Kalamazoo, MI (Sports Network) - Shayne Whittington finished with 15 points,
nine rebounds and three blocks as the Western Michigan Broncos rallied back to
defeat the Northern Illinois Huskies, 66-58, in a Mid-American Conference bout
at University Arena.
Connar Tava chipped in 12 points and eight boards for WMU (16-9, 8-4 MAC) as
it snapped a two-game losing streak. Austin Richie added 11 points and David
Brown scored 10 in 18 minutes off the bench.
Aksel Bolin tallied 10 points for NIU (5-14, 3-9) as it lost its fifth
consecutive contest. Darrell Bowie pulled down six rebounds but committed five
of the Huskies' 14 turnovers.
NIU played very well in the early portion of game as it connected on 54.2
percent of its field goal tries including 5-of-6 from distance. The Broncos
went into the intermission trailing, 37-32, despite converting all nine of
their attempts at the free-throw line.
WMU connected on just 39.1 percent of its field goal attempts after the break,
but it held the Huskies to 4-of-20 shooting from the floor to overcome a
deficit that was once as great as 10 points. NIU held a 58-50 lead with 4:01
left in regulation, but it watched its lead slip away as it failed to produce
another point the rest of the way.
The Broncos held a narrow, 32-31 edge in the rebounding battle and both sides
scored 18 points in the paint.
GAME NOTES:
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