Broncos Top Rockets For MAC Championship, 98-77 - Mar 16, 2014

The regular season Mid-American Conference co-champions No. 1 Western Michigan and No. 2 Toledo entered the MAC Tournament Finals looking to see who was the true conference champion, and maybe more importantly, who would go dancing in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Western Michigan claimed the title of MAC Tournament Champion with a dominating 56-point second half and defeating the Rockets at Quicken Loans Arena, 98-77. The opening five minutes of play should that the game would be a battle with eight lead changes in the opening five minutes of play. The Broncos then took the lead and extended the Toledo point deficit to as much as 10, but the Rockets did not submit. The Rockets battled back to tie the game with under a minute and a half to play in the opening half. Western Michigan took a four-point lead in the final minute, but Toledo had the last word in the half with a buzzer-beating dunk by J.D. Weatherspoon (6'6''-F-92). The Broncos held a slight lead over Toledo going into the halftime intermission, 42-40. Western Michigan held a 24-13 rebounding advantage over Toledo in the first half, but Toledo won the opening half's turnover margin, 3-6. The second half remained a close contest for the opening 10 minutes of play, but then the Broncos began bucking and Toledo couldn't hold on for the ride. In the final 11:30 of play Western Michigan outscored Toledo 34-21. Western Michigan's Shayne Whittington (6'11''-C-91) capitalized the run with two alley-oop dunks in the final two minutes of play. With 43.7 seconds remaining in the game a Western Michigan timeout gave the Bronco faithful a chance to welcome their team to the bench with congratulatory applause. The Rocket fans in turn gave cheers to their team for a season well played. Cheers rang out with the final buzzer sounded and the Broncos were crowned champions. Western Michigan's David Brown (6'3''-G-91), the MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, led all scorers with 32 points. The Broncos finished with eight scorers and four in double-figures. Accompanying Brown in double-digits was Tucker Haymond (6'5''-G/F) with 21 points, Whittington with 20, and Connar Tava (6'5''-F-93) with 13 points. Whittington completed a double-double with his point total and 13 total rebounds, all defensive. Toledo finished with seven players in the scoring column and two in double-figures. Rian Pearson (6'4''-G-90) and Julius Brown (5'10''-PG-93) finished 22 points each. Western Michigan dominated the boards out-rebounding the Rockets, 46-27. Toledo finished ahead in the turnover margin in the game 4-10. Western Michigan finished 34-61 from the field, 9-19 from the 3-point line, and 21-28 from the free throw line. Toledo completed 28-70 from the field, 8-24 from behind the 3-point arc, and 13-21 from the charity stripe.

Courtesy of MAC

MAC Tournament Final: Western Michigan - Toledo 98-77

MAC Tournament Semifinals:
Eastern Michigan - Toledo 45-59
Akron - Western Michigan 60-64

All-MAC 1st Team 2014

Brown

Brown

McCrea

Treadwell

Whittington