KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team concludes its four-game homestand on Saturday afternoon as Miami visits University Arena for a 2 pm tip. Fans can purchase tickets here. The game will also be streamed live on ESPN+ and the Bronco Media Network.

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (4-11, 0-4 MAC) vs Miami (7-7, 1-2 MAC)

Date/Time: Saturday, Jan. 15 – 2 pm

Site: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)

Tickets: wmubroncos.com/tickets

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Video: ESPN+

Live Stats: StatBroadcast

OPENING TIP

• WMU concludes its four-game homestand on Saturday afternoon as it welcomes Miami to University Arena.
• The Broncos held a one-point halftime edge over Buffalo on Tuesday, but ultimately fell to the Bulls, 78-64.
• It was the first time this season that WMU lost after having the lead at halftime.
• Markeese Hastings and B. Artis White led Western Michigan in scoring with 12 points apiece, while Mack Smith had 10.
• Smith's 10 points gave him 1468 for his collegiate career, 32 shy of 1500.
• Owen Lobsinger set career highs in points (7), rebounds (6), assists (2) and minutes (20) in Tuesday's loss to the Bulls.
• Saturday marks the 135th all-time meeting between the Broncos and RedHawks.
• MU owns an 84-50 series edge and won both of last year's meetings to snap a six-game WMU winning streak in the series. 
• Western Michigan is 37-28 all-time in Kalamazoo against Miami.

HOMESTAND CONCLUDES
Western Michigan concludes its four-game homestand on Saturday afternoon as it welcomes Miami to University Arena.

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos had a one-point halftime time lead, but could not hang on in a 78-64 loss to Buffalo on Tuesday. Markeese Hastings and B. Artis White netted 12 points apiece to lead Western Michigan, while Mack Smith chipped in 10 points off of the bench. It was the first time this season that WMU lost after having the lead going into halftime.  

LOBSINGER'S CAREER NIGHT
True freshman Owen Lobsinger put together his best game as a Bronco on Tuesday night, as he posted career highs in points (7), rebounds (6) and assists (2) in a career-high 20 minutes of action. The Flint, Mich., native's six rebounds were a team high for the game.

WMU VS MIAMI
Saturday's contest is set to be the 135th all-time meeting between WMU and Miami. The RedHawks hold an 84-50 edge in a series that had been dominated by the Broncos recently until a Miami sweep last season. Prior to last season's sweep, Western Michigan had won six in a row against the RedHawks and 12 of the last 13. WMU holds a 37-28 all-time mark against Miami in Kalamazoo.

WHEN LAST WE MET
Miami completed its season sweep over the Broncos with a 74-66 win on Feb. 25, 2021, at University Arena. Mekhi Lairy and Dalonte Brown each had 20 points for MU, while B. Artis White equaled his career high with 20 to lead Western Michigan. Titus Wright recorded 10 points and 10 rebounds for his third-double-double of the campaign. 

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS
The Miami offense ranks third in the MAC at 79.1 points per game, led by Dae Dae Grant's 17.3 points per game, which is fifth in the conference. The RedHawks are atop the conference in both made three-pointers per game (9.6) and fewest turnovers per game (9.7). MU's 9.7 turnovers per game is the 10th-best mark in the nation.

SCORIN' NORMAN
Western Michigan newcomer Lamar Norman Jr. has burst onto the scene, ranking third in the MAC at 18.9 points per game. With his career-high 34 against EMU last Tuesday, the junior extended his streak of double-digit scoring games to 12 in a row. Norman is the only player in the league to have multiple 30-point games and has six 20-point efforts, tied for third-most in the conference this season. He currently leads the MAC in made three-pointers at 3.3 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 eighth in field goal percentage (.500), third in rebounding (7.9), third in offensive rebounding (3.1) and eighth in defensive rebounding (4.8). Hastings is second in the league with four double-digit rebounding games, and his 18 rebounds at Toledo on Dec. 29 remains the highest single-game total by a MAC player this season.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Transfers Lamar Norman Jr. (Duquesne) and Markeese Hastings (Butler) have been among the most impactful transfers in all of Division I, as the duo represents two of the 13 DI transfers who have increased their scoring averages by 8.0 points or more from last season. Norman has increased his scoring average by 13.9 PPG (5.0 to 18.9), while Hastings has jumped 8.5 PPG (0.5 to 9.0). Norman's 13.9 PPG increase is the highest in the nation among DI transfers.

CHASING 1500
With his 10 points on Tuesday against Buffalo, Mack Smith increased his collegiate career total to 1468, 32 shy of 1500. The Eastern Illinois transfer currently ranks 79th on the NCAA DI active scoring leaders list.

344 AND COUNTING
WMU has made at least one three-pointer in 344 straight games dating back to 2011. 

ON THE HORIZON
WMU begins a stretch of three games in five days on Tuesday, Jan. 18, as it visits Akron.