In a disappointing start to their conference season, Western Michigan faced a tough loss against Buffalo, falling 88-71 in their Mid-American Conference opener on Saturday at University Arena.
The Broncos, with a record of 5-7 and now 0-1 in the MAC, were led by Jalen Griffith, who scored an impressive 18 points. Teammates Hudson Ward and Jayden Brewer contributed significantly as well, with 13 and 12 points respectively. Notably, Ward's performance marked a new career high for him, while Brewer showcased his skills on the boards, leading the team with seven rebounds. Additionally, EJ Ryans stood out by providing six assists, the most for the Broncos in this game.
Initially, Western Michigan took an early lead with a couple of three-pointers, establishing a 6-2 advantage in the opening minutes. However, Buffalo quickly turned the tide, launching an 18-2 run that put them ahead 20-8. The Broncos fought back with a 9-3 stretch, narrowing the score to 23-17, but Buffalo answered emphatically with 10 points against just one from WMU, extending their lead to 41-23. Before halftime, the Broncos managed to score the last five points of the period, ending it at 41-28.
Throughout the second half, Buffalo maintained a lead that fluctuated between 13 and 16 points. A jumper by Michael Sulaka and a three-pointer from Ward brought the Broncos closer, cutting the deficit to 51-41. However, Buffalo quickly responded with a run of their own. Despite a valiant effort from Western Michigan, which included a three-point play by Brewer that reduced the gap to 58-48, they could not maintain the momentum. The Broncos did manage to close the gap to nine points several times, notably at 73-64, but Buffalo's subsequent 9-2 run ensured they retained a double-digit lead for the rest of the game.
In terms of shooting, Western Michigan struggled somewhat, achieving a field goal percentage of 39.4% (26-of-66), while Buffalo performed better at 49.2% (29-of-59).
Looking ahead, Western Michigan will continue its holiday homestand, facing Defiance College on Monday afternoon at 1 PM. For those interested in attending any home games for WMU men's basketball, tickets can be purchased at wmubroncos.com/tickets.
