MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Interstat) — Central Michigan defeated Western Michigan 83-70 in a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at McGuirk Arena. The Chippewas led 40-33 at halftime and maintained control throughout the second half before an announced crowd of 2,888. Tamario Adley led all scorers with 25 points for Central Michigan. Phat Phat Brooks added 19 points and five assists, and Nathan Claerbaut anchored the defense with 11 blocked shots. Jayden Brewer paced Western Michigan with 16 points and eight rebounds. EJ Ryans scored 15 points and Brady Swartz recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Central Michigan improved to 9-18 overall. Western Michigan fell to 8-17.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive disruption and opportunistic offense, the Central Michigan Chippewas avenged an earlier loss to their in-state rivals with a decisive 83-70 victory over the Western Michigan Broncos in a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at McGuirk Arena. A crowd of 2,888 saw the Chippewas improve to 9-18 overall, while the Broncos fell to 8-17. The win split the season series after Western Michigan claimed a 77-65 victory in Kalamazoo on Jan. 24. The most important stretch of the game came early in the second half, as Central Michigan transformed a narrow halftime lead into a commanding advantage. Leading 40-33 at the break, the Chippewas opened the second period with a 12-2 run over the first four minutes, fueled by aggressive defense and efficient transition play. The surge pushed the lead to 52-35 and Western Michigan never recovered, unable to cut the deficit below double digits for the remainder of the contest. Central Michigan’s defense was the story, generating 11 steals and an astonishing 12 blocked shots, which directly fueled their offense. The Chippewas converted 14 points off Western Michigan’s 14 turnovers and outscored the Broncos 17-14 in fastbreak opportunities. The defensive anchor was 7-foot center Nathan Claerbaut of Zeeland, who dominated the paint with a triple-double threat, finishing with 12 points, five rebounds and a monumental 11 blocked shots. His presence altered countless other attempts and stifled Western Michigan’s interior game. Offensively, Central Michigan was led by the dynamic guard play of Tamario Adley. The Detroit native scored a game-high 25 points, adding six rebounds and four steals. His ability to attack the rim and draw fouls was crucial; he went 9-for-12 from the free throw line as part of a larger disparity at the charity stripe. As a team, Central Michigan attempted 38 free throws, making 29, while Western Michigan went 19-for-25. Adley was complemented by backcourt mate Phat Phat Brooks of Grand Rapids, who contributed 19 points, four rebounds and five assists. The Chippewas shot 49% from the field (25 of 51) and posted an efficient offensive rating of 110.6 points per 100 possessions. Western Michigan struggled offensively against the Chippewas’ relentless pressure. The Broncos shot just 40% from the field (24 of 60) and a frigid 21.4% from three-point range (3 of 14). They managed only five assists against 14 turnovers, highlighting their difficulties in creating clean looks within Central Michigan’s defensive scheme. Jayden Brewer led the Broncos with 16 points and eight rebounds. EJ Ryans added 15 points, and Brady Swartz of Grand Rapids recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Despite winning the offensive rebounding battle 10-5 and scoring 40 points in the paint, Western Michigan’s offensive flow was consistently disrupted. Central Michigan established control in the first half, leading by as many as 11 points before settling for a seven-point advantage at intermission. The Chippewas’ second-half opening blitz, featuring steals, blocks, and easy baskets in transition, effectively sealed the game. Western Michigan made several mini-runs, but each was answered by a Central Michigan basket, often created by their defense. The victory moved Central Michigan ahead of Western Michigan in the MAC standings. The Chippewas, who were 3.5-point pregame favorites, also covered the spread, and the combined score of 153 surpassed the over/under line of 151.5. Western Michigan looks to rebound on the road Tuesday at Bowling Green. Central Michigan also hits the road for its next contest, traveling to face Kent State on Tuesday.

Preview: Western Michigan Broncos at Central Michigan Chippewas MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Interstat) — Two men’s basketball teams looking to halt late-season slides will meet Saturday when the Western Michigan Broncos visit the Central Michigan Chippewas in a Mid-American Conference matchup at McGuirk Arena. Both teams enter the 2026 regular-season rematch with identical 8-16 overall records and are seeking momentum ahead of the conference tournament. Western Michigan (8-16) has lost five of its last six, including a 90-73 home defeat to Akron on Tuesday. Central Michigan (8-18) has dropped three of its last four, most recently falling 66-54 at Eastern Michigan on Tuesday. The Broncos won the first meeting this season, 77-65 in Kalamazoo on Jan. 24. In that game, Western Michigan guard Justice Williams scored 14 points. Williams has been a bright spot lately, averaging 16.4 points over his last five games. He is coming off a 21-point, six-assist performance against Akron. Central Michigan will counter with guard Tamario Adley, who was held to just four points in the January loss to the Broncos. Adley has been more productive recently, averaging 14.3 points over his last six contests. He scored 17 in the loss to Eastern Michigan. The Chippewas’ most decisive win of the season was an 88-46 rout of Northern Illinois on Feb. 14, a game in which Adley dished out six assists and blocked four shots. Western Michigan’s recent struggles have been marked by defensive lapses, allowing an average of 85.8 points in its last five losses. Central Michigan has had its own inconsistencies, alternating blowout wins with periods of offensive stagnation. Saturday’s game tips off at 4:30 p.m. EST. Following this contest, Western Michigan travels to Bowling Green on Tuesday, while Central Michigan visits Kent State the same night.