KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Tommy Freeman’s desperation 3-pointer was off the mark and Western Michigan held off Ohio, 85-83, on Saturday in Kalamazoo.

Flenard Whitfield scored 27 points and grabbed 11 points, and Demetrius Ward added 22 points on 6-of-8 3-point shooting for the Broncos, who made 12 of 21 shots from beyond the arc.

Six Ohio players scored nine or more points, led by D.J. Cooper with 17 points and five assists. DeVaughn Washington had 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Ivo Baltic had 14 points and eight rebounds.

The Bobcats (12-13, 5-6 Mid-American Conference) created two turnovers in the final minute, only to give it back to the Broncos twice.

Even so, after Mike Douglas missed two free throws with 5 seconds remaining, Ohio had one last shot.

Western Michigan (13-10, 6-4 MAC) led most of the first half and had a 39-34 advantage at the break.

Baltic hit a pair of free throws with 12:05 remaining to rally Ohio to a 55-54 lead and two more Baltic foul shots gave the Bobcats their final lead, 57-56, with 10:52 to go.

Seven straight Broncos points put them in control, 63-57. Ricardo Johnson scored on consecutive Ohio possessions to draw the Bobcats to within one at 76-75, and the teams traded points until Juwan Howard Jr. connected on a 3-pointer for a four-point Western Michigan lead with just 47 seconds left.

Cooper made one free throw, missed the second, and Ohio turned it over after getting an offensive rebound. Washington got it back for the Bobcats on a steal, but Nick Kellogg committed a turnover with 25 seconds remaining.

Ward hit two free throws, Cooper made a quick layup and then Ward made two more at the line for a five-point Broncos lead with just nine seconds remaining.

Cooper needed only three seconds to hit a trey, setting up the near comeback in the final five seconds.

Both teams hit the offensive boards hard, with Ohio getting 17 and Western Michigan finishing with 13. The Broncos had more turnovers, 17-13.

The Broncos shot 47.6 percent to 47.0 percent for the Bobcats, but Ohio was just 5 of 14 beyond the arc.

Freeman scored 11 points, Ricardo Johnson had 10 points and six rebounds – five of them offensive – and Reggie Keely scored nine points.

Howard Jr. finished with 12 points and Douglas with 10 points. Ward dished out seven assists.

Ohio completed a 4-2 run against Western Division foes and returns to play against the East with a 7:30 p.m. game Tuesday at Buffalo.