CMU men's basketball falls to rival Western Michigan
Central Michigan senior guard Tamario Adley prepares for a free throw attempt in McGuirk Arena, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. Adley transferred to CMU after the 2024-25 season from Wayne State University. (CM-Life | Alivia Cranick)
With 10:16 remaining in the second half, Central Michigan men's basketball trailed Western Michigan by four, its lowest deficit of the half with momentum firmly in the Chippewa's hands.
That is when Bronco guard Justice Williams drilled a three to reclaim composure over the game, leading to a 77-65 defeat for CMU against its rival.
"It was fun to be part of the rivalry," head coach Andy Bronkema told ESPN. "I think Western has dealt with a few injuries, a lot of different rotations, and they're kind of hitting their stride a little bit."
The squad from Mount Pleasant falls to 5-15 on the season and 1-7 in Mid-American Conference play.
The Chippewas jumped out ahead early leading 14-7 through the first six minutes as WMU had no answer for Logan McIntire's shots from beyond the arc.
However, things quickly changed with Western Michigan tying the game at 23 with 6:39 remaining in the first half.
The rest of the first half went back-and-forth, but CMU went cold from three, facing a four point deficit at halftime with the Broncos leading 35-31.
"I am going to be proud when some of these guys get out of their little funk and their slump," Bronkema said. "But the excuses are gone... all the heart-to-heart and the tricks and the rabbit out of a hat is gone so now it is just look in the mirror and pull up your boot straps and get yourself out of it."
The maroon and gold shot 42.3% from the field in the first half but after the initial pair of threes from McIntire, the shots refused to land as the team finished the half 3-12 from three.
The team from Kalamazoo wasted no time scoring, coming out of halftime and taking a commanding 45-36 lead.
CMU battled back, cutting Western Michigan's lead to four, but that is as close as it got for the rest of the night as the Broncos regained control over the game.
The final ten minutes WMU widened the gap, finishing with a 12-point victory.
Central Michigan struggled offensively, finishing 4-23 from beyond the arc after the initial success.
Nathan Claerbaut shot an efficient 7-13. from the field and led the Chippewas in scoring with 17 points, five rebounds and two blocks.
Keenan Garner finished with a double-double, tallying 16 points and 12 rebounds on 5-9 from the field.
"He has been amazing and we couldn't take him off the floor," Bronkema said. "He had the heart of a champion tonight, he's been playing real well it's a huge double-double for him."
CMU men's basketball has chance for redemption on Tuesday, Jan. 27 as the squad returns to McGuirk Arena to take on Eastern Michigan at 7 p.m.
