Kalamazoo, MI (Sports Network) - Shayne Whittington supplied an 18-point
performance for Western Michigan as the Broncos defeated the North Dakota
State Bison, 72-71, in overtime for a first round win in the College
Basketball Invitational at University Arena.
Whittington went a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line and had three
blocks for the Broncos (21-12), who will face Wyoming in the quarterfinals.
Brandon Pokely added 14 points with a pair of 3-pointers while David Brown had
12 points and Connar Tava managed 10.
North Dakota State's (24-10) strong season came to an abrupt end despite a 23-
point, eight-rebound game from TrayVonn Wright. Wright shot 10-of-18 from the
field but just 3-of-10 from long-range. Lawrence Alexander contributed 19
points while shooting 3-of-4 from beyond the arc while Taylor Braun recorded a
double-double with 11 assists and 10 points to go with eight rebounds.
The Bison shot 50.0 percent from the floor in the first half and led 32-28 at
intermission.
The Broncos responded in the second by shooting 48.1 percent from the floor
and outscored NDSU 34-30. Wright was able to hit a jumper with two seconds
left in regulation to tie the game for the Bison and send it to overtime.
In overtime, the Bison didn't allow the Broncos to take the lead until there
were 13 seconds remaining and Tava hit two shots from the charity stripe to
put Western Michigan up 72-71. Taylor Braun had two chances to win the game
for NDSU in the final seconds but was blocked by Whittington on a layup
attempt with four seconds left and then by Tava on another layup attempt just
before the buzzer.
The Bison were unable to score a single fast break point. Western Michigan
took full advantage of 14 turnovers committed by NDSU, turning them into 25
points.
GAME NOTES:
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