KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team begins its run at the 2024 Mid-American Conference Tournament on Thursday evening as it takes on No. 3 seed Ohio in the quarterfinals at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. 
 

GAME INFO

Matchup: No. 6 Western Michigan (12-19, 9-9 MAC) vs. No. 3 Ohio (19-12, 13-5)

Date/Time: Thursday, March 14 – Approx. 6:30 pm (will start 30 mins. after the conclusion of QF #3)

Site: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (Cleveland, Ohio)

Video: ESPN+

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Live Stats: SIDEARM

OPENING TIP

• No. 6 seed Western Michigan begins its MAC Tournament run on Thursday with a quarterfinal matchup against No. 3 Ohio.
• WMU is in the tournament for the first time since 2019-20 and making its first appearance in Cleveland since 2016-17.
• The Broncos are 24-35 all-time in the MAC Tournament with two titles (2004, 2014).
• Western Michigan sealed a spot in the MAC Tournament with a 90-84 victory over Akron on Senior Night.
• Five players tallied double-digit points, led by B. Artis White's 23 points.
• WMU's JaVaughn Hannah was named the MAC Sixth Man of the Year on Wednesday.
• B. Artis White earned All-MAC Honorable Mention for the second time in his career.
• Ohio holds a 73-67 lead in the all-time series, including a 6-2 advantage when facing WMU in the MAC Tournament. 
• The Broncos held off a late Bobcats' run to take the only regular season meeting, 81-79, back on Jan. 13 in Kalamazoo. 

TOURNEY TIME
No. 6 seed Western Michigan is set to begin MAC Tournament play on Thursday as it faces No. 3 seed Ohio in the fourth and final quarterfinal of the day. The winner between the Broncos and Bobcats will face the winner of No. 2 Akron and No. 7 Miami in Friday night's second semifinal for a berth in Saturday's championship game. 

MAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Broncos are making their 36th all-time appearance in the MAC Tournament, in which they hold a 24-35 all-time mark. WMU's last appearance was in the first round of the 2019-20 conference tournament, which it lost at No. 7 Toledo. This marks the first year Western Michigan has reached Cleveland since 2016-17. The Brown and Gold are searching for their first berth in the semifinals since they won their second MAC Tournament title in 2014. 

MAC AWARDS
The Mid-American Conference announced its specialty awards and All-Conference teams on Wednesday, with JaVaughn Hannah earning the Sixth Man of the Year award and B. Artis White earning All-MAC Honorable Mention. Hannah is the third Bronco to ever earn the Sixth Man of the Year award, joining Reggie Barry (2004) and David Brown (2013). White was an Honorable Mention honoree for the second time in his career. 

LAST TIME OUT
Trailing by as many as 17 late in the first half last Friday night, the Broncos outscored Akron 59-39 in the second half to register a 90-84 comeback victory on Senior Night to punch their ticket to the MAC Tournament. Five players scored in double-figures for Western Michigan, led by B. Artis White, who poured in a game-high 23 points. 

BALANCED BRONCOS
For the fourth time this season, Western Michigan had five players score in double-figures in Friday's victory over Akron. B. Artis White led the way with 23 points, Javonte Brown tallied 16, Seth Hubbard and Titus Wright chipped in 13 points apiece and JaVaughn Hannah added 12. 

CLEANING THE GLASS
Led by Anthony Crump and Owen Lobsinger, who tied for ninth in the league at 6.3 rebounds per game, Western Michigan ranks second in the MAC in overall rebounding (37.7), third in rebounding margin (+2.8) and leads the conference in offensive rebounding (12.6). The 12.6 offensive rebounds per game rank 34th in NCAA DI. In conference play, WMU led the league in rebounding margin (+4.6) and offensive rebounding (12.8) and was second overall at 38.8. 

SHARING IS CARING
Both B. Artis White and Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro were among the league leaders in assists all year long, with White ranking seventh at 3.3 per game and De La Cruz Monegro eighth at 3.1. In conference play, White bumped his average to 3.5 (6th), while De La Cruz Monegro was 10th at 3.2. 

DIALING LONG DISTANCE
Western Michigan is the lone MAC team to have two players averaging 2.0 or more three-pointers per game, with Seth Hubbard fourth at 2.3 and B. Artis White eighth at 2.1. WMU has made at least one three-pointer in 422 straight games dating back to 2011. 

THE WRIGHT STUFF
Already WMU's all-time leader in games played (141), Titus Wright is poised to tie Joe Reitz's all-time record for games started on Thursday with the 126th of his career. 

CLIMBING THE LADDER
With his five triples last Friday against Akron, B. Artis White moved into fourth all-time at WMU with 188 career three-pointers. Ben Reed holds the school record with 246. 

SERIES HISTORY
Ohio leads the all-time series between the two programs 73-67, including a 6-2 edge in meetings in the MAC Tournament. The Broncos and Bobcats are meeting in the MAC Tournament for the first time since WMU bounced Ohio in the first round in 2015.

WHEN LAST WE MET
The Broncos and Bobcats played just once during the regular season, with WMU holding off a late rally to win, 81-79, back on Jan. 13 in Kalamazoo to improve to 4-0 in MAC play. Seth Hubbard led the Brown and Gold with 15 points and pulled down a career-high eight rebounds to help Western Michigan dominate on the glass, 46-29.