YPSILANTI, Mich. – Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan had seven lead changes in the second half, but EMU ultimately came out on top, 66-59, on Tuesday evening at George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti.
 
Lamar Norman Jr. netted a game-high 18 points for the Broncos (7-21, 3-12 MAC), while Seth Hubbard (15) and Tray Maddox Jr. (13) were also in double-figures. Markeese Hastings and Titus Wright nabbed a team-high seven rebounds apiece to help WMU win the rebounding battle, 33-31.
 
Five straight points by Norman started a 9-0 run which gave WMU a 14-4 advantage at the 12:50 mark of the first half. Eastern Michigan (7-21, 4-11) tallied the next five points, but a Maddox three-pointer with 7:32 remaining in the period put the Broncos back on top by 10, 22-12.
 
The Eagles used a seven-point burst to get back to within three, 24-21, with three minutes to go in the half. After a Hubbard three-pointer briefly boosted WMU's edge back to six, 27-21, Eastern Michigan tallied seven of the final eight points of the period to send the game into the break all even at 28-28.  
 
Maddox buried a triple to start the second half for the Broncos, but EMU notched the next eight points to grab its first lead of the night, 36-31, with 17:38 to play. Western Michigan countered with seven consecutive points to regain a 42-40 edge at the 13:40 mark.  
 
Eastern Michigan briefly went back ahead, 46-43, but the Broncos used a 10-2 spurt to go right back in front, 53-48, with 8:50 remaining. The Eagles countered with a 10-2 stretch of their own to take a 58-55 lead with three minutes left in the contest. Western Michigan got back to within one a couple of times and had a chance to regain the lead, but EMU held on to seal the win.
 
WMU was limited to 39.7 percent shooting (23-of-58) for the evening, while Eastern Michigan connected on 44.2 percent (23-of-52) of its field goal attempts.
 
Western Michigan heads to Akron for its final road game of the regular season on Saturday night. The Broncos and Zips are set for a 7 pm tip on ESPN3.
 
WMU returns to University Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 28, as it hosts Miami at 7 pm. To purchase tickets to any Western Michigan men's basketball home game this season, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.