KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team continues its stretch of four out of five on the road on Thursday evening as it visits Cleveland State.
 

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (2-8) at Cleveland State (7-5)

Date/Time: Thursday, Dec. 21 – 6 pm

Site: Wolstein Center (Cleveland, Ohio)

Video: ESPN+

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Live Stats: csuvikings.com

OPENING TIP

• Western Michigan hits the road for its final game before the holiday break on Thursday as it visits Cleveland State. 
• The Broncos are coming off of an 89-68 loss at UIC on Saturday afternoon.
• In his WMU debut, Javonte Brown tallied 15 points and 11 rebound in 15 minutes.
• Brown's double-double was the first of his career and first by a Bronco this season. 
• He also became the first player to have a double-double in his WMU debut since Brandon Johnson on Nov. 11, 2016.
• Brown's presence helped WMU set season highs in both total rebounds (50) and offensive rebounds (24).
• Also in double-figures on Saturday for Western Michigan were Seth Hubbard (16) and Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro (12). 
• The Broncos and Vikings have met eight times prior to Thursday, with the all-time series knotted up at four wins apiece.
• Cleveland State came to Kalamazoo and beat the Broncos last year, 71-49.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Western Michigan continues its stretch of four out of five on the road on Thursday evening as it visits Cleveland State. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos are coming off of an 89-68 loss at UIC on Saturday afternoon. In his Western Michigan debut, Javonte Brown recorded 15 points and 11 rebounds for his first collegiate double-double. Joining Brown in double-figures were Seth Hubbard (16) and Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro (12).

IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Javonte Brown made an immediate impact for the Broncos in his debut, posting career highs in both points (15) and rebounds (11) for his first collegiate double-double. Brown's double-double was the first by a WMU player so far this season. The Texas A&M transfer also became the first Western Michigan player to record a double-double in his debut since true freshman Brandon Johnson posted 12 points and 14 rebounds in the 2016-17 season-opening win over Marygrove on Nov. 11, 2016.

CRASHING THE BOARDS
Western Michigan had a huge day on the glass against UIC, posting season highs in both total rebounds (50) and offensive rebounds (24) on the way to a plus-14 rebounding margin. In addition to Javonte Brown's career-high 11 boards, Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro nearly notched his first career double-double as well, as the sophomore snared a career-high nine rebounds. In total, six Broncos grabbed four or more rebounds against the Flames. 

ON THE OFFENSIVE
After leading the conference in offensive rebounding a season ago at 12.2 per game, Western Michigan has secured double-digit offensive rebounds in seven of its 10 games this season, including a season-high 24 on Saturday at UIC, to once again rank near the top of the league on the offensive glass. The Broncos are tied for second in the MAC at 12.6 offensive rebounds per contest, with Titus Wright's 2.8 offensive boards per game ranking fifth in the league. 

THE WRIGHT STUFF
Titus Wright has made at least 60.0 percent of his field goal attempts in seven of the season's first 10 games. After ranking fourth in the league in field goal percentage last season at 58.7 percent, the senior is currently 10th in the MAC with a 57.6 percent field goal percentage.

LENDING A HELPING HAND
Behind the combination of Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro and B. Artis White, the Broncos have two players in the top-11 in the conference in assists per game. De La Cruz Monegro is tied for eighth at 2.7 per game, while White is 11th at 2.6 per contest. 

DIALING LONG DISTANCE
WMU has made at least one three-pointer in 401 straight games dating back to 2011. 

WMU VS THE HORIZON LEAGUE
Western Michigan has played at least one Horizon League opponent for eight straight seasons, its longest current streak against another conference. Over the course of those eight seasons, the Broncos are 9-10 against Horizon League foes. WMU lost at home to Youngstown State back on Dec. 9. 

SERIES HISTORY
Thursday's tilt marks the ninth all-time meeting between Western Michigan and Cleveland State. By virtue of last season's win in Kalamazoo, the Vikings tied up the overall series at four wins apiece. WMU is 0-2 in Cleveland against CSU, with its last visit coming on Dec. 7, 2016, in a game that was played at then-named Quicken Loans Arena, home of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Mid-American Conference Tournament. 

WHEN LAST WE MET
The Broncos and Vikings met last season at University Arena with CSU coming away with a 71-49 victory. Western Michigan struggled from the floor in the contest as it was held to 37.3 percent shooting. 

LOOKING AHEAD
Western Michigan returns to University Arena for its final game of the calendar year on Dec. 29 as it hosts Aquinas.