KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team rings in 2022 on Saturday afternoon against Ohio. Tip is set for 3:30 pm, following the WMU women's basketball team's MAC opener against Kent State. A ticket to either of Saturday's games will allow fans to attend both contests, and can be purchased here. 

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (4-8, 0-1 MAC) vs Ohio (9-2, 0-0 MAC)

Date/Time: Saturday, Jan. 1 – 3:30 pm

Site: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)

Tickets: wmubroncos.com/tickets

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Video: ESPN3

Live Stats: StatBroadcast

OPENING TIP

• Western Michigan rings in 2022 on Saturday as Ohio invades University Arena.
• On Wednesday, the Broncos fell at Toledo, 83-56, in their MAC opener.
• Lamar Norman Jr. led WMU in scoring for the ninth time this season with 10 points.
• Norman's 10 points extended his double-digit scoring streak to 10 games in a row.
• Markeese Hastings hauled down a career-high 18 rebounds, including 11 on the offensive glass, in the contest.
• The 18 rebounds were the most by a MAC player in a single game this season.
• Hastings' 18-rebound effort also marked the highest rebounding game by a Bronco since Seth Dugan had 20 boards on March 2, 2019, against Ball State. 
• Saturday marks the 137th all-time meeting between WMU and Ohio.
• The Bobcats own a 70-66 edge in the series, which dates back to Dec. 1, 1939.
• Each of the last 10 meetings in the series have been won by the home team.

HOMEWARD BOUND
Western Michigan begins a stretch of four home games in its next five contests on Saturday as it welcomes Ohio to Kalamazoo.

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos are coming off of an 83-56 loss at Toledo in the two teams' Mid-American Conference opener on Wednesday. Lamar Norman Jr. led WMU in scoring for the ninth time this season, netting 10 points, while Markeese Hastings chipped in nine points and a career-best 18 rebounds.

CRASHING THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
Thanks in large part to a season-high 17 offensive rebounds (11 of which were by Markeese Hastings), Western Michigan edged Toledo, 43-42, on the glass on Wednesday, the seventh time the Broncos have won the rebounding battle this season. However, WMU is just 2-5 in those contests.

HASTINGS HAS HIS WAY
Markeese Hastings set a new career high with his 18 rebounds in Wednesday's setback at Toledo. The 18 boards were also the most by a MAC player in a single game thus far this season. It marks the most rebounds in a single game by a Bronco since Seth Dugan had 20 on March 2, 2019, against Ball State. 

WMU VS OHIO
Saturday marks the 137th all-time meeting between the Broncos and the Bobcats, with OU holding a 70-66 edge. Ohio has won three of the last four matchups.

HOMECOURT ADVANTAGE
The home team has dominated throughout the series' history between WMU and OU, with the two combining for just 37 true road wins since the series began during the 1939-40 season. Each of the last 10 matchups have gone to the home team. The Broncos are 46-18 against Ohio in Kalamazoo.

WHEN LAST WE MET
Western Michigan and Ohio met once last season, an 81-58 Bobcat victory on Jan. 26 in Athens. The Broncos shot an even 50.0 percent in the opening half, but cooled down to just over 32.0 percent after halftime.

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
Ohio had its MAC opener against Eastern Michigan postponed earlier in the week, meaning the Bobcats have not played since an 85-70 win over USC Upstate on Dec. 21. OU won its final four non-conference games to post a 9-2 mark heading into league play. Ohio's leading scorer, Mark Sears, ranks third in the conference in scoring at 18.5 points per game and has been named the MAC Player of the Week each of the last two weeks, and three times total this season.

SCORIN' NORMAN
Western Michigan newcomer Lamar Norman Jr. has burst onto the scene, ranking fourth in the MAC at 17.4 points per game. With his 10 points on Wednesday at Toledo, the junior extended his streak of double-digit scoring games to 10 in a row. Norman is one of four players in the league to have a 30-point game and has four 20-point efforts, tied for third-most in the conference this season. Norman currently leads the MAC in made three-pointers at 3.2 per contest.

MAKING HIS MARK
Fellow WMU newcomer Markeese Hastings ranks in the top-10 of the conference in several categories as well. The redshirt sophomore ranks sixth in field goal percentage (.512), third in rebounding (7.9) and third in offensive rebounding (3.6). Hastings is tied for second in the conference with three double-digit rebounding games.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
Mack Smith tallied his first double-double at WMU and third of his collegiate career with his 14 points and season-high 10 rebounds in the Dec. 17 win over Aquinas. The double-double was the second by a Bronco this season, with Markeese Hastings having tallied 14 points and 12 rebounds in an overtime win over Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 28. 

341 AND COUNTING
WMU has made at least one three-pointer in 341 straight games dating back to 2011. 

HALFTIME LEADS TURN INTO W'S
Including its 3-0 mark this season, Western Michigan owns a 48-15 record over the last four seasons when leading at halftime.

ON THE HORIZON
WMU continues its homestand on Tuesday, Jan. 4, as it hosts Eastern Michigan.