VALPARAISO, Ind. - Sammy Hunter scored a career-high 21 points but Western Illinois couldn't overcome a late Valparaiso run as the Crusaders defeated the Leathernecks, 76-64. The Crusaders (14-9, 7-6) led for most of the second half but didn't reach a double-figure lead until a pair of free throws by Seth Colclasure capped a 9-0 run and gave them a 69-59 advantage with 2:05 to play. The run came just 1:40 after the Leathernecks had pulled within one, 60-59, on a three-pointer by David Jackson. The Leathernecks (7-17, 3-10) led five different times in the first half, holding a lead for the first 5:00 of the game, and went into the locker room down one, 32-31. The game saw a total of 11 lead changes and five ties. Hunter was joined in double-figures by Jackson's 16 and Fred Oguns' 13 points. Valpo was led by Dan Oppland's 16 points and 10 rebounds. Postgame notes:- Western was outscored 38-18 in the paint. - Sammy Hunter has scored at least 14 points in each of his last three games. - Valpo's first field goal of the game didn't come until 17:00. They started the second half on a 9-2 run. - Hunter matched a career-high six rebounds. - Western was 16-of-27 (59.3 percent) from the free throw line, including 7-of-14 in the first half. - The Leathernecks were outrebounded (44-33) for the first time in nine games. Postgame quotes from Western Illinois head coach Derek Thomas:"We had another good effort and another close game. I'm diasappointed in some of the mental mistakes though. We're a very good free throw shooting team and we didn't show that tonight. We were getting to the line but weren't knocking them down. "On Valpo's 9-0 run:"We got rattled after a couple of mistakes and they were able to pull ahead in a matter of seconds there late in the game. You can't do that against a veteran team. You have to stay mentally tough."On being outrebounded:"That's a result of the zone they stayed in. We missed too manu shots and they were able to get to the ball first. I don't see that number as much of a concern."