MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team began a three-game road trip with a 65-55 setback against Central Michigan on Thursday evening at McGuirk Arena.
 
Lamar Norman Jr. paced Western Michigan (4-18, 0-11) in scoring for the 17th time this season, netting 18 points. The 18 points extended the junior's double-digit scoring streak to 19 games in a row. Mileek McMillan was the lone other Bronco to reach double-figures, as he chipped in 10 points.  
 
Markeese Hastings hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds to notch his eighth double-digit rebounding performance of the campaign. The redshirt sophomore has collected 10 or more boards in four of the last five games. Defensively, B. Artis White nabbed four steals to tie his career high.
 
Western Michigan got a pair of three-pointers in the early going from Josiah Freeman, and opened up a 10-2 lead over the first four-and-a-half minutes of the contest. During the run, the Bronco defense held Central Michigan (5-13, 4-3) without a point for six minutes, and without a field goal for nearly seven minutes.
 
CMU used a 10-3 spurt to get back to within a point, 15-14. On the ensuing WMU possession, Gus Etchison grabbed an offensive rebound in traffic, and moments later canned a triple to put the Broncos ahead 18-14 with 5:09 remaining in the half. Central Michigan worked it back down to a one-point cushion late in the half, but Norman buried a three-pointer in the final minute to send Western Michigan into the locker room with a 28-24 advantage.
 
Norman netted five points in the early stages of the second period to help the Broncos build a 33-28 edge with 17:36 left to play. WMU then endured a scoring drought of its own, and the Chippewas took the opportunity to draw level, 33-33, with 13:52 on the clock. White got Western Michigan back in front with a jumper, and McMillan then threw down a thunderous dunk to make it a 37-34 lead for the Broncos at the 12:39 mark.
 
Central Michigan responded with an 8-0 run to move in front for the first time, 42-37, with 10:50 remaining. White stopped the run with a triple, but the Chippewas came right back with a three-pointer of their own on the next possession. With 8:18 to go, McMillan converted an old-fashioned three-point play to bring WMU back within two, 46-44. CMU countered with an 8-2 run, and the Broncos got no closer than six the rest of the way.
 
Western Michigan made 19-of-49 (36.8 percent) from the floor in the contest, while CMU connected on 19-of-38 (50.0 percent) of its field goals.
 
The Broncos held a 9-4 edge on the offensive glass, leading to a 10-2 advantage in second-chance points.
 
Western Michigan continues its three-game road trip on Saturday afternoon as it visits Ohio for a 2 pm tilt. The game is slated 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.