KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team fell at home to Mid-American Conference co-leader Kent State, 82-58, on Tuesday evening at University Arena.
 
Lamar Norman Jr. paced the Western Michigan offense with 17 points for the evening. Tray Maddox Jr. was also in double-figures with 10 points, while Seth Hubbard chipped in nine points off of the bench for the Broncos (6-20, 2-11 MAC). Titus Wright tallied seven points and a team-high six rebounds.  
 
Norman hit a three-pointer to get the evening started for Western Michigan, but Kent State (21-5, 11-2) tallied the next seven points to begin a 12-3 stretch which put the visitors on top, 12-6, six minutes into the contest. Leading 17-12, the Golden Flashes then ripped off 13 consecutive points as part of a 20-2 surge which extended the cushion to 37-14 at the 5:29 mark.
 
After a six-point Western Michigan response, Kent State notched 13 of the final 16 points of the opening period to head into the break with a 50-23 advantage.
 
Near the midway point of the second half, KSU built its lead to 72-36. The Broncos then used a 15-0 run, capped by a Hubbard slam, to cut the deficit to 72-51 with 6:21 to play. WMU kept Kent State from scoring for nearly five minutes during the run.
 
Western Michigan could not get any closer for the remainder of the contest. The Broncos outscored the Golden Flashes, 35-32, and held the visitors to 38.5 percent (10-of-26) from the field in the second half.
 
WMU connected on 21-of-49 (42.9 percent) of its shots for the evening, while Kent State made 31-of-64 (48.4 percent) from the field.
 
The Broncos continue their homestand on Saturday afternoon as Ball State comes to town. Saturday is a doubleheader at University Arena, with the WMU women's team taking on Bowling Green at noon, followed by the men's game against BSU at 2:30 pm. To purchase tickets to any Western Michigan men's basketball home game this season, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.