SAN JUAN, P.R. - The Western Michigan men's basketball team caught fire in the second half and nearly erased a 13-point halftime deficit, but the Broncos didn't have enough magic to seal the deal in falling 94-88 to the Iona Gaels in the second game of the 5-Hour ENERGY Puerto Rico Tip-Off. With the loss, the Broncos fall to 0-3 on the season. They will conclude their stay at the tournament on Sunday, Nov. 20, in a game that tips off at 12:30 p.m.

Demetrius Ward had his best offensive game of the season, scoring a career-high 25 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including a 5-of-11 mark from beyond the three-point line. Ward also contributed a career-high 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Flenard Whitfield had his first double-double as well, contributing 13 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. As a team, the Broncos held a huge 50-34 advantage in rebounds and outscored Iona 31-2 on second chance opportunities.

The Broncos shot 61.1 percent from the floor in the second half and outscored the Gaels 59-52, bouncing back from what was a 21-point deficit at the 15:42 mark. The Broncos scored nine straight points as part of an 11-2 run that was sparked by Flenard Whitfield scoring on a lay-up to make it 59-40. On the next possession, Mike Douglas knocked down a three, and Whitfield followed with another lay-up. Douglas finished the game with 16 points and seven assists, including a sterling 7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Sophomore Matt Stainbrook capped the run with an 18-foot jumper to make it 59-47 with 13:53 remaining.

WMU continued to claw their way back, with Stainbrook scoring on a lay-up at the 6:59 mark to drop the lead to single digits for the first time in the half, making it 73-65. Douglas would hit another three-pointer to slash the lead to just six points with 4:47 remaining. It would be the closest the Broncos would get to the Gaels until the final seconds, when Stainbrook scored to set the final score at 94-88.