BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team took a five-point lead into halftime, but Buffalo scored the first 11 points after the intermission to spark an 18-3 run which put the Bulls ahead for good in an eventual 87-73 win over the Broncos on Saturday at UB's Alumni Arena.
 
Lamar Norman Jr. paced Western Michigan (6-21, 2-14) in scoring for the 22nd time this season with 23 points. It was the 14th 20+ point game of the season for Norman, and extended the junior's double-digit scoring streak to 24 in a row.
 
Mileek McMillan (12) and Markeese Hastings (11) joined Norman in double-figures. For McMillan, it was his sixth consecutive game with double-digit points. Hastings added a team-high eight rebounds. Gus Etchison handed out a team-leading four assists for WMU.
 
With Buffalo (16-8, 10-4) holding a 9-6 edge, the Broncos rattled off 13 in a row to seize a 19-9 advantage with just over 12 minutes remaining in the opening period. During the run, Western Michigan held the Bulls scoreless for six minutes. Leading 21-13, WMU ripped off another eight straight points to push the margin out to 29-13 with 6:55 to go in the half.
 
The Bulls countered with a 16-4 stretch, shrinking the WMU lead to 33-29 before an Adrian Martin three-pointer halted the run at the 1:51 mark. UB got as close as three in the final minute, but Josiah Freeman hit a short jumper just before the horn sounded to send the Broncos into the break with a 38-33 edge.
 
Buffalo scored the first 11 points after the break to move ahead for the first time since the opening minutes of the contest. The 11 straight points were part of an extended 18-3 surge, which put the Bulls on top, 51-41, with 14:25 to play. WMU trimmed the gap to seven on several occasions, but UB used a 13-1 run to boost the margin to 71-52 at the 8:15 mark.
 
The Broncos hit a trio of three-pointers as part of an 11-1 run to get back to within nine, 80-71, with 3:15 on the clock, but Western Michigan could not get any closer in the game's final minutes.
 
WMU made 50.9 percent (29-of-57) of its field goal attempts, including 10 three-pointers. Buffalo shot 48.5 percent (32-of-66) for the contest, and 65.5 percent (21-of-32) in the second half.
 
Western Michigan returns to University Arena on Tuesday evening as it takes on Toledo at 7 pm. Fans can purchase tickets here. The game is also set to be broadcast 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.