KALAMAZOO, Mich. – After its big home win over Miami on Saturday, the Western Michigan men's basketball team heads to Buffalo on Tuesday night for a rematch with the Bulls.
GAME INFO
Matchup: Western Michigan (8-17, 5-7 MAC) at Buffalo (8-17, 3-9)
Date/Time: Tuesday, Feb. 18 – 7 pm
Site: Alumni Arena (Buffalo, N.Y.)
Video: ESPN+
Radio: Bronco Media Network
Live Stats: SIDEARM
OPENING TIP
- Western Michigan hits the road on Tuesday night for a rematch with Buffalo.
- The Bulls won this season's first meeting, 85-76, on Jan. 18 in Kalamazoo.
- The Broncos are coming off of a 78-70 win over Miami on Saturday afternoon.
- WMU more than doubled up the RedHawks on the glass, 54-26.
- The 54 rebounds were a season high and included 22 offensive boards.
- Donovan Williams led the attack on the glass with a career-high 15 rebounds.
- Williams also added 15 points for his second career double-double.
- Chansey Willis Jr. led Western Michigan in scoring for the fifth consecutive game as he netted 22 points.
- The Bulls own a 23-15 advantage in the all-time series, including a 12-7 mark on their home floor.
- Last season, Western Michigan won in Buffalo, 82-77, for its first road win in the series since Feb. 1, 2010.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Western Michigan heads back out on the road on Tuesday evening as it visits Buffalo.
LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos are coming off of a 78-70 win over Miami on Saturday afternoon at University Arena. Western Michigan was dominant on the glass, more than doubling up the RedHawks, 54-26.
Donovan Williams spearheaded the attack on the glass with a career-high 15 boards. He also added 15 points for his first double-double of the season.
Chansey Willis Jr. paced WMU in scoring for the fifth straight game with 22 points.
CLEANING THE GLASS
Western Michigan was dominant on the glass in Saturday's victory over Miami, more than doubling up the visitors, 54-26. WMU's 54 rebounds were a season high, and the most since the Broncos grabbed 56 in a win over Detroit Mercy on Nov. 6, 2018. After the 54-rebound performance, the Brown and Gold improved their league-leading offensive rebounding total to 13.8 per game, and currently rank second in overall rebounding (38.4, 47th in NCAA DI) and third in rebounding margin (+3.9). In MAC play, WMU is atop the conference in offensive rebounds (14.9), second in overall rebounding (38.8) and fourth in rebounding margin (+3.8).
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Donovan Williams was at the forefront of the Brown and Gold's rebounding performance on Saturday, grabbing a career-high 15 boards. The graduate student added 15 points to collect his first double-double of the season and the second of his collegiate career. Williams is the third different Bronco to post a double-double this season, joining
Max Burton and
Owen Lobsinger. Lobsinger chipped in 10 rebounds to the cause on Saturday, making it the first time a pair of WMU teammates have had double-digit rebounds in the same game this season.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, WILLIS
Chansey Willis Jr. led the Broncos in scoring for the fifth consecutive game on Saturday, tallying 22 points. The junior also collected seven assists, four rebounds and four steals against the RedHawks. In conference play, Willis is averaging 16.8 points (3rd), 5.3 assists (T-3) and 2.0 steals (T-3) per contest.
MAKING HIS MARK
Markhi Strickland had 10 points in Saturday's win over Miami. It was the team-leading 18th double-digit scoring effort of the campaign for the Miami native, who hadn't scored in double-figures in 26 career games at the NCAA DI level prior to this season.
GETTING OFFENSIVE
Western Michigan grabbed 22 offensive boards on Saturday against Miami, marking the second straight game and fourth overall this season with 20 or more. The Brown and Gold are averaging 13.8 per contest (11th in NCAA DI). Four Broncos rank in the league's top-15 on the offensive glass;
Owen Lobsinger (2.3, 6th),
Donovan Williams (2.0, 12th),
Max Burton (1.9, 14th), and
JaVaughn Hannah (1.8, 15th). WMU is averaging a league-best 14.9 offensive boards in MAC play.
PROTECTING THE ROCK
Western Michigan has had 10 or fewer turnovers 11 times this season, including eight games with single-digit miscues. At 11.2 per contest, WMU is committing the second-fewest turnovers in the conference.
SERIES HISTORY
Buffalo owns a 23-15 edge in the all-time series against Western Michigan, including a 12-7 mark on its home floor. Last season, the Broncos won in Buffalo, 82-77, for the first time since Feb. 1, 2010.
WHEN LAST WE MET
The Bulls came to University Arena back on Jan. 18 and used a 22-2 surge to get out to a double-digit lead in the first half. Western Michigan closed the gap down to as little as four in the second half, but the Bulls hung on for an 85-76 victory.
Chansey Willis Jr. led the Broncos with 21 points, and also grabbed a career-high six steals, which was one shy of the single-game program record.
ON THE HORIZON
Three of the next four games for WMU are at home, starting on Saturday against CMU.
