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Western Michigan University Athletics

Western Michigan Faces Toledo on the Road Tuesday

Men's Basketball Kristin Keirns, associate director of athletic media relations

Western Michigan Faces Toledo on the Road Tuesday

Welcome MLive readers to your complete source of coverage for WMU Athletics!

 

Western Michigan Broncos (9-12, 3-5 MAC)  
at Toledo Rockets (12-9, 3-5 MAC)
Feb. 2, 2016 • 7 p.m. ET
Toledo, Ohio • Savage Arena (7,014)

Series Record: WMU trails, 80-60
In Toledo: 114-52
Last Meeting: 97-87, UT (2/21/2015) in Kalamazoo - University Arena

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio • Bronco Radio Network - Robin Hook PBP (Pre-game show begins at 6:30 p.m. ET)
Stations • WZOX — 96.5 FM: (Flagship) Kalamazoo, Portage, Mattawan; WMAX — 96.1 FM: Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon — WDFN 1130 AM: Detroit

TV/Video Stream: ESPN3
Talent: Mason Lowry (PBP), Jay Gast (Color)

Live Stats: utrockets.com
Twitter Updates: @WMUMBB

GETTING UP TO SPEED
Western Michigan travels to Toledo in the ninth game of Mid-American Conference play. WMU has won three of its last five games. The Broncos (0-6) are looking for their first road win of the season.

> After playing six of its first eight MAC games at home during the month of January, Western Michigan has six of its next eight games in February on the road, beginning Tuesday at Toledo.

> As a team, Western Michigan is averaging 75.3 points per game overall and defensively allowing 74.0 ppg. In MAC games, WMU is averaging 76.4 ppg and allowing 76.2 ppg.

WILDER DROPS CAREER-HIGH 35 IN WIN OVER EMU
Sophomore point guard Thomas Wilder tallied 35 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double leading Western Michigan to a 94-86 victory over visiting Eastern Michigan Saturday at University Arena.

> The 35 points from Wilder were the most produced by a Bronco this season, as well as a career high. His 10 rebounds were also a personal best.

> Wilder was dialed in from 3-point range, going 5-for-5 from behind the arc. He shot 9-for-13 from the floor.

> Wilder averaged 26.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals over WMU's two games last week. He totaled 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in the Broncos' one-point (79-78) loss to Bowling Green last Tuesday.

WILDER TOP SCORER IN THE MAC
WMU sophomore point guard Thomas Wilder leads the MAC in scoring during conference contests, averaging 22.1 ppg in league play. In all games combined, Wilder is averaging 18.4 ppg, which is second most in the MAC.

> Wilder has scored in double digits in every game but three (vs. Liberty - 6 pts; vs. Marygrove - 8 pts; vs. Northern Illinois - 9 pts).

> Last year as a freshman Wilder averaged 7.2 ppg.

HOW ABOUT HAYMOND
Junior forward Tucker Haymond is averaging 17.4 ppg in all games combined (ranking 4th in the MAC) and 16.8 ppg during conference play (ranking 8th).

> Haymond has scored in double digits in every game but two this season (vs. Mercer - 6 pts, at Akron - 8 pts). He tallied a career-high 27 against Buffalo on Jan. 23 and delivered a dunk that was featured as one of ESPN's college plays of the day, grabbing an offensive rebound in the air and slamming it home with 12:28 left in the first period.

> Haymond earned MAC West Player of the Week honors on Dec. 14 after scoring 26 points in WMU's 87-86 overtime win over Northeastern.

DIALING IN FROM DEEP
As a team, Western Michigan went 10-for-14 (71.2 %) from behind the 3-point arc against Eastern Michigan, which tied as the 5th best 3-point percentage in school history.

> Four Broncos were perfect from distance. Sophomore Thomas Wilder went 5-for-5 from behind the arc, while senior Jared Klein and freshman Bryce Moore hit both of their 3-point attempts and freshman Josh Davis was 1-for-1.

