KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan men's basketball team received two magnificent performances in the front court, and the Broncos weathered a three-point barrage from the Miami RedHawks to win 73-64 at University Arena on Saturday. With the win, the Broncos improve to 10-11 on the season, with a 4-3 record in the Mid-American Conference. They are now unbeaten in nine home games this year.
Sophomore center Shayne Whittington recorded his first career double-double with a career-high 15 points and 11 rebounds, and senior forward Flenard Whitfield set a new scoring high for the season, scoring 22 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Of Whitfield's 22 points, 15 came in the first half, as he was crucial in keeping the Broncos' post offense rolling.
As a whole unit, the Broncos shot an impressive 24-of-42 (.571) from the field against the RedHawks, and out-rebounded Miami 34-26. The Broncos also improved on their biggest problem of late, turning the ball over just eight times in the game. Both Mike Douglas (12) and Austin Richie (13) also broke double-figures in scoring. All five starters in the game played 30 or more minutes.
The Broncos' offense was clicking on all cylinders in the first half, as WMU shot 15-of-25 (.600) from the floor and dominated the RedHawks in the paint, out-scoring them 18-0 in the post. Miami's saving grace came in the form of the three-point line; the RedHawks made 11-of-13 three-pointers, but still trailed at the half as the Broncos asserted their control. The RedHawks were leading 24-20 with 8:02 remaining in the first half before the Broncos got it going, when Whitfield hit a turnaround jumper to cut the lead to one possession.
The Broncos took the lead just one possession later, when Richie knocked down a jumper while being fouled; Richie made the subsequent lay-up to make it 25-24. It would be the start of a 14-0 run for the Broncos, who capped it off with a deep three from Richie to give WMU a 34-24 lead with 5:03 remaining in the first. The RedHawks trimmed the lead heading in, but the Broncos were able to keep them at arm's length and entered halftime with a 36-35 lead.
The Broncos took the lead for good at the 17:51 mark of the second when Nate Hutcheson drilled a three-pointer from the left wing to give WMU a 41-38 lead. Hutcheson's three kicked off a 16-4 run for the Broncos; Whitfield hit a pair of free throws at the next possession, Richie knocked down a jumper a minute later, and the Broncos were on their way to extending their lead to 52-40.
Whitfield capped the big run with a jumper at the 12:10 mark of the second half to give the Broncos a 54-42 lead; their largest lead of the game would come a minute and a half later when Whitfield scored, again, on a fast break lay-up. Mike Douglas scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half, including a 6-of-8 mark from the free throw line, and the Broncos cleared the bench in the final minutes to preserve the 73-64 win.
