MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois defeated SIU-Edwardsville 55-38 Saturday evening (Dec. 8) inside Western Hall, increasing the team's winning streak to four games.

The Cougars (2-5) were within single digits early in the second half, but a Western (7-3) run of 14-2 gave the Leathernecks a lead SIU-E couldn't surmount.

Adam Link led all scorers with 14 points, while Terell Parks (11) and Don McAvoy III (11) each finished in double figures for Western. To go along with his game-high 14 points, Link also had five rebounds, two steals and an assist.

Parks pulled down a team-best nine rebounds, had two steals and two assists to go along with his 11 points.

Ceola Clark III finished the game with nine points, a game-high five assists, two steals, and a rebound.

Jack Houpt also had five assists in the game, and six points via a pair of triples.

The Leathernecks held SIU-E to under 40% shooting in the contest, the sixth time this season they have held an opponent under 40%. It was also the third time this season the Leathernecks held their opponents under 40 points.

Western finished with 16 assists to SIU-E's six and scored 23 points off turnovers to the Cougars' nine.

SIU-E did not have anyone score in double figures, and were led by Michael Messer who recorded nine.

The Cougars were able to score the first points of the game, but it was the Leathernecks who, after the game was knotted up at 7-7, finished the first half having outscored SIU-E, 27-11, and taking a 16-point lead (34-18) into the break.

Six Leathernecks scored in the first, led by McAvoy and Link who each tallied eight. Clark finished the period with seven points.

SIU-E started the second half with a 12-5 run, cutting its deficit to nine, 39-30. It was Houpt's second triple of the game that would stop the Cougars run midway through the second.

During the next six minutes of the period, Western answered with a 14-2 run, highlighted by treys from Houpt and McAvoy, and both Parks and Link connecting on two baskets apiece.

After the run, the Leathernecks held a 21-point advantage with four minutes to play in the game, and the Leathernecks would cost the rest of the way, downing SIU-E 55-38.

Western takes a week off from action before continuing its homestand on December 18 versus UIC.