KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team hits the road for its final tuneup before the start of conference play on Sunday afternoon as it visits #23 Iowa.
 

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (5-5) at #23 Iowa (8-2)

Date/Time: Sunday, Dec. 14 – 3 pm

Site: Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, Iowa)

Video: Big Ten Network

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Live Stats: StatBroadcast

OPENING TIP

• Western Michigan hits the road for its final tuneup before non-conference play on Sunday as it visits #23 Iowa.
• The Broncos are coming off of their first road win of the season last Saturday, defeating SIUE 83-73.
• WMU posted season-bests in field goal percentage (57.4), three-pointers (12), three-point percentage (60.0) and free throw percentage (89.5).
• Jalen Griffith netted 28 points and had a career-high 10 assists to collect his first career double-double.
• EJ Ryans hit 5-of-6 three-point tries on the way to a career-high 20 points.
• Sunday marks the sixth all-time meeting between the Broncos and Hawkeyes.
• Iowa holds a 3-2 edge in the series, including a 109-61 victory during the most recent meeting, back on Nov. 22, 2021.
• Western Michigan is looking for its first win over a ranked opponent since topping #25 Davidson on Nov. 21, 2007.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Western Michigan wraps up its stretch of five out of seven on the road on Sunday afternoon as it visits #23 Iowa. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos are coming off of an 83-73 victory at SIUE last Saturday for their first road win of the season. Western Michigan came out hot, shooting 61.9 percent from the floor (13-of-21) in the first half on the way to an eight-point halftime lead. The Cougars made a run in the second half and got as close as four before the Brown and Gold answered with 10 in a row to help put the game away. Jalen Griffith led the way for WMU with 28 points and a career-high 10 assists, while EJ Ryans netted a career-high 20 points.

OFFENSIVE ERUPTION
Western Michigan's offense has had two of its best performances of the season in its last two games, shooting over 50.0 percent in the wins over USI and SIUE. In Saturday's victory over the Cougars, WMU set season highs in field goal percentage (57.4), made three-pointers (12), three-pointer percentage (60.0) and free throw percentage (89.5).

DOUBLE TROUBLE
Jalen Griffith went 8-for-12 from the field, hit three triples and made all nine of his free throws on the way to a team-leading 28 points in Saturday's win over SIUE. The junior also added a career-high 10 assists for his first career double-double. Griffith's performance made him the third Bronco to record a double-double this season, joining Jayden Brewer (4) and Max Burton. Griffith enters the weekend ranked eighth in the MAC in scoring (16.3 PPG), fifth in assists (4.6) and ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.5).

RYANS HEATING UP
EJ Ryans has played a big role in WMU's back-to-back victories, averaging 17.0 points per game in last week's wins over Southern Indiana and SIUE while shooting 63.2 percent from the field. After tallying what at the time was a career-high 14 points in the victory over USI, the sophomore had a career day on Saturday against the Cougars, making 6-of-8 from the field and 5-of-6 from three -point range to net a career-high 20 points. Ryans became the fourth different Bronco to have a 20+ point scoring performance in 2025-26, joining Jayden Brewer (4), Jalen Griffith (3) and Brady Swartz (2).

DIALING LONG DISTANCE
Western Michigan enters Sunday having made at least one three-pointer in 465 straight games, dating back to the 2010-11 season. The Broncos have made double-digit three-pointers in back-to-back contests, including a season-high 12 while shooting a season-best 60.0 percent from beyond the arc last Saturday at SIUE. Brady Swartz has been the top sharpshooter for WMU and in the MAC, hitting three-pointers at a league-leading 56.0 percent clip.

WMU VS THE BIG TEN
Sunday's game is Western Michigan's second this season against a Big Ten foe, having already faced Ohio State last month. This is the eighth consecutive season the Broncos have played at least one Big Ten team. WMU's last win over a Big Ten opponent was a 56-52 victory at Michigan on Nov. 30, 2002, and its most recent win over a current Big Ten team was an 83-65 home triumph over then PAC-10 member USC on Nov. 21, 2003.  

WMU VS THE TOP-25
Iowa is Western Michigan's first top-25 opponent since facing 18th-ranked Michigan State last season. Sunday's tilt is WMU's 14th against a top-25 foe since 2010. The last win over a ranked team for the Broncos was an 83-76 victory over a Stephen Curry-led #25 Davidson on Nov. 21, 2007, in Kalamazoo.  

SERIES HISTORY
Western Michigan and Iowa are meeting for the sixth time on Sunday. The Hawkeyes hold a 3-2 edge in the all-time series, including a 109-61 victory over the Broncos on Nov. 22, 2021, in Iowa City. 

SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES
Iowa comes into Sunday's contest at 8-2 after falling at #4 Iowa State on Thursday night. The Hawkeyes are led by Bennett Stirtz, who is averaging a team-high 17.9 points per game, which ranks 10th in the Big Ten Conference. Iowa boasts one of the top defenses in the nation, ranking second in the Big Ten and 12th nationally at 62.9 points allowed per game.

ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan begins Mid-American Conference play next Saturday, as Buffalo comes to University Arena.