KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team hosts its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Unity Game on Tuesday evening as it welcomes Akron to University Arena for a 6 pm tip.

Groups and organizations from across campus will be set up on the concourse to promote their organization and educate fans. There will be a special halftime performance by the WMU National Pan-Hellenic Council. Fans in attendance will also receive a WMU - We Must Unite wristband. Tickets are available for purchase here. 
 

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (5-20, 1-13 MAC) vs Akron (16-7, 9-4 MAC)

Date/Time: Tuesday, Feb. 15 – 6 pm

Site: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)

Tickets: wmubroncos.com/tickets

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Video: ESPN3

Live Stats: StatBroadcast

OPENING TIP

• Western Michigan hosts its DEI Unity Game on Tuesday night as Akron comes to University Arena for a 6 pm tip.
• The Broncos are coming off of a wire-to-wire 77-63 victory over CMU on Saturday.
• WMU raced out to a 7-0 edge and did not look back, leading by double-digits for the final 28 minutes of the contest. 
• Four different players scored in double-figures for Western Michigan for the second consecutive game.
• Lamar Norman Jr. led the way with a game-high 25 points to extend his double-digit scoring streak to 22 straight.
• Norman enters the week as the MAC's leading scorer at 20.1 points per game.
• Tuesday's game is set to be the 57th all-time meeting between WMU and Akron.
• The Zips lead the series 36-20, and have won each of the last six matchups.
• Akron won this season's previous meeting on Jan. 18, ending the contest on an 11-0 run to clip the Broncos, 74-73.

DEI UNITY GAME
The Broncos are back at home on Tuesday evening as they welcome Akron to Kalamazoo. Tuesday is Western Michigan's Diversity Equity and Inclusion Unity Game, and will feature a special halftime performance by the WMU National Pan-Hellenic Council.

LAST TIME OUT
Western Michigan got off to a 7-0 start and did not look back, as it rolled to a wire-to-wire 77-63 victory over Central Michigan on Saturday night at University Arena. Lamar Norman Jr. led the Broncos in scoring for the 20th time this season with 25 points, while Gus Etchison added a career-high 14.

BALANCED ATTACK
For the second consecutive game and fourth time this season, four Broncos scored in double-figures on Saturday against CMU. Lamar Norman Jr. led the way with 25, while Gus Etchison chipped in a career-high 14 points. Mileek McMillan had 12 points to reach double-figures for the fourth straight game, and Markeese Hastings added 10. 

ETCHISON'S BREAKOUT GAME
Western Michigan freshman Gus Etchison put together the best performance of his young career on Saturday night, tallying a career-high 14 points and handing out a career-best five assists. The Arcadia, Ind., native also set career highs in made free throws (6), free throw attempts (7) and minutes (24). 

WMU VS AKRON
Tuesday's game is slated to be the 57th all-time meeting between Western Michigan and Akron. The Zips hold a 36-20 advantage in the series, and have won each of the last six meetings between the two programs. WMU is 13-10 against Akron in Kalamazoo. 

EARLIER THIS SEASON
Back on Jan. 18 in Akron, Western Michigan held a 10-point lead with under three minutes to play, but the Zips ended the game on an 11-0 run to edge WMU, 74-73. B. Artis White paced the Broncos with a career-high 23 points, while Lamar Norman Jr. chipped in 19. Ali Ali led a trio of Akron players in double-figures with 18 points. 

SCOUTING THE ZIPS
Akron had won seven of its last eight games before falling to Kent State on Friday night. Four different Zips are averaging double-figures, led by Ali Ali's 13.6 points per game. Enrique Freeman is the lone player in the conference to be averaging a double-double, with his 13.2 points and league-leading 11.0 rebounds per game. Defensively, Akron is allowing 62.9 points per game, which is the lowest total in the conference. 

SCORIN' NORMAN
Western Michigan junior Lamar Norman Jr. sits atop the MAC at 20.1 points per game, and leads the conference in league play at 21.8 points per contest. His 25 points on Saturday extended his streak of double-digit scoring games to 22 in a row. Norman is the only player in the conference to have three 30+ point games, and his 13 games of 20+ points are tied for second in the conference. The Grand Rapids, Mich., native leads the league with 3.4 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 (2nd, 5.6) and field goal percentage (8th, .512). In MAC play, Hastings is third in the league at 10.2 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 (20.1), 21st in total points (482), 30th in made field goals (170), 10th in made threes per game (3.4) and 11th in total threes made (82). Hastings sits 33rd in rebounds per game (8.8), 28th in total rebounds (220) and 24th in offensive rebounds per game (3.2).

354 AND COUNTING
WMU has made at least one three-pointer in 354 straight games dating back to 2011. 

ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan hits the road on Saturday afternoon to take on Buffalo at 3:30 pm.