By Price Brothers

2 15 2025

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.

COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS