KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan redshirt junior forward Markeese Hastings tied his career high with 18 rebounds as the Broncos earned a wire-to-wire victory over Siena Heights, 61-41, on Wednesday afternoon at University Arena.   
 
Hastings' 18 rebounds equaled his career high from last season's MAC opener at Toledo. The 18 boards are the most by any player in the Mid-American Conference in a single game thus far in 2022-23.
 
Owen Lobsinger led Western Michigan (4-8) in scoring in the contest, as the sophomore netted a career-high 12 points off of the bench. Lamar Norman Jr. was also in double-figures for the Broncos with 10.
 
The Western Michigan defense was locked in from the opening tip on Wednesday, as it held Siena Heights off of the scoreboard for more than five minutes to start the game. The visitors managed just two points in the first half of the opening period, as the Broncos got out to a 15-2 start.
 
The Saints briefly worked the margin into single-digits, 17-8, but WMU scored the final 10 points of the half to take a 27-8 advantage into the locker room. Western Michigan kept SHU off of the scoreboard for the final 7:28 of the first half. The Bronco defense held Siena Heights to 3-of-32 shooting (9.4 percent) in the opening stanza, and the eight points allowed were the fewest given up by Western Michigan in a half this season.
 
A Tray Maddox Jr. three-pointer at the 18:26 mark of the second half boosted Western Michigan's lead to 20 for the first time, 30-10. From there, WMU's lead fluctuated between 15 and 20 points until a six-point burst brought the Saints to within 13, 49-36, with seven-and-a-half minutes to play.
 
The Broncos answered with the next five points on a Titus Wright dunk and a Norman triple, and led by 16 or more for the rest of the afternoon.
 
Western Michigan shot 23-of-59 (39.0 percent) for the afternoon and knocked down nine three-pointers. The WMU defense held Siena Heights to 14-of-55 (25.5 percent) from the floor and 1-for-17 (5.9 percent) from beyond the three-point line. SHU's 41 points, 14 made field goals, 25.5 field goal percentage, one made three-pointer and 5.9 three-point percentage were all season lows allowed by the Bronco defense.
 
The Broncos won the rebounding battle for the fourth consecutive game, as they outrebounded Siena Heights 50-33 for the afternoon. Western Michigan's 50 rebounds and 17 offensive rebounds were both one short of the team's season high.

Next up for Western Michigan is a trip to Madison, Wisc., to face #17 Wisconsin. Tip between the Broncos and Badgers is set for 8 pm on Friday, Dec. 30.
 
WMU returns to University Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 10, for a 7 pm contest against Eastern Michigan. To purchase tickets to any Western Michigan men's basketball home game this season, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.