ORLANDO, Fla. – In its first game at the 2019 NIT Season Tip-Off on Monday the Western Michigan men's basketball team was unable to overcome a cold shooting performance in a 73-51 loss to Yale inside the HP Fieldhouse at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
The Broncos shot just 29.6 percent from the field and had just four three-pointers against the Bulldogs. WMU was 4-of-22 from the three-point line while being outrebounded by Yale, 44-26. Yale shot 45.3 percent from the field and knocked down 13 three-pointers.
Despite the low shooting percentage, the Broncos had four score in double figures with junior
Michael Flowers leading the way with 16 points. Flowers was 4-of-16 from the field but 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. With 16 points the Southfield, Mich., native extended his streak to 10 straight games scoring in double figures.
Redshirt sophomore
Jason Whitens posted his first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 10 rebounds versus Yale. Whitens was a solid 5-of-8 from the field to go along with one assist and one three-pointer. Whitens has now scored in double figures in four of the first seven games this season.
Redshirt junior
Brandon Johnson nearly posted a double-double as well with 12 points and six rebounds in 34 minutes of action. Johnson was a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe and had two steals and one block.
Rounding out the quartet of double digit scoring for WMU was senior
Jared Printy with 12 points. It's the second time this season Printy has scored in double figures and the first time since having 11 against Milwaukee. Printy knocked down three of WMU's four three-pointers while grabbing two rebounds.
It will be a quick turnaround as Western Michigan squares off with either Bucknell or Seattle at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26 to conclude the NIT Season Tip-Off. With the loss, WMU now has an overall record of 4-3.
It was a slow start for both teams as Yale held just a 4-2 lead four minutes into the game. The Bulldog offense caught fire after the first media timeout, embarking on a 12-2 run to hold a 12-4 advantage at the 13:50 mark of the first half.
WMU trailed by double digits at the halfway point of the first half after going 2-of-11 from the field while Yale knocked down three straight three-pointers. Yale jumped out to a 25-9 lead at the seven-minute mark prior to the Broncos going on a 7-0 run to cut into the Bulldog lead at 25-16.
To end the half, Whitens knocked down his only three-pointer to cut the Yale lead down to 42-27 at halftime. Through the first 20 minutes of action, WMU shot just 34.8 percent from the field while the Bulldogs connected on seven threes.
WMU cut Yale's lead down to 42-31 at the 17-minute mark after a lay-up from Flowers. However, the Bulldogs responded with a 9-0 run and held the Broncos scoreless for nearly four minutes to take a 51-31 lead with 13:32 remaining.
The Broncos looked to mount a comeback after the halfway point of the second half as Printy scored four straight points to cut Yale's lead down to 55-40. WMU held Yale scoreless for over four minutes as the Bulldogs went 0-for-5 from the field. The Brown & Gold trailed 60-47 with 5:40 left prior to Yale knocking down back-to-back threes' to extend its lead.
Down the stretch WMU held Yale scoreless the final 4:33 but was unable to mount a comeback despite going on a 7-0 run in the 22-points defeat. During the final four minute of play the Bronco defense held Yale to just 1-of-9 from the field as the Bulldogs missed their final seven shots.
