MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois men's basketball team (6-4) defeated Eureka (5-5) 73-52 behind a performance from freshman Obi Emegano that overwhelmed the Red Devils all night long Tuesday evening (Dec. 27).
The win improves the Leathernecks overall record to 6-4 and makes it six victories in the last eight games, something the Leathernecks have not since their 2001-02 campaign.
Emegano dropped a game-high 25 points on the Red Devils, scoring 10 in the first and 15 in the second. He also added one assist, one block, and two steals in 35 minutes of action. Junior forward Don McAvoy III (14) and junior forward Jack Houpt (11) added double-digit performances. Senior guard Tommie Tyler led the team in both rebounds (6) and assists (5).
The Leathernecks finished with a 43.9 field goal percentage, and held Eureka to 36.7%, while grabbing only one more rebound then Eureka (35-34). Advantages in points off turnovers (25-5), second chance points (11-2), and points from bench (22-5) also helped Western to its victory.
The team also committed only eight turnovers, the third time the team has had fewer than 10 turnovers in a game this season.
Eureka had three players score in the double-digits in Dustin Fritsch (11), Rian Nailor (11), and Niko Rivera (10).
The Red Devils came out fire early in the first, hitting on three of their first five three-point attempts and taking an 11-7 lead into the first media timeout (15:45).
Emegano then rattled off three straight baskets and gave Western the 13-11 advantage, followed up by McAvoy entering the game and knocking down his first and only three of the contest.
The two teams battled back-and-forth until the break, both struggling from the floor with Western shooting 37 percent, and Eureka connecting on 30.4 percent of its shots in the first.
The Leathernecks, however, were able to take a 30-23 lead into the locker room thanks to holding the Red Devils without a field goal, and only two free throws for the final 11:04 of the first half .
Eureka scored the first points of the second half, a three, but Western answered with a 10-5 run up to the first media timeout (15:36), giving them a 40-28 lead.
Western extended its lead to 15 points midway through the second thanks for a mid-range jumper from McAvoy and a pair of free throws from Emegano.
The Leathernecks continued to play strong defense and put together good possessions, taking a 56-40 lead into the final 7:23 minutes of the game.
Emegano continued to impress scoring 15 total points in the second half, carrying the Leathernecks to convincing 21-point victory, 73-52, the same score as the women's game earlier in the eveing.
Western will hit the road and resume Summit League action this Friday (Dec. 30) in Indianapolis, Indiana when they take on the IUPUI Jaguars at 7 p.m.
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