies in scoring with 14 points and he grabbed six rebounds. Sean Smith and Darion Anderson each chipped in 11 points for NIU.
The Broncos will travel to Muncie, Ind. on Tuesday, Jan. 20 to face division opponent Ball State for a chance to either play for or hold onto the lead in the MAC West. Tip off is set for 7 p.m.