WINNING NUMBERS
In its nine wins this season, WMU is shooting the ball an average of 49.3 percent from the floor and 44.9 percent from behind the arc. WMU has dominated the boards in game won, averaging 9.6 rebounds more per contest than its opponents (38.9 rpg vs. 29.3 rpg). WMU is outscoring opponents by 13.7 points a game in wins (84.3 ppg vs. 70.7 ppg).

WMU - TOLEDO SERIES HISTORY
> This will be the 141st meeting between the Broncos and the Rockets, with Toledo owning an 80-60 advantage, including a 14-52 mark in the Glass City.

> The Broncos are 15-10 against Toledo under head coach Steve Hawkins. WMU has won 7 of the last 10 meetings against the Rockets, dating back to Feb. 23, 2001.

> The two sides split meetings last year, each winning on their  opponents' home floor. WMU picked up an 81-78 win at Savage Arena on Jan. 17 and Toledo won 97-87 in Kalamazoo on Feb. 21.

> WMU's Thomas Wilder scored 34 points against Toledo last year in the loss in Kalamazoo on Feb. 21. The 34 points stood as a career-high for Wilder until this past Saturday when Wilder notched 35 against Eastern Michigan.

SCOUTING THE ROCKETS
At the helm of Toledo is sixth-year head coach Tod Kowalczyk. The Rockets (12-9, 3-5 MAC) have lost their last three in a row, falling to Northern Illinois (58-49), Ohio (81-79) and Buffalo (73-68). The team's three MAC wins were over Miami (84-76), Akron (78-64) and Bowling Green (81-74).

> In all games combined, Toledo 6-9 senior center Nathan Boothe and 6-3 junior guard Jonathan Williams rank among the MAC's top scorers with Boothe setting the pace at 19.4 and Williams in third place at 17.9 ppg. Boothe is second in the MAC in scoring in conference games, averaging 21.3 ppg, behind WMU's Thomas Wilder with 22.1 ppg.

> As a team, Toledo  is averaging 78.2 points per game overall and defensively allowing 71.9 ppg. In MAC games, UT is averaging 71.8 ppg and allowing 73.0 ppg.

NOTES FROM EASTERN MICHIGAN VICTORY (94-86, F)
Western Michigan's 94 points were the most scored by the Broncos against a Division I opponent this season, as were WMU's 20 assists .

> WMU has lost just once to EMU at home in the last decade (Feb. 29, 2012).

CLOSE LOSSES
Nine of WMU's 12 losses have been by 10 points or less, including two in overtime (IPFW and Kent State). SEC opponent Vanderbilt has posted the largest margin of victory of WMU, defeating the Broncos by 25 in Nashville.

NOTABLE NOTE - PACERS RECALL WHITTINGTON
The Indiana Pacers announced Monday (Jan. 25) they have recalled center Shayne Whittington from their affiliate in the NBA's Development League, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. In his second year out of Western Michigan, the 6-11 Whittington has averaged 11.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 19 games with the Mad Ants.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
Western Michigan has done an excellent job taking care of the basketball in recent games. WMU had a season-low six turnovers at home against Buffalo on Jan. 23 and seven turnovers at Ohio on Jan. 19.. The Broncos are averaging only 12.0 turnovers per game during MAC play.

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Players Mentioned

Jared Klein

#4 Jared Klein

G
6' 1"
Freshman
Tucker Haymond

#1 Tucker Haymond

G/F
6' 6"
Freshman
Thomas Wilder

#10 Thomas Wilder

G
6' 3"
Freshman
Josh Davis

#3 Josh Davis

G/F
6' 5"
Freshman
Bryce Moore

#0 Bryce Moore

G
6' 2"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jared Klein

#4 Jared Klein

6' 1"
Freshman
G
Tucker Haymond

#1 Tucker Haymond

6' 6"
Freshman
G/F
Thomas Wilder

#10 Thomas Wilder

6' 3"
Freshman
G
Josh Davis

#3 Josh Davis

6' 5"
Freshman
G/F
Bryce Moore

#0 Bryce Moore

6' 2"
Freshman
G