Kalamazoo, MI (Sports Network) - David Brown provided a huge lift off the bench with 22 points as the Western Michigan Broncos held off the Kent State Golden Flashes for an 82-76 decision in a Mid-American Conference thriller at University Arena.

Shayne Whittington registered a double-double of 21 points and 13 boards for WMU (15-7, 7-2 MAC) as it picked up its seventh win in a row. Nate Hutcheson chipped in 15 points for the Broncos.

Chris Evans paced Kent State (12-11, 3-6) with 19 points and nine rebounds. Randal Holt added 18 points, Darren Goodson chipped in 17 points, and Kris Brewer went 4-of-4 from 3-point range en route to 15 points for the Golden Flashes, who have now lost four of their last five games.

Kent State shot 41.1 percent from the field and converted 9-of-15 at the charity stripe in the first half to take a 38-32 lead into the intermission. The Broncos went into the break trailing despite shooting 50 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.

WMU chipped away at the halftime deficit until Brown completed a traditional three-point play to give it a 50-49 lead at the 13:52 mark of the second period. The lead changed hands a few times until Brown made a pair of free throws to put the hosts ahead for good with 1:41 remaining. The Broncos' reserves outscored Kent State's bench, 19-2, in the final 20 minutes to help the hosts rally back for the win.

WMU enjoyed a 35-27 edge in the rebounding battle and outscored the Golden Flashes, 28-16, in the paint.

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