David Kool scored 20 points and Flenard Whitfield added a career-high 19 as Western Michigan defeated Bowling Green 75-73 Sunday in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament.
Western Michigan, the seventh seed in the conference tournament, will meet No. 2 seed Central Michigan in the quarterfinals Thursday in Cleveland.
Kool, Western Michigan's all-time leading scorer, was held to five points in the first half. But he got going in the second half, and his 3-pointer with 7:22 left put the Broncos (17-14) ahead to stay at 64-62.
The game featured 13 lead changes, and the Broncos never led by more than five points. Mike Douglas made four free throws down the stretch to clinch the win. Bowling Green's Joe Jakubowski made a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Scott Thomas led Bowling Green (14-16) with 23 points. Marc Larson had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Falcons.
