KALAMAZOO-- Western Michigan University's men's basketball team fought back from an early 14-point deficit against Northern Illinois and prevailed with a last second tip-in by Matt Stainbrook to earn an 82-80 victory over the Huskies in front of 3,311 fans at University Arena Saturday afternoon.
Stainbrook's tip-in off a Demetrius Ward miss gave the Broncos the lead with 0.5 seconds remaining. Stainbrook led the way for WMU, scoring a career-high 18 points and hitting his first game-winning bucket. WMU trailed by as many as 14 in the first half, but fought their way back behind hot shooting and a balanced scoring effort. Five Broncos scored in double figures, with Flenard Whitfield, Nate Hutcheson, Alex Wolf and Ward joining Stainbrook in double digits. The Broncos shot 54.5 percent on 30-of-55 shooting to overcome the hot shooting of the Huskies, who shot 52.5 percent (31-of-59). With the win, WMU improved to 10-8 overall and concluded its first run through the MAC West at 3-2.
The Huskies were paced by the leading scorer in the MAC, Xavier Silas, who scored 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Tim Toler added 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and Jeremy Landers chipped in with 12 points for the Huskies, who fell to 6-10 overall and 2-2 in the MAC.
The key stretch of the contest began with the score knotted at 68-68 with 5:58 to play. Whitfield powered a shot off the window to put WMU on top for two of his 15 points, which he earned on 7-of-11 shooting. After a Xavier Silas free throw, Hutcheson drove the baseline and threw down a two-handed dunk in traffic to give the Broncos a 72-69 lead. Hutcheson filled the stat sheet with a solid all-around effort, scoring 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting, grabbing seven rebounds, dishing out three assists and adding two blocks for good measure.
The Huskies answered with a mini 5-0 run on a Michael Patton three and a pair of free throws by Silas to take a 74-72 lead with 2:32 to play. On the ensuing possession, Whitfield passed out of a double team to a wide-open Stainbrook, who layed it in to tie the score. Once again, the Huskies answered, this time with a fall-away jumper by Toler. Ward bulled his way into the lane to draw the foul at the other end. Ward hit the first free throw but was then sent to the bench, with Mike Douglas hitting the second to tie the score. WMU recovered from its free-throw problems in Toledo Wednesday by converting 72.2 percent (13-of-18) of it's attempts from the charity stripe.
A turnover at the other end by Silas helped the Broncos take the lead, with Stainbrook converting a left-handed hook off an inbounds pass for a 78-76 lead with 1:03 to play. Antone Christian missed a three at the other end for the Huskies, and Ward converted both free throws after a foul to give the Broncos an 80-76 lead. Lee Fishers drew the foul on the drive and converted the first free throw at the other end for the Huskies. Fisher missed the second, and after a battle for the loose ball, Silas came away with the ball, stepped back and hit a three from nearly 30-feet to knot the score at 80 apiece with 16 seconds left.
That set the stage for Stainbrook's game winner. Off a timeout, Ward penetrated down the right of the lane and put up a leaner off the window. The ball fell off the rim, but Stainbrook was there for the soft-touch tip-in with 0.5 seconds remaining on the clock. A desperation heave by the Huskies fell short, and Broncos came away with the victory. That play topped off a big second half for Stainbrook, who scored thirteen of his points after halftime.
Stainbrook's tip-in in the closing seconds ended a back-and-forth second half that featured seven ties and five lead changes, with neither team leading by more than nine in the half.
The fact that the game was that close late was a tribute to a gritty effort by the Broncos to fight back from a 14-point first half deficit. After trailing 26-12 with 9:44 to play in the half, WMU heated up behind inside muscle from Whitfield and hot outside shooting from Ward. With a consistent effort the rest of the half, WMU was able to pull within six at the break to stay within striking distance. The Huskies shot 58.6 percent (17-of-29) in the half.
WMU opened the second half with a 15-6 surge over the first 3:49 to take its first lead of the contest. Ward started the scoring with a three, but the Huskies answered with a pair of buckets to take a 46-39 lead. A 10-0 Bronco run, featuring a 5-point scoring burst from Hutcheson, an old-fashioned three-point play off a put-back from Stainbrook and a Ward jumper put the Broncos ahead 49-46 with 14:54 to play. The two teams then began to trade blows the rest of the afternoon, as the Huskies countered with a Landers jumper and Christian three to take a 51-49 lead.
That's when Wolf caught fire for the Broncos. The senior scored nine points in a 10-0 run that gave the Broncos a 59-51 lead with 10:59 to play. Wolf hit three of his four treys during the stretch. It was part of a big afternoon for the lone Bronco senior, who hit 5-of-7 shots, including 4-of-6 from long range to finish with a season-high 14 points.
Silas and Toler worked the Huskies back into the contest with a combination of three-point shooting and drives to the basket to set the stage for the final stretch run.
Each team found consistency in the paint and from beyond the arc. The Broncos shot 50 percent from three (9-of-18), with the Huskies countering by hitting 55.6 percent of their attempts (10-of-18). Inside, the Broncos held a 38-32 advantage in the paint.
It was also announced after the game that sophomore guard David Brown will redshirt this season and return as a redshirt sophomore for the 2011-12 season.
WMU will look to keep the momentum rolling on Tuesday, Jan. 25 as the Broncos begin their run through the MAC East. Buffalo will visit University Arena for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off, with live coverage being provided by the Bronco Radio Network and Bronco Insider.
