KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team returns to University Arena on Saturday afternoon as it welcomes Ball State to town for the first of the teams' two regular season meetings. 
 

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (8-13, 5-4 MAC) vs Ball State (11-10, 3-6)

Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 3 – 1 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 University Arena on Saturday for its first of two regular season meetings with Ball State.
• The Broncos are coming off of an 88-63 loss at Toledo on Tuesday evening.
• Titus Wright led the five WMU players in double-figures with 12 points.
• Tuesday marked the second time this season at least five Broncos scored 10 or more points in the same game.
• Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro handed out six assists against the Rockets and has 15 in his last two games.
• In MAC play, WMU leads the league in total rebounding (38.7), rebounding margin (+4.2) and offensive rebounding (12.6).
• Ball State holds a 71-68 edge in the all-time series between the two programs.
• Western Michigan is 45-23 all-time against the Cardinals in Kalamazoo.
• The Broncos snapped a five-game losing skid in the series with a 78-68 home win over BSU in last season's second meeting.

A BRIEF STOP AT HOME
Following its trip to Toledo on Tuesday, Western Michigan returns to University Arena to host Ball State on Saturday. After Saturday's contest, the Brown and Gold hit the road for their next three games. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos dropped their second straight contest on Tuesday night as they suffered an 88-63 setback at Toledo. Five players scored in double-figures for Western Michigan, led by Titus Wright, who netted 12 points. 

BALANCED BRONCOS
Five players scored in double-figures in Tuesday's loss at Toledo, led by Titus Wright's 12 points. Joining Wright in double-figures were Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro (11), JaVaughn Hannah (11), Anthony Crump (10) and Seth Hubbard (10).  Tuesday marked the second time this season Western Michigan has had at least five different players score 10 or more points and the seventh time it has had at least four tally double-digits.

CRUMP CRASHES THE BOARDS
Anthony Crump led the Broncos in rebounding for the sixth time on Tuesday as he secured eight boards against the Rockets. The graduate student forward ranks 11th in the MAC this season at 5.9 rebounds per game, just behind team leader Owen Lobsinger, who is ninth at 6.3. Crump has ramped up his rebounding efforts in conference games, having secured seven or more rebounds in six of WMU's nine league games, with both of his double-doubles coming against MAC foes. In conference play, he is seventh in overall rebounding (7.2) and defensive rebounding (5.2), and tied for seventh with 2.0 offensive rebounds per contest.

CLEANING THE GLASS
Led by the efforts of Crump and Lobsinger, Western Michigan sits atop the MAC in offensive rebounding (12.5/game) and offensive rebounding percentage (.343), while ranking second in overall rebounding (37.7) and fourth in rebounding margin (+2.6). In MAC play, the Broncos have upped their rebounding game to rank atop the conference in overall rebounding (38.7), rebounding margin (+4.2), offensive rebounding (12.6) and offensive rebounding percentage (.346).

SHARING IS CARING
After totaling 18 assists on Tuesday at Toledo, Western Michigan enters the weekend ranking second in the conference in assists per game (14.2) and tied with Miami for the top spot in conference play (15.2). The backcourt duo of Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro and B. Artis White has led the way for the Brown and Gold, with De La Cruz Monegro seventh (3.3) and White eighth (3.2) in the league. De La Cruz Monegro has been especially effective as of late, having had 15 assists in the last two games. Through nine league contests, his 3.9 assists are fifth-most, with White not far behind at 3.4 (8th). 

DIALING LONG DISTANCE
Led by Seth Hubbard's 2.5 three-pointers per game, second-most in the MAC, Western Michigan is tied for fourth in the league with 8.0 triples per contest. In conference play, Owen Lobsinger has been WMU's most efficient three-point shooter, having made 16-of-36 three's against league foes to rank eighth at 44.4 percent. The Broncos have made at least one three-pointer in 412 consecutive games dating back to 2011. 

DEFENDING THE DEEP BALL
After limiting Toledo to just four three-pointers on Tuesday night, the third straight game holding their opponent to five or fewer, the Broncos are tied with Buffalo for the fewest three's allowed (57) in conference play. MAC opponents are shooting 32.9 percent from downtown against Western Michigan.

SERIES HISTORY
WMU enters Saturday trailing 71-68 in the all-time series against Ball State. The home team has had the upper hand throughout the series, with the Broncos owning a 45-23 mark against the Cardinals in Kalamazoo. BSU had won five in a row in the series before a 78-68 home victory by Western Michigan in the second meeting last year. 

THE ROAD AHEAD
WMU hits the road for its next three games, starting on Tuesday night at Kent State.