THE MATCHUP
Western Michigan Broncos (7-15, 3-7 MAC)
at Miami RedHawks (9-14, 2-8 MAC)
Feb. 7, 2017 • 7 p.m. • Oxford, Ohio • Milett Hall (6,400)

Series Record: WMU trails, 44-82
Last Meeting: 2/9/16; in Kalamazoo; Miami, 45-44

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio • Bronco Radio Network - Robin Hook PBP (Pre-game show begins at 6:30 p.m. ET)
Stations • WZOX — 96.5 FM: (Flagship) Kalamazoo, Portage, Mattawan; WMAX — 96.1 FM: Holland, Muskegon; WMAX — 96.1 FM: WTKG 1230 AM: Grand Rapids
TV/Stream: ESPN3
Talent: Steve Baker (PBP), Randy Hollowell (Analyst)
Twitter Updates: @WMUMBB


ROAD WARRIORS
WMU has had one of the tougher schedules to open the MAC slate, playing five of its first eight on the road. The Broncos will play seven of its first 11 conference games on the road and closes out with five of seven games at home during February.

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan maintains a 7-15 record, with all seven wins coming at home - vs. Marygrove (90-74), Central Arkansas (80-63), James Madison (74-67), Alabama A&M (80-50), Toledo (90-74), Kent State (92-88) and Ohio (90-85).

> Junior point guard Thomas Wilder is averaging a team-best 18.4 ppg (20.2 MAC) and 4.3 rpg while senior Tucker Haymond is averaging 14.4 ppg and 4.4 rpg. The two have 142 assists combined. Freshman guard Reggie Jones (8.7 ppg), freshman post Brandon Johnson (8.2) and junior center Drake LaMont (8.0) and are all averaging eight points or better per game. Johnson is also the leading rebounder at 5.5 rpg, followed by Seth Dugan with 5.3 rpg.  

> The Broncos are averaging 75.7 ppg this season and allowing 79.7 ppg defensively. WMU is shooting 45.3 percent from the field, 36.5 percent from three and 69.0 percent from the free-throw line.

LAST TIME OUT - WMU NIPPED AT CMU
Western Michigan led 53-40 at halftime and by as many as 18 in the game, but Central Michigan rallied in the final minutes to hold off the Broncos, 86-82, Friday night. With the game tied 81-81, CMU's Marcus Keene hit a 3-pointer with three seconds remaining.

Thomas Wilder led Western Michigan with 21 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block. Tucker Haymond had 16 points and four assists. Freshmen Brandon Johnson totaled a career-high 15 points, as well as eight rebounds and three blocks.

Western Michigan shot a blazing 67.6 percent in the first half, hitting 7-for-11 from 3-point range. The Broncos went just 2-for-12 from behind the arc in the second half and cooled off to 39.1 percent from the field.

A WEEK AGO - WMU BATTLES BACK AGAINST OHIO
Thomas Wilder scored 22 of his 29 points in the second half, including a go-ahead free throw, Tucker Haymond added 20, and Western Michigan overcame a 21-point deficit with a late run to beat Ohio 90-85 last Tuesday to end a four-game skid.

The Bobcats led by as many as 21 in the first half and increased a 44-38 halftime lead to 81-71 on a layup by Gavin Block. The Broncos replied with a 10-0 run in which Bryce Moore and Wilder hit back-to-back 3s and Western Michigan tied it at 81, 83 and 85 before Wilder's three free throws put the Broncos up 88-85 with 16 seconds left.

TALKING ABOUT THOMAS
Junior guard Thomas Wilder averaged 25 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 block over two games this past week. On Tuesday, he led helped the Broncos overcome a 21-point deficit to defeat Ohio, 90-85. Wilder tallied a game-high 29 points, scoring 20 points in the second half. On Friday at Central Michigan he totaled 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. With the two performances, Wilder's season scoring average rose from 17.7 ppg to 18.4.

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS
Miami is coached by John Cooper in his fifth season and is off to a 9-14, overall, 2-8 MAC record. Like the Broncos all of Miami's wins have come at home this season.

> Freshman guard Michael Weathers leads the team with 17.0 ppg and 115 assists. Junior forward Logan McLane is the next highest scorer at 12.1 ppg and the top rebounder at 6.8 rpg. The Redhawks average 72.7 ppg and allow 75.3 ppg. They are shooting 43.7 % from the floor.

SERIES HISTORY VS. MIAMI
This will be the 127th meeting between the Broncos and the RedHawks, with Miami owning an 82-44 all-time advantage.

> The Broncos had won last six in a row (dating back to 2011) against the RedHawks before falling last year in Kalamazoo, 45-44. WMU took the last meeting in Oxford in 2015, 69-58.

> WMU head coach Steve Hawkins is 9-5 all-time against the RedHawks. Miami head coach John Cooper is 1-4 against Western Michigan.