RedHawks Fall to WMU, 78-70

Saturday, February 15

Kalamazoo, Mich.

2:30 p.m.

Miami University

19-6,10-2MAC

Western Michigan

8-17,5-7MAC

Miami (OH)

Western Mich.

Photo by: Megan Walker

2/15/2025 5:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Miami University men's basketball team fell to Western Michigan Saturday afternoon 78-70 in Kalamazoo. Brant Byers led the RedHawks with 19 points, while two other RedHawks scored in double figures. Chansey Willis Jr. totaled a game-high 22 points for the Broncos. Miami falls to 19-6 (10-2 MAC), and Western Michigan rises to 8-17 (5-7 MAC).

How it Happened:

Miami opened the game with a 7-2 advantage, propelled by a Mekhi Cooper three as the shot clock expired. The Broncos responded with a 9-0 run to jump ahead 11-7 with 13:41 remaining in the first half. Antwone Woolfolk scored the next five points, and Luke Skaljac added a triple to give Miami a 15-14 lead.
Two second-chance scoring opportunities and a Reece Potter three knotted the score at 22 apiece with under seven minutes until the intermission. Byers closed out the first half with a layup and shot from beyond the arc to lead 32-30.
Layups from Woolfolk, Cooper and Peter Suder gave Miami a 41-40 edge over the Broncos coming out of halftime. A collection of free throws and another Suder layup kept Miami within three at 50-47. The Broncos extended their lead to double digits at 57-47 with just over nine minutes of action left.
Byers scored a corner three and a midrange jump shot, putting the score at 68-55. A Cooper pass in the paint led to a traditional three-point play for Potter to trail by 10 points. Byers third three of the game pushed the score to 72-63 in favor of the Broncos with 1:26 remaining. A couple of Evan Ipsaro layups and a deep shot from Cooper at the right wing helped the RedHawks close within six at 76-70. Despite a strong effort, Miami came no closer, falling 78-70.

Game Notes:

Miami's bench outscored Western Michigan's 39 to 14.
The RedHawks recorded 19 assists in comparison to nine assists from the Broncos.
Miami was out-rebounded 54 to 26.
The Broncos had 48 points in the paint.
Western Michigan finished the game with 23 second-chance points off of 22 offensive rebounds.

Up Next:
The RedHawks travel to Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m.