KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team opened up its 2024-25 home schedule with an 86-46 victory over Davenport on Thursday night at University Arena.
 
The WMU defense limited the Panthers to 17 first-half points, the fewest in a half for an opponent since the Broncos limited Siena Heights to eight first-half points on Dec. 21, 2022. Western Michigan forced Davenport into 21 turnovers, the most for the Brown and Gold since turning Marygrove over 24 times on Nov. 11, 2016.
 
Five players scored in double-figures for the Broncos (1-1), led by Brandon Muntu's career-high 17 points. Max Burton and JaVaughn Hannah contributed 13 points apiece, and the duo of EJ Ryans and Markhi Strickland each tallied 10. Burton and Ryans' totals were both career highs.
 
The Broncos assisted on 27 of their 32 field goals, the second-highest, single-game assist total in program history. Ryans led the way with a career-high seven helpers, Owen Lobsinger notched a career-high six, and Hannah and Strickland picked up four apiece.  WMU also enjoyed a 43-34 advantage on the glass. Seryee Lewis secured a career-high 10 rebounds and Lobsinger added nine for the Brown and Gold.
 
Western Michigan jumped on Davenport quickly, tallying the first 10 points of the night. After DU made its first basket of the contest at the 16:02 mark, the Broncos held the visitors off of the scoreboard for the next eight minutes. During that stretch, WMU ripped off another 16 consecutive points to open up a 26-2 advantage. The Brown and Gold notched the final five points of the period to get the halftime lead to 25, 42-17, matching the largest margin of the opening stanza.
 
WMU's run continued after the intermission, as it scored the first 16 points of the second half to make it a 21-0 surge which grew the margin to 58-17. An 8-0 run, which culminated with a Lewis dunk, got Western Michigan to its largest lead of the night, 74-23.
 
The Broncos shot 51.6 percent (32-of-62) from the field, and hit 40.7 percent (11-of-27) from three-point range. WMU held Davenport to 32.7 percent (18-of-55) from the floor, and 18.2 percent from beyond the arc (4-of-22).
 
Western Michigan hits the road on Monday evening to take on Butler. Tip is set for 7 pm, and the game will be televised nationally on FS1.