KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team returns to University Arena on Wednesday night to host Purdue Fort Wayne.
 

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (1-2) vs Purdue Fort Wayne (1-2)

Date/Time: Wednesday, Nov. 12 – 7 pm

Site: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)

Tickets: wmubroncos.com/tickets

Video: ESPN+

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Live Stats: StatBroadcast

OPENING TIP

• Western Michigan is back at home on Wednesday to face Purdue Fort Wayne.
• The Broncos are coming off of a 91-82 loss at Campbell in their first road game of the season on Sunday afternoon.
• Jalen Griffith led Western Michigan with 19 points and a career-high seven assists.
• Declan Peterson made all five of his field goals attempts to net 10 points, his first double-digit scoring game as a Bronco.
• As a team, WMU went 21-of-26 (.808) from the free throw line, the third straight game it has made 20+ free throws.
• Western Michigan is averaging 31.3 free throw attempts per game, third-most in the MAC and 37th in NCAA Division I.
• WMU is making 23.7 free throws per game, second in the MAC and 27th in DI.
• Western Michigan holds a 2-1 edge in the all-time series with Purdue Fort Wayne.
• The last two matchups have gone to overtime, with the most recent meeting a 93-85 OT victory for WMU on Nov. 27, 2021.

WELCOME HOME
Western Michigan returns to University Arena on Wednesday night as it hosts Purdue Fort Wayne. Wednesday's game closes out a stretch of three out of four at home for the Broncos to begin the 2025-26 season.

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos are coming off of a 91-82 loss at Campbell in their first road game of the season on Sunday afternoon. Jalen Griffith led the way for Western Michigan, netting 19 points and dishing out a career-high seven assists. Trey Lewis and Declan Peterson each added 10 points off of the bench, with Peterson tallying his 10 points on a perfect 5-for-5 performance from the field. 

GRIFF GETS BUCKETS
Navarro College transfer Jalen Griffith has made an immediate impact in his first three games for Western Michigan, leading the team in scoring in two of the three, including netting 19 points on Sunday at Campbell. The junior is averaging 19.0 points per game through the first week of the season, which has him tied for fourth in the league.

GETTING TO THE LINE
Western Michigan has been getting to the line at a prolific rate through its first three games, attempting more than 25 free throws and making more than 20 in each contest. The Broncos have shot 80.0 percent or better at the line in two of the three, including going 21-for-26 (.808) in Sunday's game at Campbell. WMU's 31.3 free throw attempts per game rank third in the MAC and 37th in NCAA Division I, while the team's 23.7 makes from the foul line are second-most in the conference and 27th nationally. Both Jalen Griffith and Jayden Brewer are among the league leaders in free throws, with Griffith first in makes (17) and second in attempts (21), and Brewer third in makes (15) and fourth in attempts (20).

CLEANING THE GLASS
One of the staples for the Broncos under fourth-year head coach Dwayne Stephens has been rebounding, and WMU has started off strong on the glass again this year, winning the rebounding battle in each of its first three games. Leading the way on the glass for Western Michigan has been FIU transfer Jayden Brewer, who grabbed 12 rebounds on the way to a double-double against Northwood. For the season, Brewer ranks fifth in the MAC at 7.7 rebounds per contest.

DIALING LONG DISTANCE
WMU comes into Wednesday having made at least one three-pointer in 458 straight games, dating back to the 2010-11 season. Jalen Griffith has been Western Michigan's top three-point shooting marksman so far this season, averaging two made triples per game on 46.2 percent from long range.

BRONCOS VS THE HORIZON
This season marks the 10th consecutive campaign in which Western Michigan will play at least one Horizon League program, the longest active streak for the Broncos facing any league in non-conference play. WMU is 10-11 against Horizon League opponents over the prior nine seasons, including a neutral-site win over Purdue Fort Wayne during the 2021-22 campaign. 

SERIES HISTORY
Western Michigan and Purdue Fort Wayne have met three times prior to Wednesday night's contest, with WMU holding a 2-1 edge in the series. Each of the last two meetings have gone to overtime, with the Broncos prevailing, 93-85, in the extra session the last time these two teams played at the Hilton Garden Inn FGCU Invitational in Fort Myers, Fla., on Nov. 27, 2021. 

DIVING INTO THE 'DONS
After dropping road contests at Grand Canyon and Ohio State to begin the year, Purdue Fort Wayne erupted for a school-record 137 points in its home opener on Sunday afternoon against Dominican (IL). Eight players scored in double-figures for the Mastodons, led by a career-high 26-point performance from Corey Hadnot II. The 'Dons are averaging a league-best 92.0 points per game, led by Deandre Craig Jr.'s 17.3 points per contest. Purdue Fort Wayne was picked fifth in the Horizon League preseason coaches poll. 

THE ROAD AHEAD
Western Michigan begins a stretch of three out of four on the road on Sunday afternoon as it visits South Dakota.