KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team had 10 different players score, including three in double-figures, in a 76-71 season-opening win over Coastal Carolina on Monday night at University Arena.
 
Jalen Griffith scored all 15 of his points after the break to lead the way for the Broncos (1-0). The junior guard was joined in double-figures by Max Burton and Trey Lewis, who tallied 14 points apiece. Burton also added a career-high seven assists and six rebounds for WMU, while Jayden Brewer approached a double-double with nine points and eight boards.
 
Coastal Carolina (0-1) got out on the front foot early and raced out to an 11-2 lead in the opening minutes. Western Michigan countered with seven in a row as part of a 12-3 run to even the contest at 14-14 midway through the opening period. In the latter stages of the half, the Chanticleers put together a 9-3 stretch to take a seven-point edge, 34-27, with under a minute to play. WMU then ran off a quick five points before the break, with a Lewis three-pointer in the final seconds cutting the margin to 34-32 at halftime.
 
Western Michigan took its first lead of the night at the 16:36 mark of the second half on a three-pointer by Hudson Ward. WMU remained in front until a five-point burst put Coastal Carolina back on top, 49-48, with just over 11 minutes to play. The two teams then proceeded to trade the lead back and forth for the next several minutes, with it changing hands seven times until it was tied up at 63-63 at the three-minute mark.
 
Looking to break the deadlock, the Broncos fed the ball down low to Burton, who made a nice move in the post, banked in a layup and was fouled for an old-fashioned, three-point play to put Western Michigan back in front, 66-63. After a pair of free throws closed the gap to 66-65, Lewis canned another crucial triple for the Brown and Gold, making the margin 69-65 with 90 seconds to play. Western Michigan got a stop on its next defensive possession, and went 7-for-8 from the foul line in the final minute to put the game on ice.
 
WMU connected on 44.0 percent (22-of-50) of its field goals for the evening, and hit 80.0 percent (28-of-35) of its free throw attempts. Coastal Carolina made 41.0 percent (25-of-61) from the field.
 
The Broncos continue their season-opening homestand on Thursday as they welcome Northwood to University Arena for a 7 pm tip. For tickets to any WMU men's basketball home game, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.