NICEVILLE, Fla. – Western Michigan junior forward Owen Lobsinger netted a career-high 25 points on Saturday to help WMU erase a first-half deficit and rally past Mercer, 72-66, to win its bracket at the Emerald Coast Classic. It marks the first time the Broncos have won a non-conference tournament since the 2013 Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Rainbow Classic. 
 
Lobsinger's career-high 25 points, the highest single-game total by a Bronco thus far this season, came on 9-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-5 from three-point range. The nine made field goals and four three-pointers were also career bests for Lobsinger. Additionally, the junior paced Western Michigan (2-4) on the glass with eight rebounds.
 
Seth Hubbard capped his strong tournament with 17 points and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Throughout the three-game event, the sophomore average 19.7 points per contest on 55.8 percent shooting (24-for-43) and 50.0 percent (10-for-20) from beyond the arc. Hubbard hit the game-winning shot with 4.5 seconds remaining on Friday to lift Western Michigan to a 68-67 victory over Southeastern Louisiana.
 
After Mercer (2-4) scored the first basket of the afternoon, the Broncos answered with seven in a row to take a 7-2 advantage in the opening minutes of the contest. The Bears countered with a 19-3 surge to go up 21-10 at the 12:32 mark. MU's lead grew as large as 14, 32-18, before Western Michigan finished the first half with an 11-2 run to shrink the gap to 36-32 heading into halftime. Lobsinger tallied eight of WMU's points during the run, and finished the first half with 18 points.
 
Western Michigan continued its momentum into the second period, as it started out the half with a 13-3 run to move back in front, 45-41, with 13:10 remaining. The two squads proceeded to trade the lead back and forth for a large portion of the half, with the contest coming down to the wire for the second straight day for WMU.
 
After the Bears had just regained the advantage at 62-61 on the prior possession, JaVaughn Hannah grabbed an offensive rebound for the Broncos and was fouled, which led to a pair of free throws that put Western Michigan back on top, 63-62, with 3:37 to play. Hannah's free throws ignited an 8-0 run, which gave the Brown and Gold a 69-62 cushion in the final minute. WMU iced the game from there at the charity stripe. The Western Michigan defense limited Mercer to just one field goal over the final six minutes of the contest.
 
The Broncos had their best shooting day of the young season, as they posted season-best field goal (52.9 percent, 27-of-51) and three-point (53.8 percent, 7-of-13) percentages. Mercer made 45.3 percent (24-of-53) from the field for the afternoon. Lobsinger's team-leading eight rebounds and Anthony Crump's seven boards helped the Brown and Gold enjoy a 32-27 advantage on the glass.
 
Western Michigan returns to University Arena on Friday, Dec. 1, as it hosts St. Thomas. Tip off is scheduled for 5 pm. For tickets to any home WMU men's basketball game this season, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.