MUNCIE, IN (WKZO AM/FM) – The Western Michigan University men’s basketball team had a pair of chances on the final possession of the game, but the Broncos could not get either shot attempt to go in and fell 71-70 at Ball State Tuesday evening.
Ball State (13-5, 4-1 MAC) held a 66-59 lead with just under four minutes to play. Western Michigan (6-12, 2-3 MAC) put together a 7-0 run to tie the game, with a Markeese Hastings old-fashioned three-point play tying the score with 2:20 on the clock.
After trading baskets, the two teams were deadlocked once again at 68-68 as the game entered the final minute. With 49 ticks remaining, Titus Wright made a tip-in off of an offensive rebound to put the Broncos up, 70-68. BSU came down on its next possession and got a three-point play of its own to go back in front by a point.
WMU missed its initial attempt on its final possession, but got another chance when the rebound went off of a Cardinal and out of bounds. Western Michigan got one more shot off in the dying seconds, but it did not go down, giving Ball State the one-point victory.
Lamar Norman Jr. posted his third 30-point game of the season and seventh of his career, as the senior netted a game-high 31 points. For the evening, Norman made 6-of-9 from beyond the arc and all seven of his free throw attempts.
The Broncos are back at home this Saturday for a doubleheader with the WMU women’s team. The women’s team begins the day at noon against Buffalo, with the men’s team taking on Akron at 2:30 p.m.
Saturday will be a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Western Michigan’s 1997-98 MAC Championship team, which will be honored at halftime of the men’s game.
