KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team returns to University Arena for the first time in 2023 on Tuesday evening as it hosts Eastern Michigan. 

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (4-11, 0-2 MAC) vs Eastern Michigan (4-11, 1-1 MAC)

Date/Time: Tuesday, Jan. 10 – 7 pm

Site: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)

Tickets: wmubroncos.com/tickets

Video: ESPN+

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Live Stats: StatBroadcast

OPENING TIP

• Western Michigan returns to University Arena for the first time in 2023 on Tuesday as it welcomes in Eastern Michigan.
• The Broncos have played just one home game over the last month, a 61-41 win over Siena Heights back on Dec. 21.
• Western Michigan is coming off of a 102-74 loss at Toledo on Friday night.
• Markeese Hastings grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds, the first Bronco to have a 20-rebound game since Seth Dugan on March 2, 2019 against Ball State.
• Hastings is one of eight players in NCAA DI with a 20-rebound game this season.
• The Broncos lead the Mid-American Conference in both rebounding margin (+8.3) and offensive rebounding (12.4). 
• Western Michigan holds a 63-58 edge in the all-time series against EMU, including a 31-18 mark in Kalamazoo. 
• The Broncos and Eagles split the two meetings last season, with each team winning on the other's home floor. 

WELCOME HOME
Western Michigan returns to University Arena for the first time in 2023 on Tuesday night as it hosts Eastern Michigan. WMU has played at home just once in the last month, a 61-41 win over Siena Heights on Dec. 21.

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos are coming off of a 102-74 setback on the road at Toledo on Friday night at Savage Arena. Four players scored in double-figures for Western Michigan, led by Titus Wright, who tied his career high with 18 points. Markeese Hastings reeled in a career-high 20 rebounds against the Rockets.

CLEANING THE GLASS
Markeese Hastings set a new career high with 20 rebounds on Friday night at Toledo. The Grand Rapids, Mich., native is the first Bronco to notch a 20-rebound performance since Seth Dugan had 20 on March 2, 2019 against Ball State. Hastings is one of eight players in NCAA DI to have a 20-rebound performance this season, and joins Chattanooga's Jake Stephens as the only two players from a mid-major program to do so. 

BALANCED BRONCOS
Four different players scored in double-figures for WMU in Friday's setback, as Titus Wright had 18, Tray Maddox Jr. added 16, JaVaughn Hannah netted 14 and Lamar Norman Jr. tallied 13. Western Michigan has had four or more players score in double-figures five different times this season, and is two shy of the national lead with a total of 11 different players having scored in double-figures in at least one game this season. 

BRONCOS VS IN-STATE FOES
Eastern Michigan will be the third in-state opponent of the season for the Broncos. Western Michigan has started 2-0 against teams from around the state this season, and has won four straight overall against in-state foes.

WMU VS EMU
Tuesday's contest marks the 122nd all-time meeting between WMU and EMU, with the Broncos leading the all-time series, 63-58. Western Michigan holds a 31-18 mark against the Eagles in Kalamazoo. 

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Eastern Michigan is coming off of its first MAC win of the season, a 62-56 victory over CMU on Saturday. The Eagles are led by Emoni Bates, who heads into Tuesday atop the MAC in scoring (20.7 PPG) and tied for sixth in the league in rebounding (6.0 RPG).

CRASHING THE BOARDS
After finishing near the bottom of the league in most rebounding categories last season, the Broncos have turned it around to lead the MAC in both rebounding margin (+8.3) and offensive rebounding (12.4) and rank third in overall rebounding (38.3). Western Michigan's rebounding margin is also currently ranked 13th in the nation. 

MAKING HIS MARK
Leading the way for Western Michigan on the glass has been Markeese Hastings, whose 20-rebound performance on Friday against Toledo was his ninth double-digit rebounding game of the season. The redshirt junior ranks in the top-5 in the league in total rebounds (2nd, 10.1), defensive rebounds (2nd, 6.9) and offensive rebounds (4th, 3.1). 

SCORIN' NORMAN
Lamar Norman Jr. tallied 13 points at Toledo on Friday, marking the 41st time in 44 games as a Bronco he has reached double-figures. The senior has led Western Michigan in scoring 33 times during his tenure in the Brown & Gold, including eight times this season. He is tied for eighth in the MAC in scoring at 17.0 points per game.  

LONG-RANGE LAMAR
Lamar Norman Jr. leads the MAC with 44 three-pointers and is second with an average of 3.1 per game. The senior's 3.1 per game average is 20th nationally, while is 44 total triples ranks 49th in the nation.

375 AND COUNTING
WMU hit eight three-pointers at Toledo and has now made at least one three-pointer in 375 straight games dating back to 2011. 

HALFTIME LEADS TURN INTO W'S
The Broncos own a 53-20 record over the last five seasons when leading at halftime.

ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan is back at home again on Saturday as it welcomes Bowling Green to University Arena for the two teams' lone meeting of the regular season.