KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball program has announced a 25th anniversary celebration for the 1997-98 team which won a share of the Mid-American Conference regular season title and reached the 1998 NCAA Tournament. The celebration is set for Saturday, Jan. 21, at University Arena.  
 
The Broncos are set to welcome back and celebrate alumni from the 1997-98 squad as they take on the Akron Zips at 2:30 pm on Jan. 21. That Saturday there will be a basketball doubleheader at University Arena, as the men's game will be preceded by the WMU women's team taking on Buffalo at noon.
 
Coached by Bob Donewald, the 1997-98 Broncos went 21-8, and earned a share of the MAC championship with a 14-4 conference record. WMU was led by senior guard Saddi Washington, who earned All-MAC First Team honors after averaging 21.6 points per game.
 
Western Michigan's regular season success earned the program its second-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament. WMU earned the 11-seed in the Midwest Region, and behind a 32-point effort from senior guard Rashod Johnson and 24 points from Washington, the Broncos scored a first-round upset over six-seeded Clemson, 75-72.
 
In the second round, despite getting double-digit scoring efforts from senior guard Jason Kimbrough (17), Washington (16) and Johnson (13), the Broncos fell to third-seeded Stanford. The Cardinal went on to reach that season's Final Four.
 
Western Michigan has made two subsequent trips to the NCAA Tournament (2004 and 2014), but the 1998 victory over Clemson remains the most recent NCAA Tournament win for the Broncos.  
 
WMU returns to University Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 21, for a 1 pm tip against Siena Heights. To purchase tickets to any Western Michigan men's basketball home game this season, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.