ATHENS, Ohio – Senior Seth Dugan's 23 points and 15 rebounds was not enough as Western Michigan men's basketball fell to Ohio, 81-76 on Tuesday night at the Convocation Center.

Dugan registered his team leading seventh double-double of the season and second game with at least 15 or more rebounds. It's the 13^th time this season the senior center has scored in double figures and the sixth game he has eclipsed the 20-point mark.

The Otsego, Mich. native was 9-of-14 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line in 35 minutes played. Of his 15 rebounds, five came on the offensive glass while also having two blocks, one assist and one steal. It was Dugan's first 20-point game since Dec. 1 versus USC Upstate.

Leading the Broncos was sophomore guard Michael Flowers with 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field. It's the 15^th game this season Flowers has scored in double figures and his eighth 20-point game. Flowers was lights out from long distance, connecting on a career-high six three-pointers. The sophomore guard also had five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

In his fifth career start freshman William Boyer-Richard reached double figures with 12 points, one shy of his career-high. Boyer-Richard was 4-of-6 from the field including 2-of-2 from beyond the three-point line. The Drummondville, Quebec native also amassed two rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Sophomore Kawanise Wilkins nearly eclipsed the double digit mark, pouring in nine points with four coming from the free-throw line. Wilkins in 25 minutes played had four rebounds, one assist and one block.

Overall the trio of Dugan, Flowers and Boyer-Richard combined to score 59 of WMU's 76 total points. The Broncos as a team shot 45 percent from the field with nine three-pointers and connected on 13 of their 15 free-throw attempts.

Turnovers proved costly for the Brown & Gold, committing 14 with Ohio scoring 19 points off those turnovers. WMU held the edge on the boards, outrebounding the Bobcats 34-31 including 11-8 on the offensive glass. Ohio shot 50.9 percent from the field as four players scored in double figures for the Bobcats.

With the loss Western Michigan drops its overall record to 6-13, 0-6 in Mid-American Conference play. The Broncos return home for five of their next seven games beginning on Saturday, Jan. 26 versus in-state rival Eastern Michigan at 2:00 p.m.

The first seven minutes of the first half could not have gone any better for the Broncos, jumping out to a 20-6 lead at the 13-minute mark. WMU earned an 8-1 advantage just three minutes into the game with back-to-back three-pointers from Wilkins.

The 8-0 run was a part of a larger 13-0 run for WMU that gave the Brown & Gold a 15-1 advantage just five minutes into the game. The Broncos held a 20-6 lead at the 13-minute mark before the Bobcats caught fire from the field the next four minutes of play.

Ohio made eight straight field goals and embarked on a 17-2 run to regain its first lead of the game at 23-22 with 9:20 remaining in the half. The Bobcats extended their lead to double digits with four minutes to play in the first before WMU rallied back with three straight field goals to cut its deficit down to five.

Down the stretch, Western Michigan made six of its final eight field goals to trail 44-37 heading into the locker room. Leading 20-6 the Broncos were outscored 38-17 the final 13 minutes of the first half.

It was a sloppy start to the second half for both teams as WMU and Ohio combined to commit six turnovers during the first two minutes of play. The Brown & Gold cut their deficit down to two with 13 minutes left after Dugan amassed four straight points in the paint. However, Ohio made four of their next five field goals and went on a 11-0 run to extend its lead back to double digits.

The Broncos battled their way back to trail 76-72 with 4:10 remaining after Flowers connected on a right wing three-pointer. Late in the second half, the Broncos trailed by four with 1:40 to play before Ohio's Doug Taylor was given a technical foul. Boyer-Richard made both free-throws as the Broncos gained possession of the ball trailing by two.

On the ensuing possession, Wilkins drove to the rim but was unable to connect on the lay-up to tie the game. Despite the Bobcats going scoreless from the field the final three minutes, Ohio made three of its final four free-throws to secure the victory.