KALAMAZOO, Mich. – After picking up a pair of road wins to start MAC play last week, the Western Michigan men's basketball team returns home on Tuesday night to take on NIU.

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (5-9, 2-0 MAC) vs NIU (6-8, 0-2)

Date/Time: Tuesday, Jan. 9 – 7 pm

Site: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)

Tickets: wmubroncos.com/tickets

Video: ESPN+

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Live Stats: StatBroadcast

OPENING TIP

• Western Michigan returns to Kalamazoo this week for its first two MAC home games, starting on Tuesday against NIU.
• WMU is 2-0 in the MAC for the first time since 2017-18, and is looking to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2008-09.
• The Broncos made it a 2-0 road trip on Saturday as they won at Buffalo, 82-77.
• The win snapped a 10-game slide against the Bulls for Western Michigan, who won in Buffalo for the first time since 2010.
• Seth Hubbard led WMU in scoring for the fifth straight game with 19 points.
• Anthony Crump posted his first double-double as a Bronco (10 points, 10 boards).
• Western Michigan is once again atop the conference in offensive rebounding at 12.4 offensive boards per contest.
• The Broncos own a 62-38 advantage in the all-time series with the Huskies.
• NIU has won three straight against Western Michigan, including wins in Kalamazoo each of the last two seasons. 

HOMEWARD BOUND
After starting MAC play with a pair of road wins, Western Michigan returns to University Arena for its first two league home games of the campaign this week. The Broncos are set to host Northern Illinois on Tuesday evening and Ohio on Saturday afternoon. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos improved to 2-0 in league play on Saturday as they picked up an 82-77 win at Buffalo, ending a 10-game slide against the Bulls and nabbing their first win in Buffalo since 2010. Seth Hubbard tallied 19 points to lead WMU in scoring for the fifth consecutive game. Anthony Crump posted 10 points and 10 rebounds to secure his first double-double for the Brown and Gold. 

BUCKING THE TRENDS
With its two road wins last week, Western Michigan is 2-0 to start conference play for the first time since 2017-18 and has won its first two MAC road games for the first time since the 2004-05 campaign. A win on Tuesday would see WMU begin the conference schedule 3-0 for the first time since 2008-09.

BALANCED BRONCOS
For the third consecutive game, each Bronco who saw action made his way onto the scoresheet, as all nine tallied at least four points. Western Michigan's team effort was evident on the glass as well, as each grabbed at least one rebound. Eight of the nine tallied at least one assist in the victory. 

DOUBLE TROUBLE
Anthony Crump posted his first double-double as a Bronco on Saturday as he collected 10 points and 10 rebounds. Crump is the third different WMU player to register a double-double this season, joining Javonte Brown, who had 15 points and 11 rebounds at UIC, and Owen Lobsinger, who notched 14 points and 11 rebounds at Cleveland State.

SUPER SOPHOMORE
Seth Hubbard led the Brown and Gold in scoring for the fifth consecutive game on Saturday, tallying 19 points. The sophomore has led Western Michigan in scoring eight times so far this season and been in double-figures in 12 of WMU's 14 games. Hubbard ranks seventh in the league in scoring at 16.6 points per game, and is second in the MAC in three's with 2.7 makes per game.

SHARING IS CARING
WMU totaled 22 assists on its 32 made field goals in Saturday's win at Buffalo. B. Artis White led the way with six, his third straight game with five or more helpers. Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro and JaVaughn Hannah added four apiece, with Hannah's four assists establishing a new career high. As a team, Western Michigan ranks third in the conference at 14.1 assists per game, with both White (5th, 3.4) and De La Cruz Monegro (8th, 2.9) among the league leaders. 

CRASHING THE BOARDS
After leading the MAC in offensive rebounding a season ago at 12.2 per game, Western Michigan is right back at the top of the league this season, averaging 12.4 offensive boards per contest. WMU has won the overall rebounding battle in five straight contests to climb into second in the conference in overall rebounding at 37.2 per game. 

DIALING LONG DISTANCE
After hitting 10 triples on Saturday, Western Michigan has hit at least one three-pointer in 405 straight games dating back to 2011. 

SERIES HISTORY
Western Michigan enters Tuesday's contest with a 62-38 lead in the all-time series against Northern Illinois, including a 39-10 advantage in Kalamazoo. NIU has won three straight against the Broncos, including wins in Kalamazoo each of the last two seasons.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
NIU opened conference play with a pair of losses, most recently dropping Saturday's game at Ohio. The Huskies boast two of the MAC's top-10 scorers in David Coit (18.1 PPG, 6th) and Zarique Nutter (15.2, 10th), as well as the league's second-leading shot-blocker in Yanic Konan Niederhauser (2.0). 

ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan is at home again on Saturday afternoon as it hosts Ohio at noon.