KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team hits the road for the first time during the 2021-22 season as it heads to East Lansing to take on Michigan State.

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (1-0) at Michigan State (0-1)

Date/Time: Friday, Nov. 12 – 6:30 pm

Site: Breslin Center (East Lansing, Mich.)

Radio: Bronco Radio Network

Video: Big Ten Network

Live Stats: StatBroadcast
 

OPENING TIP

• For the third straight season, Western Michigan and Michigan State are meeting at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
• The Broncos are coming off of a 76-58 win over Hope College in their season opener on Wednesday night in Kalamazoo.
• In his first game as a Bronco, Lamar Norman Jr. netted a career-best 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting to lead WMU. Fellow debutant Markeese Hastings snared a career-best 10 rebounds.
• All 11 Broncos who saw the floor scored at least three points and grabbed at least one rebound in Wednesday's victory.
• Friday night will be the 41st all-time meeting between the Broncos and Spartans. MSU holds a 26-14 advantage in the series and has won each of the last seven. 
• WMU's last win over Michigan State came on Nov. 28, 1981 in East Lansing.
• MSU opened its season with an 87-74 loss to #3 Kansas in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. 

HITTING THE ROAD
Western Michigan hits the road for the first time this season as it heads to East Lansing to take on Michigan State for the third straight season. The Broncos were 3-7 away from home during the 2020-21 campaign.

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos began their 2021-22 campaign with a 76-58 win over Hope College on Wednesday night at University Arena. In his Bronco debut, Lamar Norman Jr. poured in a career-high 23 points, while fellow debutant Markeese Hastings grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds to lead WMU. It was the fifth season-opening victory in the last six seasons for the Broncos and the 11th straight time they've won their home opener.

BALANCED ATTACK
In Wednesday's win, all 11 Broncos who played scored at least three points and grabbed at least one rebound. Of those 11, nine of them attempted at least one free throw, and eight had at least one assist.

WELCOME TO WESTERN
Seven different players saw the court for the first time at WMU in Wednesday's win. Each of the team's four transfers, Markeese Hastings, Mileek McMillan, Lamar Norman Jr. and Mack Smith saw playing time, while three true freshmen (Gus Etchison, Cameron Kimble and Owen Lobsinger) all made their collegiate debuts for Western Michigan.

WMU VS MSU
Friday's game will be the 41st all-time meeting between the Broncos and the Spartans. Michigan State holds a 26-14 advantage in the series and has won each of the last seven meetings between the two programs. WMU's last win in the series was an 83-79 triumph in East Lansing on Nov. 28, 1981. 

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Michigan State opened up its 2021-22 season with an 87-74 setback against #3 Kansas on Tuesday at the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden. Four players scored in double-figures for the Spartans, led by A.J. Hoggard's 17 points. For the evening, MSU was minus-seven in turnover margin.

HOT START
Western Michigan got off to a quick start on Wednesday, shooting an even 50.0 percent from the field in the first half. Lamar Norman Jr. was particularly hot, as the junior guard made 5-of-7 in the opening 20 minutes.

BRINGING THE DEFENSE
During the 2020-21 campaign, the Broncos were one of four teams to rank in the top half of the MAC in scoring defense (3rd), opponent field goal percentage (6th) and opponent three-point percentage (5th). Their defensive ways carried over into Wednesday's season opener, as WMU held Hope to 23.5 percent from the field in the first half and 32.4 percent overall. The Flying Dutchmen also made just four of their 29 three-point attempts for the evening.

WHITE HONORED BY MAC
Western Michigan guard B. Artis White was selected to the Preseason All-MAC Second Team, the league office announced last week. An All-MAC Honorable Mention selection last season, White was WMU's leading scorer at 14.3 points per game. He scored three points on Wednesday against Hope College to surpass 500 as a Bronco.

B MAKES THE THREES
Last season, B. Artis White was one of the most prolific three-point shooters in the MAC, averaging 2.9 per game, fourth-most in the league. He hit 44.1 percent of his triple tries, the four-highest percentage in the conference. White entered the season having made at least one three in 19 straight, but was held without one on Wednesday.

HALFTIME LEADS TURN INTO W'S
Including Wednesday's win over Hope College, WMU is now 46-15 over the last four seasons when leading at halftime.

330 AND COUNTING
WMU has made at least one three-pointer in 330 straight games dating back to 2011.

ON THE HORIZON
The Broncos return to University Arena next Thursday, Nov. 18, as they welcome in Saginaw Valley State for a 7 pm tip.