KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team hits the road for the first time in conference play on Saturday afternoon as it visits Miami.
GAME INFO
Matchup: Western Michigan (3-11, 0-2 MAC) at Miami (10-4, 2-0)
Date/Time: Saturday, Jan. 11 – 3:30 pm
Site: Millett Hall (Oxford, Ohio)
Video: ESPN+
Radio: Bronco Media Network
Live Stats: SIDEARM
OPENING TIP
- Western Michigan hits the road for the first time in conference play on Saturday afternoon as it visits Miami.
- The Broncos dropped an 83-79 decision to Bowling Green at home on Tuesday.
- Five players scored in double-figures for WMU, led by Owen Lobsinger's 12.
- Lobsinger also reeled in a game-high eight rebounds, keeping him second in the MAC at 7.4 per contest.
- Chansey Willis Jr. had 11 points, giving him 10 or more in all six of his games.
- Entering Saturday, the Broncos lead the league in both rebounding margin (+5.4) and offensive rebounding (13.6).
- The 13.6 offensive rebounds are 29th-most in NCAA Division I.
- Miami holds an 88-52 edge in the all-time series between the two programs.
- Western Michigan swept the RedHawks last year for the first time since 2017-18.
- WMU's win in Oxford last season was its first since Feb. 4, 2020.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Western Michigan hits the road for the first time in conference play on Saturday afternoon as it visits Miami. The Broncos will follow that up with another road tilt on Tuesday as they take on Kent State.
LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos are coming off of an 83-79 loss to Bowling Green on Tuesday night at University Arena. Five players scored in double-figures for Western Michigan, led by
Owen Lobsinger, who netted 12 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Thanks to a 15-0 first-half run, WMU grabbed a double-digit advantage in the opening frame. BGSU had a late charge to close the gap to four heading into halftime, and used another burst late in the second half to break a 68-68 tie and grab the victory.
BALANCED BRONCOS
Western Michigan had five players score in double-figures for the fourth time this season on Tuesday against Bowling Green.
Owen Lobsinger netted a team-high 12 points,
Max Burton,
Brandon Muntu and
Chansey Willis Jr. each tallied 11 points and
Markhi Strickland had 10.
JaVaughn Hannah and
Donovan Williams just missed out on double-figures with eight points apiece.
OWEN-ING THE GLASS
Owen Lobsinger led the Broncos in rebounding for the sixth time this season on Tuesday, snagging a game-high eight. For the season, the senior has had eight or more rebounds six times and currently ranks second in the conference at 7.4 rebounds per game.
WILLING HIS WAY TO THE TOP
After missing the first eight games due to injury,
Chansey Willis Jr. has made a big impact in his first six games for the Broncos. On Tuesday against BGSU, Willis had 11 points, giving him double-digit points in all six of his games. He also grabbed five rebounds and handed out four assists against the Falcons, bringing his season averages to 15.8 points, 5.7 assists and 5.5 rebounds per contest. The junior is still a few games away from qualifying as a league leader, but his assists average would rank third in the MAC.
CRASHING THE BOARDS
Western Michigan has continued its recent dominance on the glass, winning the rebounding battle nine times so far this season. Entering the weekend, the Broncos are atop the league in both rebounding margin (+5.4) and offensive rebounding (13.6), as well as second in overall rebounding (39.0).
GETTING OFFENSIVE
Western Michigan led the MAC in offensive rebounding in each of the first two seasons under head coach
Dwayne Stephens and is back atop the conference again this year, averaging 13.6 offensive boards per contest, which ranks 29th in NCAA DI. WMU currently has two of the league's top-10 offensive rebounders in
Owen Lobsinger (2.3, 6th) and
Max Burton (2.1, 9th).
PROTECTING THE ROCK
The Broncos have had 10 or fewer turnovers seven times this season, and currently rank second in the MAC and 50th nationally in fewest turnovers per game at 10.6.
SERIES HISTORY
Miami enters Saturday's matchup owning an 88-52 advantage in the all-time series between the two programs. Last season, Western Michigan swept the RedHawks for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign. The Broncos opened MAC play last year with a win at Millett Hall, its first win in Oxford since Feb. 4, 2020.
SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS
Miami comes into Saturday's matchup as one of four 2-0 teams in MAC play. The RedHawks boast the top offense in the league and one of the best in the nation, as they rank 32nd in Division I at 83.0 points per game. It is also one of the most efficient offenses in the country, topping the league in field goal percentage (18th nationally) and three-point percentage (8th nationally). Kam Craft has led the way with a league-high 3.4 three-pointers per game and the third-highest scoring average in the MAC (16.6 PPG).
THE ROAD AHEAD
Western Michigan is back on the road on Tuesday as it travels to Kent State.
