Men's basketball preview: Western Michigan at BGSU

3/1/2004

When: 8 p.m.

Radio: 1230

TV: Fox Sports Net

Records: WMU is 21-4, 13-3 MAC; BG is 13-14, 8-8 MAC.

Last game: WMU lost to Toledo 93-84; BG lost to Ball State 81-71.

Series: BG leads 65-35.

Outlook: Will Broncos star Mike Williams play in tonight's contest? WMU officials say it's doubtful one of the MAC's top players will see action, but there are bigger questions for the Falcons to answer if they hope to claim a victory. One is whether they can slow down a Bronco offense that averages a league-best 77.9 points per game. Western Michigan scored 84 at Toledo Saturday despite Williams' absence due to ankle problems, with Ben Reed scoring 26 and Anthony Kann adding 16. Another question is whether the Falcons can get their sluggish offense started after struggling to put points on the board in Saturday's disappointing loss to Ball State. With Williams gone, the play of center Kevin Netter in his final regular-season home game at Anderson Arena will be critical. But the biggest question is whether the Falcons can rebound after a bad home loss to claim a victory that would keep alive their hopes for a home game in the first-round of the MAC tournament.