Western Michigan Broncos (18-10, 9-5 MAC) vs. Ball State Cardinals (13-14, 6-8 MAC)
Tuesday, March 5 // 7 p.m.
Kalamazoo, Mich. // University Arena

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Radio • Bronco Radio Network
Announcers • Robin Hook
Stations • WKZO - 96.5 FM: (Flagship) Kalamazoo, Portage, Mattawan; WMAX - 96.1 FM: Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon; WVIC - 94.1 FM: Lansing, Jackson, Battle Creek
Broadcast • Pre-game show begins at 6:30 p.m.

LIVE STATS // LIVE AUDIO // LIVE VIDEO

QUICK NOTES

• This will be the 117th meeting between the two teams, with the series tied at 58-58; Ball State won the first meeting this year
• Four Broncos broke double-figures in scoring in the last meeting between the teams, with Darius Paul posting a double-double
• The Broncos lead the series 37-18 in games played in Kalamazoo, and have not lost a home game in the series since Jan. 22, 2005, a span of eight games
• The Broncos are 13-7 against Ball State under head coach Steve Hawkins, but are 9-1 in games at University Arena
• The Broncos have not been swept in the season series against Ball State since the 2004-05 season
• WMU is 67-17 (.798) in MAC home games under Steve Hawkins
• With a win today, the Broncos will clinch the third seed in the 2013 First Energy MAC Tournament
• The Broncos can clinch their seventh overall MAC West title with a win, as well as their sixth under Steve Hawkins
• The Broncos are seeking their fifth 20-win season under head coach Steve Hawkins
• The Broncos entered the week ranked 18th in the nation in rebounding margin
• The Broncos received seven votes in the Feb. 25 CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll
• Shayne Whittington posted his ninth double-double of the season against Eastern Michigan (11 pts, 11 rbds)
• Darius Paul leads all MAC freshmen in scoring (10.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.1 rpg)
• David Brown's 10.7 ppg ranks as the most among all bench players in MAC games this season
• Brown is the only player in the top-30 in scoring average in MAC games to not start a single game
• The Broncos are 71-31 (.696) against MAC West competition under head coach Steve Hawkins
• Today's start gives Hutcheson 114 career starts, placing him fourth on Western Michigan's career list

BRONCOS VS. THE CARDINALS
This will be the 117th meeting between Western Michigan and Ball State, with the series deadlocked at 58-58. The rivalry dates back to the 1931-32 season, when the Cardinals defeated the Broncos 35-31 in Muncie. That win would set the tone for much of the series; though always closely contested, the Cardinals control the series in Muncie 36-20. Conversely, the Broncos hold a 37-18 advantage in Kalamazoo.

The Broncos are 13-7 against Ball State under head coach Steve Hawkins, including a 65-62 loss in the game played in Muncie earlier in the season. The Broncos, however, have dominated the series at home under Hawkins; the Broncos are 9-1 against the Cardinals in games played in University Arena, and have not lost a home game to Ball State since Jan. 22, 2005, a span of eight games.

LOTS ON THE LINE
The game against Ball State represents an opportunity for the Broncos to seal their fate for the upcoming MAC Tournament before this weekend's season finale against Central Michigan. With a win, the Broncos will clinch their sixth MAC West division championship under head coach Steve Hawkins, a number (obviously) unmatched by any other MAC West coach since Hawkins took over the program in the 2003-04 season.

In addition to the MAC West title, the Broncos can clinch the third seed in the tournament, ensuring them of a double-bye directly to the quarterfinal round. Were the Broncos to clinch a top four seed, they would play their first tournament game on Thursday, March 14.

WHITTINGTON SAYS NO
Shayne Whittington reached 44 blocks for the season against Eastern Michigan, tying him for fifth place in a single season at Western Michigan with Matt Van Abbema's 44 blocked shots during the 1994-95 season. Whittington is the first Bronco to break 40 blocked shots in a season since Donald Lawson did it during the 2009-10 season; Lawson, Whittington, Mike Williams, and LaMarcus Lowe are the only Broncos to break 40 blocks in a season since 2000. The all-time blocked shots record is 56, set by Van Abbema during the 1993-94 season.

HUNT FOR 20
The Broncos are looking to reach 20 wins in a single season after falling short of the mark last year; it would be the first 20-win season since winning 21 during the 2010-11 season. The Broncos have won 20 games in a season four times in the previous nine seasons under head coach Steve Hawkins.

RAREFIED AIR
Senior Nate Hutcheson has been an integral part of the Broncos' program in his four years at Western Michigan. Should Hutcheson start every regular season game for the rest of the season, as well as at least one MAC Tournament game, he will reach 116 career starts, placing him fourth on the list behind Joe Reitz (126), David Kool (117), and Ben Reed (117).

In terms of games played as a Bronco, Hutcheson is already one of the program's best, and will likely finish his career as the record holder. Hutcheson has played in 128 career games, tying him with Joe Reitz for second on the team's games played list. The record for games played in a career is 130, set by Demetrius Ward last year.