KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team returns to University Arena on Saturday afternoon to renew its rivalry with Central Michigan. 
 

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (9-17, 6-7 MAC) vs Central Michigan (11-15, 4-9)

Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 22 – 1 pm

Site: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)

Tickets: wmubroncos.com/tickets

Video: ESPN+

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Live Stats: StatBroadcast

OPENING TIP

• Western Michigan returns to University Arena on Saturday afternoon for a rivalry showdown with Central Michigan.
• The Chippewas won this season's first meeting in Mount Pleasant, 73-52.
• The Broncos made it back-to-back wins on Tuesday as they routed Buffalo, 97-64.
• In the win, WMU set season highs in points (97), points in a half (52), field goals (41) and three-pointers (13).
• Markhi Strickland's 20 points led the five Broncos in double-figures.
• Western Michigan tied its season high with 27 assists, led by Chansey Willis Jr.'s career-high tying eight helpers.
• The Broncos come into Saturday's game with a 95-59 lead in the all-time series between the two rivals.
• WMU has been especially dominant in Kalamazoo, owning a 51-16 record on its home floor against the Chippewas.
• Central Michigan won last season's game at University Arena, 62-55.

A RIVALRY RENEWED
Western Michigan returns to University Arena on Saturday afternoon to begin a stretch of three out of four games at home as it hosts rival Central Michigan.

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos are coming off of a 97-64 win at Buffalo on Tuesday night which saw them post season highs in numerous offensive categories. Led by a career-high tying 20 points from Markhi Strickland, Western Michigan set new season highs in points (97), points in a half (52 in the first), field goals (41) and three-pointers (13). Overall, the Brown and Gold shot 57.7 percent from the field, their second-highest field goal percentage of the year, and hit an even 50.0 percent of their three-point tries.

BALANCED BRONCOS
Western Michigan had five players score in double-figures for the eighth time this season in Tuesday's victory at Buffalo. Markhi Strickland led the way with 20 points, tying his career high. JaVaughn Hannah went 8-for-11 from the floor to establish a new season high with 18 points, Donovan Williams and Chansey Willis Jr. tallied 16 points apiece, and Max Burton chipped in 10 points. Seven different Broncos have led the team in scoring at least once this season.

SHARING IS CARING
WMU's offensive explosion on Tuesday included 27 assists, which tied a season high and tied for the second-most in a single game in program history. Chansey Willis Jr. paced the Brown and Gold with a career-high tying eight helpers, while Donovan Williams added a career-high five. In all, 11 Broncos had at least one assist in the win.

CLEANING THE GLASS
Western Michigan enjoyed a healthy advantage on the glass again on Tuesday night, outdueling the Bulls on the boards, 40-24. The 40 rebounds included 15 on the offensive end, pushing WMU's league leading total to 13.9 per game, the 11th-best mark in NCAA Division I. The Broncos are also second in the conference in overall rebounding (38.4, 41st in DI) and second in rebounding margin (+4.4). In MAC play, WMU is atop the conference in offensive rebounds (14.9) and second in both overall rebounding (38.9) and rebounding margin (+4.7). Owen Lobsinger (7.0/game) and Donovan Williams (6.0) have led the attack on the glass for the Brown and Gold, ranking fifth and 10th, respectively, in the conference.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, WILLIS
Chansey Willis Jr. continued to fill up the stat sheet in Tuesday's win, racking up 16 points, a career-high tying eight assists, three rebounds and two steals. The junior has scored double-digit points in 16 of his 18 games for the Brown and Gold, and in conference play is averaging 16.8 points (4th in the MAC), 5.5 assists (2nd) and 2.0 steals (3rd), while owning a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd). 

GETTING OFFENSIVE
WMU pulled down 15 offensive rebounds on Tuesday at Buffalo, increasing its league-leading average to 13.9 per contest (11th in DI). Four Broncos rank in the league's top-15 on the offensive glass; Owen Lobsinger (2.2, 7th), Max Burton (1.9, 12th), Donovan Williams (1.9, 13th), and JaVaughn Hannah (1.9, T-14). WMU is averaging a league-best 14.9 offensive boards in MAC play.

SERIES HISTORY
Western Michigan owns a 95-59 advantage in the all-time series against Central Michigan. The Broncos have been particularly dominant at home, owning a 51-16 mark against their rivals on their home floor. Last season, CMU won in Kalamazoo to snap a three-game slide at University Arena.

WHEN LAST WE MET
Central Michigan won this season's first meeting between the two rivals, 73-52, up in Mount Pleasant. It was a tough shooting night for the Broncos, who were limited to 32.2 percent from the field. Markhi Strickland led the way for WMU with 14 points, while Owen Lobsinger just missed out on a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. 

ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan continues its homestand on Tuesday night as it hosts Ohio.