KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan rode a big second half and a career-high 30 points from Jalen Griffith to an 83-60 victory over Mount St. Mary's on Sunday at University Arena.     
 
Griffith's career-high 30 points came on 10-of-14 shooting and 5-of-6 from three-point range. In his first career start, Brady Swartz was also in double-figures for Western Michigan with 16 points. The freshman tied with Max Burton for the team lead on the glass with six rebounds. Burton also dished out a team-high five assists.
 
An 11-0 run helped Western Michigan (3-4) grab a 20-8 lead just shy of the midway point of the first half. Mount St. Mary's (1-5) countered with nine of the next 12 to trim the gap to 23-17. At 32-26, the Mountaineers rattled off eight in a row to briefly take a 34-32 advantage. The final six points of the half went to the Broncos, with Sharod Barnes banking in a three-pointer from beyond half court to put WMU up by four, 38-34, heading into the break.
 
In the early stages of the second half, the Mountaineers ran off seven consecutive points to trim the margin to one, 46-45. Western Michigan answered with seven in a row of its own to ignite a 20-4 surge which built the margin to 66-49 with just over six minutes to play. WMU's advantage remained in double-figures for the remainder of the contest, with a final nine-point burst giving the Brown and Gold their largest lead of the day, 81-57, in the waning moments.  
 
The Broncos connected on 48.4 percent (31-of-64) of their field goals in the contest, while Mount St. Mary's hit 40.4 percent (21-of-52) from the floor. WMU was plus-11 in the turnover battle, turning it over a season-low six times, while forcing the visitors into 17 miscues.
 
Next up for Western Michigan is a trip to Valparaiso next Saturday, Nov. 29, at 3 pm.