KALAMAZOO, Mich. (Interstat) — Western Michigan used a decisive second-half surge to pull away from its in-state rival, defeating Central Michigan 77-65 in a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at University Arena.

A crowd of 4,776 watched as the Broncos improved to 7-11 overall, while the Chippewas fell to 5-15. The game was largely a contest of contrasting efficiencies, with Western Michigan capitalizing on Central Michigan’s mistakes and cold shooting to secure the victory.

The first half was a tightly contested affair, featuring eight lead changes and three ties. Central Michigan’s Nathan Claerbaut, a 7-foot sophomore from Zeeland, Michigan, established an early inside presence, scoring 11 of his team-high 17 points before halftime. Western Michigan countered with the perimeter play of Justice Williams and the slashing ability of Jayden Brewer, taking a narrow 35-31 lead into the break.

The turning point came early in the second half. After Central Michigan’s Keenan Garner hit a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 45-47 with 11:24 remaining, Western Michigan unleashed a game-defining 12-2 run over the next three minutes. The sequence was fueled by defensive pressure and transition offense, hallmarks of the Broncos’ performance all night.

Justice Williams ignited the run with a 3-pointer, followed immediately by a steal from Williams that led to a Brewer fast-break layup. After a Central Michigan turnover, Brewer was fouled and made both free throws. EJ Ryans then capped the burst with a driving layup, pushing the Western Michigan lead to 59-47 with 8:40 to play. The Chippewas never recovered, unable to trim the deficit below eight points for the remainder of the game.

The most important part of the contest was Western Michigan’s ability to generate offense from its defense. The Broncos scored 20 fast-break points compared to just 11 for Central Michigan and converted 11 points off 10 Chippewa turnovers. Conversely, Central Michigan managed only six points off Western Michigan’s seven giveaways. This disparity in easy scoring opportunities proved insurmountable for a Central Michigan team that struggled to find an offensive rhythm, shooting just 36.2% from the field and a frigid 17.4% from 3-point range.

Brewer, a junior from Indianapolis, led all scorers with 20 points for Western Michigan, adding six rebounds. Williams, from Philadelphia, provided 14 points, while Ryans of Grand Rapids chipped in 15. The Broncos shared the ball effectively in the second half and finished shooting 44.4% from the floor.

For Central Michigan, Claerbaut’s 17-point effort was supported by 16 points from Garner, a junior from Fishers, Indiana, and 12 points from guard Phat Phat Brooks of Grand Rapids. However, the Chippewas’ offense was disjointed, evidenced by a season-low four total assists. Their offensive rating of 93.7 on 69 possessions underscored their struggles against an active Western Michigan defense.

Western Michigan also controlled the game at the free-throw line, attempting 33 free throws and making 23. Central Michigan went 19 for 26 from the stripe. Both teams finished with 69 possessions, but the Broncos’ offensive rating of 112.1 highlighted their superior shot-making and ability to get to the line.

The victory gives Western Michigan momentum heading into a road game at Northern Illinois on Tuesday. Central Michigan, which has lost five of its last six games, looks to regroup at home against Eastern Michigan, also on Tuesday. The two rivals are scheduled to meet again in Mount Pleasant on Feb. 21.