TULSA - James Washington and David DuBois combined for 38 points and helped fuel several late runs, but sixth-seeded Western Illinois sent second-seeded Oakland to the foul line 55 times, falling 80-66 in the first round of The Summit League Tournament.

The Leathernecks (12-18) were able to fight back several times from a deficit as large as 18 early in the second half of a game in which they never led. They came within single-digits three times, including 51-45 with 8:25 remaining, but the Golden Grizzlies' (17-13) Erik Kangas responded with three consecutive three-pointers to keep the Leathernecks at arm's length. After they were able to again get within seven, 63-56, with 3:51 to play, Kangas hit his last of six three-pointers. The Leathernecks' deficit remained in single digits until the final two minutes, when Oakland converted 11 of its 14 free throw attempts.

The Grizzlies' 55 free throw attempts (35-55) set a school record and tournament record. The Leathernecks, meanwhile, converted 19 of 25 attempts at the line. The two teams combined for 10-of-39 shooting from long range as the Leathernecks went just 1-for-10 in the first half.

Washington led the Leathernecks with 20 points, including 13 in the final five minutes, and DuBois contributed 18. Four Oakland starters scored in double-figures, including Kangas who ended the night with a game-high 26.

Postgame Quotes

Western Illinois Head Coach Derek Thomas

Opening statement
"If you would subtract the first 12 minutes, I'd feel pretty decent about it. We came out and felt there was a lid on the rim. We held it together on the defensive end, but when you are not able to put the ball into the basket you dig yourself a hole against a good team. That makes it tough to come back."

"I was very pleased our guys' fight and we tried to come back. We had our chances there and then (Erik) Kangas went unconscious. You have to give them credit for that and for him to shoot four 25-30 footers is tough to overcome, mentally and physically."

On early foul trouble

"Oakland is a very high-potent offensive and there's a reason for that. They have a great shooter and have three or four guys who put their head down and drive to basket. Going into the game, one of the things we wanted to do was to keep them off the foul line. We wanted to make them shoot over our hands or when they do drive, to close it off."

James Washington, guard

On shooting problems

"Coach had confidence in us, especially DuBois, Nurse and I, the three-point shooters. He told us it would eventually fall and to keep shooting it."

On late three-point shooting by OU's Kangas

"We tried to not let that affect us, but (Erik) Kangas is a great shooter. When he shoots fadeaways like that and they're contested, there's really nothing you can do about it except to go back down and try to get a quick basket. Those were some big three's he hit."

Oakland Head Coach Greg Kampe

Opening statement
"I was very, very concerned about this game because we don't have seniors and they do. It concerned me a great deal."

"I thought our team came out the first seven, eight minutes of the game and really defended and set the tone of the game and we were able to hang on."

On shooting a tournament-record 55 free throws:
"That's a staple of our team. We're very good at getting the ball to the basket and we do that a lot, so we get to the free throw line a lot. That's something that's part of our plan is to try and drive the ball hard inside and get teams into foul trouble."

"We don't score well in the post. We're very young inside, so we have to find different ways to get easy points."

On Kangas' shooting performance
"There's a reason that he was a preseason all-league player and was an all-league player last year. We run a lot of different things to get him the ball and once he banked that one in, it was over because when he gets the feel he just keeps shooting. That wasn't a unique thing tonight."

Erik Kangas, guard

On his three-point shooting in the second half
"I just knew that I wasn't going to stop shooting. My coach has confidence in me to tell me to shoot no matter what."

"I banked in that one in the corner and that got my confidence a little bit, and the next one, you know, felt pretty good."