KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team heads right back out on the road on Tuesday evening as it visits Kent State.
 

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (3-12, 0-3 MAC) at Kent State (11-4, 2-1)

Date/Time: Tuesday, Jan. 14 – 7 pm

Site: M.A.C. Center (Kent, Ohio)

Video: ESPN+

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Live Stats: SIDEARM

OPENING TIP

• Western Michigan is back out on the road on Tuesday evening as it visits Kent State.
• The Broncos dropped a 91-71 decision at Miami on Saturday in their first MAC road game of the year.
• Four players scored in double-figures for WMU, led by Markhi Strickland's 14.
• Chansey Willis Jr. had 12 points, giving him 10 or more in all seven of his games.
• Owen Lobsinger remains second in the league at 7.3 rebounds per game.
• Coming in to Tuesday, the Broncos lead the league in both rebounding margin (+4.9) and offensive rebounding (13.7).
• The 13.7 offensive rebounds are 27th-most in NCAA Division I.
• Kent State leads the all-time series between the two programs, 70-58.
• The Golden Flashes have won six straight meetings, with WMU's last victory in the series coming on Jan. 18, 2020.
• Western Michigan's last win at Kent came on Jan. 23, 2014.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
After going to Oxford to face Miami on Saturday in its first road game of 2025, Western Michigan goes right back out on the road on Tuesday evening as it visits Kent State.

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos are coming off of a 91-71 setback against Miami on Saturday in their first MAC road game of the year. Four players scored in double-figures for Western Michigan, led by Markhi Strickland's 14 points. 

BALANCED BRONCOS
Western Michigan had four players score in double-figures for the fifth time this season on Saturday against Bowling Green. Markhi Strickland led the way with 14 points, JaVaughn Hannah and Chansey Willis Jr. each tallied 12 points, and Owen Lobsinger contributed 11 points. WMU has four players currently averaging double-digit points, and seven different Broncos have led the team in scoring at least once this season.

MAKING HIS MARK
After not having a double-digit scoring effort in 26 NCAA Division I games prior to this season, Markhi Strickland has scored in double-figures in 10 of Western Michigan's 15 games in 2024-25. The Miami native is WMU's leading scorer among qualifiers at 11.7 points per game this season.

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 seven games as a Bronco. On Saturday at Miami, Willis had 12 points, giving him double-digit points in all seven of his appearances. For the season, the junior is averaging 15.3 points, 5.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds. He needs to play just a few more games to qualify for the league leaders, which would make him the lone player in the conference to be averaging at least 10.0 points, 5.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds.

OWEN-ING THE GLASS
Owen Lobsinger continues to be WMU's top rebounder, as he ranks second in the MAC at 7.3 per game. In league play, the senior is third at 8.7 boards per contest. 

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 week, the Broncos are atop the league in both rebounding margin (+4.9) and offensive rebounding (13.7), as well as second in overall rebounding (38.7).

GETTING OFFENSIVE
The Broncos led the MAC in offensive rebounding in each of the first two seasons under head coach Dwayne Stephens and are atop the conference again this year, averaging 13.7 offensive boards per contest, which ranks 27th in NCAA DI. WMU has three of the league's top-15 offensive rebounders in Owen Lobsinger (2.3, 7th), Max Burton (2.2, 8th) and JaVaughn Hannah (1.6, 14th).

PROTECTING THE ROCK
The Broncos have had 10 or fewer turnovers seven times this season, and currently rank second in the MAC and 62nd nationally in fewest turnovers per game at 10.9.

SERIES HISTORY
Heading into Tuesday, Kent State holds a 70-58 advantage in the all-time series. The Golden Flashes have won six straight meetings, with WMU's last victory in the series coming on Jan. 18, 2020. KSU has been especially dominant at home against Western Michigan, with the Broncos' most recent win in Kent coming back on Jan. 23, 2014. 

FOCUS ON THE FLASHES
Kent State comes into Tuesday having won back-to-back contests after dropping their league opener to Ball State. The Golden Flashes boast the top defense in the MAC, yielding just 62.5 points per game, which is eight fewer than the next closest teams, CMU and Ball State at 70.8. KSU is ranked 15th nationally in scoring defense, and at 40.0 percent, ranks 37th the nation in field goal percentage defense. They are also right behind WMU in offensive rebounding (13.5).

ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan returns to Kalamazoo for its next two games, starting on Saturday afternoon as it welcomes Buffalo to town.