GAME NOTES: The Drake Bulldogs continue their search for their inaugural win of the 2014-15 campaign as they visit University Arena to take on the Western Michigan Broncos in a non-conference matchup.

This will be just the second meeting in history between the Bulldogs and Broncos on the hardwood. Drake downed WMU, 71-68, in the inaugural bout in Des Moines, 71-68.

Drake enters Saturday's action with an 0-2 record after suffering losses to Bowling Green (77-58) and DePaul (80-62) in its first two appearances of the campaign. Last season, coach Ray Giocoletti led the Bulldogs to 10 wins in his first 13 games as the program's head coach before Drake finished with a 15-16 overall ledger. The Bulldogs have been playing without two of its more experienced players in Karl Madison and Gary Ricks Jr., who will be serving the final installment of their three game suspensions handed down by school officials earlier this month.

The underclassmen duo of Reed Timmer and Jacob Enevold Jensen led Drake in its season opener versus BGSU with 16 and 10 points, respectively. Although the result in game two at DePaul was no different, the Bulldogs received senior leadership against the Blue Demons as Jordan Daniels and Chris Caird combined for 36 points. Caird is connecting on 45 percent of his field goal attempts to net 13.5 ppg, while rookie guard C.J. Rivers is leading Drake on the boards with 6.5 rpg.

The Broncos return home to Kalamazoo after an impressive, 82-71 win at Oakland's Athletic Center O'rena on Wednesday night. Connar Tava was unstoppable en route to a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds, which he accompanied with five assists. WMU, which went 13-2 at home in 2013-14, coasted to an 87-57 decision over NAIA foe Aquinas in its home opener last weekend. The Broncos are 47-12 against non-conference opponents at home under coach Steve Hawkins, and has lost just one home game to a non-MAC school since 2011

Tava is hitting on 66.7 percent of his shots from the field to post 17 ppg through two outings. Tucker Haymond was just as stellar versus the Golden Grizzlies, hitting 8-of-11 shots from the floor for 19 points, 12 of which came before the intermission. Kellen McCormick also made a huge impact versus Oakland, as he came off the bench to convert 4-of-5 tries from beyond the arc on his way to 14 points.

The Broncos did a solid job on the defensive end versus Oakland, which finished 7-of-19 from 3-point range. WMU stifled Preseason All-Horizon League selection Corey Petros, holding the talented big man to just 2-of-7 shooting from the field in the game.

The pressure will be on the Broncos' backcourt to defend the speedy Daniels in this one. Although Drake has been disappointing through its first two outings, it has potential to be a solid mid-major program once its youth-filled roster picks up some valuable experience.