KALAMAZOO, Mich. – After winning its bracket at the Emerald Coast Classic last weekend, the Western Michigan men's basketball team returns to University Arena on Friday evening as it hosts St. Thomas. 
 

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (2-4) vs St. Thomas (3-4)

Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 1 – 5 pm

Site: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)

Tickets: wmubroncos.com/tickets

Video: ESPN+

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Live Stats: StatBroadcast

OPENING TIP

• After playing its last four away from home, Western Michigan returns to University Arena on Friday to face St. Thomas.
• The Broncos picked up victories over Southeastern Louisiana and Mercer to win their bracket at the Emerald Coast Classic.
• It marked the first time WMU had won a non-conference event of any type since it went 3-0 to win the USF Invitational in Tampa during the 2012-13 campaign. 
• In the win over Mercer, Owen Lobsinger went off for a career-high 25 points.
• Seth Hubbard added 17 points and has scored in double-figures in all six games.
• Hubbard is tied for sixth in the MAC in scoring at 17.2 points per game.
• WMU set season highs in field goal (52.9) and three-point percentage (53.8).
• The Broncos and Tommies are meeting for the first time ever on Friday night.
• Western Michigan is 0-1 against the Summit League this season, having fallen to North Dakota State in the season opener.

WELCOME HOME
After winning the final two games of its four-game trip, Western Michigan returns home on Friday evening to host St. Thomas. Friday marks the first of three home games for the Broncos in the month of December.

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos finished their trip to Florida with a second consecutive win, knocking off Mercer 72-66 on Saturday afternoon to win its bracket at the Emerald Coast Classic. Western Michigan trailed by as many as 14 in the first half, but closed out the opening period with an 11-2 run and then had a 13-3 stretch in the early stages of the second half in the come-from-behind victory. Owen Lobsinger led the way with a career-high 25 points, while Seth Hubbard chipped in 17.

SUNSHINE STATE SUCCESS
Western Michigan's win on Saturday over Mercer was the team's fourth consecutive win in the Sunshine State, going back to the FGCU Invitational down in Fort Myers during the 2021-22 season. By winning its bracket at the Emerald Coast Classic, it also marked the first time the Broncos had won a non-conference event of any type since going 3-0 at the USF Invitational in Tampa during the 2012-13 season. 

OWEN'S OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
Owen Lobsinger exploded for a career-high 25 points in Saturday's win over Mercer. The junior went 9-for-16 from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point range, with both the nine field goals and four triples also marking new career highs. Lobsinger scored in double-figures in both games down in Florida and has had at least 11 points in three of his last five games after scoring in double-digits just four times in his first two seasons at WMU. 

SHOOTING THE LIGHTS OUT
Western Michigan had its best shooting game of the season thus far on Saturday, as it set season highs in both overall field goal percentage (52.9%, 27-51) and three-point percentage (53.8%, 7-13). It is the first time WMU has made more than 50.0 percent of its field goals and three's since Jan. 14 of last season in a 108-92 win over Bowling Green. 

THE WRIGHT STUFF
On Saturday, Titus Wright became the 11th player in program history to start at least 100 games. The senior marked the occasion with eight points, all in the second half, in the comeback win over Mercer. Wright is sixth in the MAC in field goal percentage and fourth in offensive rebounding (2.8). 

HOT-HAND HUBBARD
Seth Hubbard got hot down the stretch at the end of last season and it has carried over to the start of the new season, as he's scored in double-figures in each of the first six games. The sophomore tallied 17 points on Saturday against Mercer and has scored in double-figures in 10 of his last 14 games going back to 2022-23. This season, Hubbard is tied for sixth in the MAC in scoring at 17.2 points per game and tied for first in made three's per game at 3.0.

LENDING A HELPING HAND
Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro handed out 10 assists on Nov. 14 at Northwestern, the first double-digit assist performance by a Bronco since Thomas Wilder had 10 at Washington back on Dec. 18, 2016. De La Cruz Monegro is one of two MAC players (Giovanni Santiago, Kent State) to have a double-digit assist performance this season. He ranks fifth in the MAC in assists (4.2) and tied for fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8). 

HEATING UP FROM DOWNTOWN
Western Michigan made over 50.0 percent of its three's in both games down in Florida and is now hitting 39.4 percent from downtown and 9.0 three's per game, both second-best in the MAC. WMU has made at least one three-pointer in 397 straight games. 

SERIES HISTORY
Friday's contest marks the first-ever meeting between Western Michigan and St. Thomas. The Tommies are WMU's second opponent out of the Summit League this season, with the Broncos having fallen to North Dakota State in overtime on opening night. 

ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan hits the road on Tuesday evening to face Notre Dame at 7 pm.