KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan junior guard Lamar Norman Jr. scored a game-high 26 points, but a key second-half run by Miami lifted the visiting RedHawks to a 70-62 victory over the Broncos on Saturday afternoon at University Arena.
 
Norman's 26 points put him in double-figures for the 13th consecutive contest, and marked his seventh game of 20+ points this season. Titus Wright netted a season-high 11 points for WMU (4-12, 0-5), while Markeese Hastings snared a game-high nine rebounds.
 
Trailing 8-6 in the early going, Western Michigan used a six-point spurt to move in front, 12-8, at the 13:32 mark of the first half. Miami (8-7, 2-2) countered with a 7-0 run over the next minute and change to grab a 15-12 edge. With the RedHawks on top, 17-13, the Broncos ripped off eight straight, capped by a trio of B. Artis White free throws, to take a 21-17 lead with 9:35 left in the period.
 
WMU stayed in front until seven straight RedHawks' points put the visitors back ahead, 32-31, with just under three minutes to play. Wright answered for Western Michigan, making the final basket of the half to put the Broncos in front, 33-32, heading into halftime.
 
Miami started the second half with a 10-1 run over the opening two minutes to seize a 42-34 advantage. With the visitors still holding a 48-41 lead, Mileek McMillan scored five straight points to close the gap to 48-46 with 10:37 remaining.
 
The next seven points went to the RedHawks, extending the margin back to 55-46 at the 7:15 mark. Norman netted five straight points to bring the deficit back down to 63-60 with just over two minutes to play, but a three-pointer on Miami's next possession started a final 7-0 spurt which sealed the victory for the visitors.
 
Western Michigan connected on 38.3 percent (23-of-60) from the field, while Miami made 46.3 percent (25-of-54) for the afternoon. WMU knocked down eight three-pointers, six of which were by Norman, and converted eight-of-10 opportunities at the charity stripe.
 
The overall rebounding battle was even, 33-33, but Western Michigan had a 10-6 edge on the offensive glass, leading to a 15-6 WMU advantage in second-chance points. The Broncos also committed a season-low eight turnovers.
 
WMU begins a stretch of three games in five days on Tuesday evening with a trip to Akron. Tip-off is set for 6 pm and the game will be streamed live on ESPN3 and the Bronco Media Network.
 
To purchase tickets to any Western Michigan men's basketball home game this season, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets, or call 1-888-4-WMU-TIX.