KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team wraps up its three-game homestand on Wednesday night as it welcomes South Dakota to University Arena.
 

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (2-3) vs South Dakota (4-1)

Date/Time: Wednesday, Nov. 20 – 7 pm

Site: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)

Tickets: wmubroncos.com/tickets

Video: ESPN+

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Live Stats: StatBroadcast

OPENING TIP

• Western Michigan wraps up a three-game homestand on Wednesday night as it welcomes South Dakota to Kalamazoo.
• The Broncos are coming off of a 92-69 win over Canisius on Sunday afternoon to wrap up the Bronco Classic.
• After falling behind 13-4 early, Western Michigan ripped off a 21-0 run and held Canisius scoreless for 10 minutes.
• WMU set season highs in points (92), points in a half (51), made field goals (38), field goal percentage (63.3) and three-point percentage (43.5) in the victory.
• Five players scored in double-figures for Western Michigan, led by Markhi Strickland's career-high 15 points.
• WMU leads the MAC in both fewest turnovers per game and turnover margin.
• South Dakota is the first of three Summit League opponents for WMU this season.
• Wednesday night's contest marks the first-ever meeting between the Broncos and the Coyotes. 

HOMESTAND COMING TO A CLOSE
Western Michigan closes out its three-game homestand on Wednesday night as it welcomes South Dakota to University Arena. Wednesday's tilt will be followed by four consecutive road games for the Broncos, who are not scheduled for another home game until Dec. 20 against Valparaiso.

LAST TIME OUT
WMU is coming off of a 92-69 win over Canisius on Sunday to wrap up the Bronco Classic. After falling behind 13-4 in the early stages of the contest, Western Michigan went on a 21-0 run, during which it held the Golden Griffins scoreless for more than 10 minutes. Following the run, the Brown and Gold led by no fewer than nine for the rest of the afternoon. Five Broncos scored in double-figures, led by Markhi Strickland's career-high 15 points.

OFFENSE CATCHES FIRE
The Western Michigan offense had 24 assists in the victory, tied for the third-most in a single game in program history. Sunday afternoon also saw WMU set new season highs in points (92), points in a half (51), made field goals (38), field goal percentage (63.3) and three-point percentage (43.5).

BALANCED BRONCOS
For the second time this season, Western Michigan had five players score in double-figures in Sunday's victory over Canisius. Markhi Strickland led the way with a career-high 15 points, JaVaugh Hannah, Owen Lobsinger and Brandon Muntu had 14 apiece, and Seryee Lewis went a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor to net 13 points. Through the season's first five games, four Broncos are averaging double-digit points, Hannah (12.0 PPG), Lobsinger (11.0), Donovan Williams (10.5) and Strickland (10.2).

SHARING IS CARING
The Broncos had 24 assists on their 38 made field goals on Sunday, tied for the third-most in a single game in program history. It marked the second-highest total for Western Michigan this season, which totaled 27 helpers in the win over Davenport in the Home Opener. Six players had at least two assists and four had three or more, with Marquese Josephs' career-high seven leading the way. 

PROTECTING THE ROCK
In Sunday's win, Western Michigan committed seven turnovers, the fourth time in the first five games the Brown and Gold have recorded single-digit miscues. For the season, the Broncos are atop the Mid-American Conference and ninth in the nation in fewest turnovers per game, with 8.4. WMU also leads the MAC with a +4.0 turnover margin.

OWEN-ING THE GLASS
Owen Lobsinger nearly picked up his first double-double of the season on Sunday, as he tallied 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds. The senior forward is once again leading Western Michigan in rebounding this season, and is currently third in the conference with an average of 7.8 per game.

WMU VS THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
Wednesday's contest against South Dakota is the first of three games this season for the Broncos against teams from the Summit League. Western Michigan is scheduled to face St. Thomas (Dec. 13) and North Dakota State (Dec. 15) later in the non-conference slate. A conference WMU has rarely matched up against in recent years, the last win for the Brown and Gold over a Summit League foe was the 72-71 overtime win over NDSU in the first round of the 2013 CBI.

SERIES HISTORY
The Broncos and Coyotes are meeting for the first time ever on Wednesday night.

SCOUTING THE COYOTES
South Dakota comes into Wednesday night 4-1, with all four wins coming at home. Like the Broncos, the Coyotes have featured a balanced scoring attack, with six players averaging at least eight points per game. USD has been very adept at getting to the free throw line, averaging a league-leading 25.2 free throw attempts per game.

THE ROAD AHEAD
Western Michigan begins a stretch of four straight road games next Wednesday with a trip to Youngstown State.