Tava scores 25, W. Michigan beats Toledo 87-76

Jan 8, 2014, 10:56 pm

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Connar Tava couldn't miss, hitting all nine shots from the field to score a career-high 25 points and lead Western Michigan to a convincing 87-76 conference-opening victory over once-beaten Toledo Wednesday night.

Back-to-back layups by Tava put the Broncos (8-5, 1-0 Mid-American Conference) up 4-3 and they never trailed again, racing away on a 12-0 run.

Toledo, preseason favorites in the Mid-American west division, fell behind by as many as 22 before halftime. Justin Drummond led the Rockets (12-2, 0-1) with 18 points, and scored a burst of seven -- on four free throws and a three-point play -- to slice the lead to 76-72 with 3:59 left. Rian Pearson added a 3-pointer in the late run and finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

The Broncos shot 60 percent from the field (29-48). Austin Richie scored 19 and Shayne Whittington had 10 points and 10 rebounds for Western Michigan.