KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Behind four Broncos scoring in double figures the Western Michigan men's basketball team defeated Mississippi Valley State, 91-81 on Tuesday night inside University Arena.

It's the second straight game in which Western Michigan has had at least four players score in double figures. With the victory, WMU improves to 3-0 for the first time since 2014 and just the 19th time in school history.

Western Michigan was led by redshirt junior Brandon Johnson who nearly posted his second straight double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds. Johnson was 7-of-11 from the field and scored 12 of his 20 points in the first half.

Behind Johnson was junior Michael Flowers with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field. The junior guard also registered two rebounds and five assists and recorded the 32nd game of his career scoring in double figures.  

The Broncos got a stellar performance off the bench from freshman Chase Barrs who scored a career-high 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and 5-of-9 from the free-throw line. Barrs also had three rebounds, two on the offensive glass along with one block. It's the most points off the bench by a Bronco this season.

Rounding out the double digit scoring was redshirt sophomore Jason Whitens with 11 points and six rebounds. Whitens notched a career-high four assists against the Delta Devils and shot 75 percent from the field.

Off the bench, junior Kawanise Wilkins ranked second on the team with eight rebounds to go along with two points and one assist. Sophomore Patrick Emilien registered six points in eight minutes of action off the bench with two rebounds. Overall, WMU scored 33 points off the bench, marking the third straight game with over 20 points off the bench.

As a team, WMU shot a staggering 50.9 percent from the field, 71.1 percent from the free-throw line and knocked down six three-pointers. The Brown & Gold dominated in the paint, outscoring Mississippi Valley State, 34-28.
Western Michigan will take its perfect record on the road to Oxford, Mississippi for a showdown with the University of Mississippi from the SEC on Friday, Nov. 14. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. on SEC Network Plus.

To begin the first half, the Broncos jumped out to an early lead as Johnson and freshman Titus Wright led the way with four points each en route to a 13-9 lead at the 13:39 mark. The Delta Devils stormed back midway through the first half, embarking on an 8-0 run to take its first lead of the contest at 15-13.

The two teams traded baskets until late in the first half prior to WMU embarking on a 13-1 run, highlighted by a transition three-pointer from senior Jared Printy to extend the Bronco lead to double digits at 40-30. To end the half, WMU made its final three field goals and ended the half on a 17-3 run to take a 44-32 lead into halftime.

It was a sloppy start for the Broncos in the second half as WMU committed four turnovers in three minutes, resulting in a 6-0 run by Mississippi Valley State to cut the Bronco lead down to 51-44. However, the Bronco offense came back to life midway through the second half, going on a 6-0 run to extend their lead back to double digits with 11 minutes to play.

After making four straight field goals the Brown & Gold held a 77-63 lead with 6:12 to play before WMU missed its next five field goals. During the cold streak, MVSU rallied and cut the Bronco lead down to 79-71 with under four minutes to play.

Despite going just 2-of-10 from the field down the stretch the Broncos were able to capitalize at the free-throw line, making eight of their final nine free-throws to secure the 91-81 victory over the Delta Devils.