KALAMAZOO, Mich. – A career-high 18 points from junior forward Patrick Emilien was not enough as the Western Michigan men's basketball team fell to Buffalo 85-69 on Tuesday afternoon inside University Arena.

Emilien, whose previous career-high was 12 coming back on Jan. 15, 2019, registered a career-high 18 points on a staggering 7-of-10 shooting from the field with three from behind the three-point line. The Toronto, Canada native in 29 minutes off the bench also corralled three rebounds and two blocks.

It's the third game this season in which Emilien has scored in double figures and the first time in which he has led the team in scoring. Emilien now has eight career games scoring in double figures.

Along with Emilien, sophomore guard B. Artis White scored in double figures for the seventh straight game with 12 points. White was 4-of-13 from the field, 2-of-3 from the free-throw line and made two three-pointers. The Canton, Mich., native also tallied five assists, one shy of his career-high.

Nearing a double-double was senior Greg Lee with eight points and nine rebounds. Lee was 3-of-8 from the field and had two blocks in 25 minutes of action. Matching Lee with nine points was fellow senior Rafael Cruz Jr. Cruz Jr. also ranked second on the team with six rebounds and was 3-of-5 from the field.

Returning to the starting role was sophomore Titus Wright who posted eight points and six rebounds in 15 minutes. The Broncos got significant contributions off the bench from freshman Josiah Freeman and junior Danny Kolp as each scored six against the Bulls.

For the game Western Michigan shot 44.8 percent from the field and was 8-of-18 from long distance. The Broncos were out rebounded 43-35 with Buffalo holding a 12-6 advantage on the offensive glass. WMU's bench provided a spark scoring 51 of the Broncos' 69 points.

Buffalo earned a 42-32 edge in the paint of WMU and scored 32 points via the fast break compared to WMU's nine fast break points.

The Broncos have now dropped four straight and have an overall record of 2-8 and 1-4 in Mid-American Conference play. WMU is back in action at home on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 12:00 p.m. against Miami.

It was a furious start to the game for both squads as WMU and Buffalo traded baskets early en route to a 10-9 lead for the Bulls. Danny Kolp gave the Broncos a three-point lead at the 13-minute mark of the first half after a dunk prior to the Bulls responding with a three to tie the game.

The Kolp dunk was the last field goal the Broncos had for the next five minutes as the Brown & Gold offense missed its next four field goals. Buffalo capitalized with an 8-0 run to gain a 22-15 lead eight minutes remaining. Western Michigan countered with a 7-0 run of its own, highlighted by a one-handed slam from Emilien to tie the game at 22 with 6:10 left.

WMU made five of its next seven field goals and trialed by two with 2:38 remaining in the first half. Buffalo responded back with a 6-0 run to end the half and took a 38-32 lead into the locker room. The Broncos were held scoreless with three turnovers during the final 2:38 of play in the first half.

In the second half the Bulls continued their run from the first and jumped out to a 52-34 lead thanks to a combined 14-2 run. Emilien went on his own personal 5-0 run to trim the Bulls lead before Buffalo made six of its next seven field goals to earn a 60-42 advantage.

At the midway point of the second half Buffalo led 60-48 as WMU made four straight field goals to cut its deficit down to 12. It was a 10-point game with 4:27 left to play after an and-one bucket from senior Rafael Cruz Jr. WMU made five of six field goals to trim the Buffalo lead down to 77-67.

However, Buffalo went on a 6-0 run and outscored the Broncos 8-2 down the stretch to earn their fifth victory of the season.