EVANSTON, Ill. – Facing a double-digit deficit in the early stages of the second half, the Western Michigan men's basketball team fought back to bring the game even, but eventually fell, 63-59, at Northwestern on Tuesday evening.  
 
Northwestern (3-0) held a 35-28 advantage at halftime and scored the first five points after the intermission to grab its largest lead of the night, 40-28. The Broncos (0-3) slowly chipped away at the deficit, and then ran off eight in a row, punctuated by a JaVaughn Hannah triple, to get to within one, 44-43, with 12 minutes remaining. During the run, WMU held the Wildcats without a point for nearly four minutes.
 
The hosts boosted the margin back to six, 53-47, with 8:14 to play, but Western Michigan responded with a 7-1 run, tying the game at 54-54 on a Titus Wright layup with 4:18 remaining. The Wildcats responded with a three-pointer on their next possession to start a five-point spurt, and held off the Broncos down the stretch to escape WMU's upset bid.
 
Seth Hubbard led the Broncos with 17 points on the night, giving him double-digit points in all three games so far this season. WMU enjoyed a 43-21 rebounding advantage, including a 17-4 edge on the offensive glass, with the team's efforts on the glass spearheaded by Anthony Crump's game-high nine rebounds. Hubbard tied his career high with seven boards, and both Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro and Wright snagged six apiece.
 
De La Cruz Monegro also notched 10 assists, a new career high. Tuesday's game marked the first 10+ assist performance by a Bronco since Thomas Wilder handed out 10 at Washington on Dec. 18, 2016.
 
Western Michigan got out to a quick start, with Hubbard and Owen Lobsinger both connecting on three-pointers in the first minute and change to put the visitors up 6-0. Northwestern answered with the next seven, only to see the Broncos respond with another six straight, giving the Brown and Gold a 12-7 edge at the 12:38 mark.
 
Just past the midway point of the half, the Wildcats used an 8-0 run to take a 20-16 lead. The hosts did not relinquish the advantage for the remainder of the period, and took a 35-28 cushion into the halftime locker room.
 
For the night, WMU shot 41.5 percent (22-of-53) from the field and made eight three-pointers. Northwestern connected on 45.1 percent (23-of-51) of its field goal attempts, but was limited to just 23.1 percent (6-for-26) from long-distance.
 
The Broncos continue their trip through Big Ten country on Sunday afternoon, as they travel to Ohio State for an Emerald Coast Classic campus game. Tip between WMU and OSU is slated for 4 pm on Big Ten Network.