KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan survived final second theatrics and improved to 17-10 overall and 10-6 in the Mid-American Conference with a 51-50 victory over West Division leader Ball State Saturday.

A layup by Miracle Woods on a drive and dish by senior A.J. Johnson gave Western Michigan the 51-50 lead with 1:02 remaining. Junior Alex Morton had a chance to give WMU more breathing room getting fouled with 23 seconds left, but missed the front end of a one-and-one.

Ball State called a timeout and set up the last possession of the game. Nathalie Fontaine missed a jumper from the left elbow with three seconds left and Shelby Justice couldn't convert a put back for the Cardinals as time expired.

“We caught a break and we survived. We had been struggling and we were due to get a break and got one,” said WMU head coach Shane Clipfell. “We scrapped and fought until the bitter end and were deserving of this victory.

“It was a happy locker room and it hasn't been for 10 days or so. We didn't play great, but we played good enough to win.”

Western Michigan's victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Broncos, as well as a five-game skid against Ball State, dating back to the 2012 season.

With its 10th MAC win of the season, WMU reaches double-digit conference victories for the first time since 2006 and the team's 17 overall wins are the most since the 2003-04 season (19-13 record).

Woods led WMU with 14 points and four rebounds, followed by nine points, four rebounds and four assists from Morton. Johnson also had four assists, as well as six points and six rebounds.

Western Michigan made a strong 10-4 run at the end of the first half to lead 28-23 at halftime. WMU shot 37.5 percent for the game and won the battle on the boards, 38-31. BSU shot 32.6 percent from the floor.

The Broncos remain tied for second place in the West Division with Toledo. Ball State clings to first in the division, one game ahead of WMU and UT with an 11-5 MAC record (15-12 overall). If the MAC Tournament started today, Western Michigan would be the No. 5 seed.

With two games left in the regular season, Western Michigan has a chance of sliding up to one of the top four seeds, earning an automatic bye to Cleveland, but would need help from a few of its counterparts, as Toledo holds the tiebreaker over WMU.

Western Michigan closes out the regular season with a trip to Ypsilanti on Wednesday, taking on Eastern Michigan (16-11, 9-7 MAC) at 7 p.m. and a home contest against Northern Illinois on Saturday, March 7 at 2 p.m.