KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team returns to University Arena on Sunday afternoon for a 2 pm matchup against Valparaiso. Tickets are available here or by calling 1-888-4-WMU-TIX. Fans can also stream the game live on ESPN3 and the Bronco Media Network.

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (3-4) vs. Valparaiso (3-5)

Date/Time: Sunday, Dec. 5 – 2 pm

Site: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)

Tickets: wmubroncos.com/tickets

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Video: ESPN3

Live Stats: StatBroadcast
 

• After four straight away from home, WMU returns to University Arena on Sunday afternoon to take on Valparaiso.
• The Broncos are coming off of a 2-1 weekend at the FGCU Invitational, which ended with an 81-77 overtime victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday.
• Lamar Norman Jr. netted a career-high 31 points in the victory over the Lions, while Markeese Hastings posted his first collegiate double-double (14 pts, 12 rebs).
• With its back-to-back overtime wins on Saturday and Sunday, the Broncos have won back-to-back games in overtime for the first time since January of 2015.
• Western Michigan owns a 40-27 all-time lead in the series against Valparaiso in a series that dates back to the 1920's.
• The Broncos and Beacons have not met since Nov. 28, 2007, a 77-65 Valpo win, which snapped a four-game winning streak for WMU in the series. The Broncos have won the last eight in Kalamazoo.

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN
After going 2-1 down in Fort Myers, Fla., at the FGCU Invitational, Western Michigan returns to Kalamazoo on Sunday to take on Valparaiso. Each of WMU's next three games will be in Michigan, as the Broncos have a road trip to Detroit sandwiched in between home games against Valpo and Aquinas.

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos are coming off of an 81-77 overtime win over Southeastern Louisiana to wrap up the FGCU Invitational last Sunday. Lamar Norman Jr. led Western Michigan with a career-high 31 points in the victory, while Markeese Hastings and Mack Smith netted 14 points apiece. Hastings also grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds to record the first double-double of his collegiate career.

WORKING OVERTIME
Western Michigan ended its Florida trip with a pair of overtime victories over Purdue Fort Wayne and Southeastern Louisiana. The Broncos had not played any overtime games since winning in triple overtime at Milwaukee on Nov. 9, 2019. It was the first time WMU had consecutive games go into overtime since beating Ball State and winning at Toledo in overtime on Jan. 14 & 17, 2015. 

BRONCOS CATCH FIRE IN FLORIDA
The Broncos caught fire in Florida, shooting over 50.0 percent from the field in their final two games of the FGCU Invitational. It marked the first time Western Michigan had made over 50.0 percent of its field goal attempts in back-to-back games since Feb. 14 & 18, 2017, in wins over Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan. The Broncos shot over 50.0 percent just twice all of last season.

IT'S RAINING 3'S
In Saturday's win over Purdue Fort Wayne, WMU knocked in a season-high 15 three-pointers on 24 attempts (62.5 percent). The 15 triples was two shy of the program record, which was set on Jan. 26, 2002 against Ohio. Western Michigan followed that up with 11 more three's in Sunday's win over SLU, giving them double-digit triples in consecutive games for the first time since hitting 12 in two straight in February 2020.

VALPO VIEW
Valparaiso enters Sunday's matchup 3-5 after falling at Drake, 73-66, in its Missouri Valley Conference opener on Thursday night. Five Beacons are averaging double-figures, led by Ben Krikke's 17.6 points per game. The Broncos are the second MAC opponent on the slate this season for the Beacons, who lost to Toledo, 69-61, in their season opener on Nov. 9. Valparaiso is also slated to take on Eastern Michigan on Dec. 20.

WMU VS. VALPO
WMU is 40-27 all-time against Valparaiso in a series that dates back to the 1920-21 season. The two teams have not met since a 77-65 Valpo victory on Nov. 28, 2007, snapped a four-game Broncos' winning streak in the series. WMU has won eight straight meetings in Kalamazoo, with Valpo's last win in Kalmazoo coming on Dec. 20, 1958.

FAMILIAR FACE
Mileek McMillan is set to face his former team on Sunday when Valparaiso comes to town.  In four years at Valpo, McMillan played in 121 games, starting 66. The senior has played in all seven games for Western Michigan, and started the last three.

SCORIN' NORMAN
Newcomer Lamar Norman Jr. has burst onto the scene, leading the MAC at 20.1 points per game. The junior is one of three players in the league to have a 30+ point game this season and has a league-high four 20+ point games. Norman has been efficient as well, knocking down 48.5 percent from the field (10th in the MAC) and 44.3 percent from downtown (2nd). At 4.4 made three-pointers per game, he is averaging 1.4 more makes than the next closest player in the league.

HALFTIME LEADS TURN INTO W'S
Including its 2-0 mark this season, Western Michigan owns a 47-15 record over the last four seasons when leading at halftime.

336 AND COUNTING
WMU has made at least one three-pointer in 336 straight games dating back to 2011. The Broncos have made double-digit triples in two straight games and three total this year.

ON THE HORIZON
The Broncos head across the state for a battle with Detroit Mercy next Saturday, Dec. 11, at 1 pm.