AKRON, Ohio – In its Mid-American Conference opener the Western Michigan men's basketball team dropped at 56-48 decision at Akron on Saturday afternoon inside James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Broncos outshot Akron, shooting 30.6 percent from the field compared to the Zips 27.9 percent. However, the Zips attempted 14 more free-throws and was 16-of-23 from the charity stripe overall. On the glass, the brown & gold were outrebounded 36-34 while the Zips held a 16-13 advantage on the offensive glass.
From long distance, neither team was able to find its rhythm going a combined 10-of-57 from behind the three-point line. Western Michigan forced Akron to commit 11 turnovers on the afternoon, scoring 14 points off those turnovers.
Leading the way for WMU was the duo of senior
Josh Davis and sophomore
Michael Flowers with 14 points. Davis registered his third straight game in double figures and 10th this season. The senior guard also led the Broncos with seven rebounds and two assists.
Flowers 14 points came on 5-of-16 shooting from the field to go along with 4-of-6 from the free-throw line. The reigning MAC West Player of the Week has now recorded eight straight games in double figures.
Fresh off his double-double performance against UC Riverside, sophomore
Kawanise Wilkins led the team with 12 rebounds. It's the second straight game Wilkins has recorded double digit rebounds. Senior
Seth Dugan nearly had a double-double of his own with eight points and six rebounds.
With the loss, WMU drops to 0-1 in conference play and 6-8 overall. The Broncos continue MAC play on the road on Tuesday, Jan. 8 at Kent State. WMU then returns home for match-ups against Toledo (Jan. 12) and Buffalo (Jan. 15).
The Broncos took an early lead on the road making four of their first five shots to grab a 9-8 lead just five minutes into the ballgame. WMU extended its lead to 13-11 midway through the first half before neither team could find the basket, going a combined 1-of-16 from the field the next five minutes.
WMU and Akron traded baskets later in the first half prior to the Broncos making three straight to earn a 22-20 lead at the three-minute mark. During the final two minutes, Akron and WMU went a combined 1-of-14 as the Broncos took a 24-23 lead into the locker room. The 23 points was the fewest given up in a half by WMU this season.
The Zips started the second half with offensive flurry, scoring five straight points to gain a 28-24 lead. Davis knocked down his second three-pointer of the night at the 16-minute mark to eclipse double figures and push the Broncos to within three.
Once again both teams were unable to find the basket midway through the second half as WMU went on a three-minute scoring drought while Akron went just 1-of-8 from the field to hold on to a 39-34 lead. With six minutes left Flowers got it going offensively scoring five straight points to cut the deficit down to 45-41.
The Zips quickly responded with a 5-0 run to push its lead back to nine with just under five minutes to play. During the Zips run, the Broncos committed four turnovers. WMU fought its way back to trail by six with two minutes to play and looked to seize momentum after holding Akron scoreless for nearly three minutes.
With the shot clock winding down, Akron's Tyler Cheese knocked down a corner three to stop the Bronco momentum and propel the Zips lead back to 55-46. In the final two minutes, WMU was just 1-of-5 from the field en route to the eight-point defeat.
