KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team returns to University Arena on Saturday night for a rematch against rival Central Michigan at 7 pm. Fans can purchase tickets here. The game will also be streamed live on ESPN3 and the Bronco Media Network.

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (4-20, 0-13 MAC) vs Central Michigan (6-15, 5-5 MAC)

Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 12 – 7 pm

Site: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)

Tickets: wmubroncos.com/tickets

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Video: ESPN3

Live Stats: StatBroadcast

OPENING TIP

• Following its three-game road trip, Western Michigan returns to University Arena on Saturday evening to take on CMU.
• The Broncos are coming off of a 62-57 setback at Miami on Tuesday night.
• Four different players scored in double-figures for Western Michigan on Tuesday, led by Lamar Norman Jr.'s 12 points.
• With his 12 points, Norman extended his double-digit scoring streak to 21 straight. 
• Norman enters the weekend as the MAC's leading scorer at 19.9 points per game.
• Mack Smith chipped in 11 points to surpass 1500 points in his collegiate career.
• WMU held Miami to 18 made field goals, its lowest total allowed this season. 
• Saturday marks the 149th meeting between Western Michigan and CMU.
• The Broncos own a 93-55 advantage in the all-time series, and boast a 49-15 mark against the Chippewas in Kalamazoo. 
•  Central Michigan won the previous meeting, 65-55, on Feb. 3 in Mount Pleasant.

WELCOME HOME
After playing five of its last six games on the road, Western Michigan returns to University Arena for a two-game homestand, beginning on Saturday night against CMU.

LAST TIME OUT
Western Michigan led for much of its road tilt against Miami on Tuesday, but the RedHawks used a 15-2 second-half run to rally and ultimately clip the Broncos, 62-57. Both teams struggled offensively, with WMU tying its season low for made field goals (16), while setting a new season low for opponent field goals made, limiting MU to 18. 

BALANCED ATTACK
For the third time this season, four Broncos scored in double-figures on Tuesday at Miami. Lamar Norman Jr. led the way with 12, while Mileek McMillan and Mack Smith had 11 apiece and B. Artis White chipped in 10. WMU also had four in double-digits on Nov. 26 at FGCU and Jan. 29 at Ball State.

WMU VS CMU
Saturday's game is set to be the 149th meeting between Western Michigan and Central Michigan, with the Broncos leading the all-time series, 93-55. WMU has been especially dominant in Kalamazoo, boasting a 49-15 home record against the Chippewas. 

EARLIER THIS SEASON
Back on Feb. 3 in Mount Pleasant, WMU led throughout the first half and well into the second half, but CMU rallied to take the lead near the midway point of the second half and held on from there for the 65-55 victory. Lamar Norman Jr. dropped in 18 points to pace the Broncos, while Cameron Healy led the Chippewas with a game-high 23.

SCOUTING THE CHIPPEWAS
Central Michigan is coming off of an 81-72 loss to Ohio on Thursday. CMU features a balanced attack which boasts five players averaging double-figures, led by freshman Kevin Miller's 12.0 points per game. Cameron Healy is one of the top three-point shooters in the MAC, making 2.5 per game (4th) and knocking them down at a 44.0 percent clip, the second-highest in the league.

SCORIN' NORMAN
Western Michigan junior Lamar Norman Jr. sits atop the MAC at 19.9 points per game, and leads the conference in league play at 21.5 points per contest. His 12 points on Tueday extended his streak of double-digit scoring games to 21 in a row. Norman is the only player in the conference to have three 30+ point games, and his 12 games of 20+ points are tied for second in the conference. The Grand Rapids, Mich., native leads the league with 3.3 made threes per game. 

MAKING HIS MARK
Redshirt sophomore Markeese Hastings ranks in the top-10 of the MAC in several categories as well, including rebounding (2nd, 8.8), offensive rebounding (3rd, 3.2), defensive rebounding (T-2nd, 5.6) and field goal percentage (T-8th, .503). In MAC play, Hastings is second in the league at 10.4 rebounds per game, and his 18 rebounds at Toledo on Dec. 29 remains the highest single-game total by a MAC player this season.

THE GODWIN HEIGHTS CONNECTION
Former Godwin Heights HS teammates Lamar Norman Jr. and Markeese Hastings are all over the MAC leaderboards and climbing in the national rankings as well. Norman ranks 19th nationally in points per game (19.9), 26th in total points (457), 27th in made field goals (162), 13th in made threes per game (3.3) and 18th in total threes made (76). Hastings sits 32nd in rebounds per game (8.8), 27th in total rebounds (212) and 29th in offensive rebounds per game (3.2).

MACK'S MILESTONE
With his 11 points on Tuesday night at Miami, Western Michigan senior guard Mack Smith surpassed 1500 points for his collegiate career. With his 1507 career points, the Eastern Illinois transfer ranks 102nd on the NCAA DI active scoring leaders list.

353 AND COUNTING
WMU has made at least one three-pointer in 353 straight games dating back to 2011. 

ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan continues its homestand on Tuesday night as it hosts Akron at 6 pm.