KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team looks to even its conference record at 1-1 on Tuesday evening as it welcomes Bowling Green to University Arena.
 

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (3-10, 0-1 MAC) vs Bowling Green (5-8, 0-1)

Date/Time: Tuesday, Jan. 7 – 7 pm

Site: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)

Tickets: wmubroncos.com/tickets

Video: ESPN+

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Live Stats: StatBroadcast

OPENING TIP

• Western Michigan looks to even its MAC record at 1-1 on Tuesday evening as it welcomes Bowling Green to town.
• The Broncos dropped a 76-70 decision to Toledo on Saturday in their MAC opener.
• Chansey Willis Jr. led Western Michigan in scoring for the fourth consecutive game on Saturday with 21 points. 
• Owen Lobsinger registered 11 points and a career-high 13 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
• The Broncos lead the MAC in rebounding margin at +5.9, and are tied for the league lead in offensive rebounding at 13.6.
• Bowling Green owns a 77-51 lead in the all-time series between the two teams.
• The Falcons won both of last year's meetings by single-digits.
• WMU's last win in the series was a 108-92 triumph on Jan. 14, 2023, in Kalamazoo.
• That victory marked the first 100+ point scoring output against a MAC foe in nearly 15 years for the Broncos.

TRYING TO GET EVEN
Western Michigan tries to even its MAC record at 1-1 on Tuesday evening as it welcomes Bowling Green to University Arena.

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos are coming off of a 76-70 loss to Toledo on Saturday afternoon in the conference opener. Chansey Willis Jr. led WMU in scoring with 21 points, while Owen Lobsinger posted his first double-double of the season, tallying 11 points to go with a career-high 13 rebounds. Lobsinger's efforts helped Western Michigan dominate on the glass, 53-41, which included a 22-10 advantage in offensive rebounding.

OWEN-ING THE GLASS
Owen Lobsinger registered his first double-double of the season and third of his career on Saturday, picking up 11 points and a career-high 13 rebounds against Toledo. The senior's double-double was WMU's second of 2024-25, with Max Burton having totaled 18 points and 12 boards in the win at Youngstown State on Nov. 27. For the season, Lobsinger is back up to second in the conference in rebounding at 7.4 per contest. 

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 five games for the Broncos. On Saturday against Toledo, the junior notched 21 points to lead the Brown and Gold in scoring for the fourth consecutive contest. Willis has also handed out at least five assists in all five games, including tying a season high with seven against the Rockets. He is a few games away from qualifying as a league leader, but his 6.0 assists per game average would have him atop the conference.

CRASHING THE BOARDS
Western Michigan continued its dominance on the glass this season on Saturday against Toledo, tying its season high with 53 boards on the way to a 53-41 rebounding edge. WMU has won the rebounding battle nine times so far this season, and has had a double-digit rebounding advantage five times. For the season, the Broncos are atop the league in rebounding margin (+5.9), tied for first in offensive rebounding (13.6, 30th in NCAA Division I) and second in overall rebounding (39.5, 45th nationally).

GETTING OFFENSIVE
Western Michigan has led the conference in offensive rebounding in each of the first two seasons under head coach Dwayne Stephens'. After grabbing 22 on Saturday, the Broncos are tied for the top spot in the league at 13.6 offensive boards per contest, which ranks 45th in DI. WMU currently has four players inside the league's top-15 on the offensive glass, in Owen Lobsinger (2.2, 6th), Max Burton (2.2, T-7), JaVaughn Hannah (1.6, T-15) and Michael Sulaka (1.6, T-15).

DIALING LONG DISTANCE
After making seven on Saturday, WMU has now made at least one triple in 436 straight games, dating back to the 2010-11 season. Brandon Muntu is the team's leading sharpshooter at 39.0 percent, 14th in the league.

PROTECTING THE ROCK
The Broncos have had 10 or fewer turnovers seven times this season, and currently rank third in the MAC and 51st nationally in fewest turnovers per game at 10.5.

SERIES HISTORY
Bowling Green enters Tuesday with a 77-51 lead in the all-time series against WMU, including a 33-30 mark in Kalamazoo. The Falcons won both of last season's meetings by single-digits. Western Michigan's last victory in the series was a 108-92 triumph on Jan. 14, 2023. That win marked the first time the Broncos had scored 100+ points against a MAC foe since Jan. 29, 2008, at Buffalo.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS
The Falcons are also trying to bounce back, having lost to Akron to open MAC play on Friday. BGSU's Marcus Johnson leads the conference in scoring at 17.0 points per game. As a team, Bowling Green is atop the conference and 13th nationally in free throw percentage at 78.9 percent.

THE ROAD AHEAD
WMU hits the road for its next two games, starting on Saturday at Miami.