MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois men's basketball team, thanks to a balanced scoring attack and a pair of Leatherneck double-doubles, picked up its fourth straight victory and a season sweep of the IPFW Mastodons Thursday evening (Feb. 2), 62-52.

With the win Western improves to 13-8 overall and 7-5 in Summit League play, while IPFW falls to 10-12 overall and 4-9 in league play.

"I thought IPFW played with tremendous fight," said head coach Jim Molinari. "They had a great plan and they exploited the things that we have a hard time overcoming. But that was a Western game. 40 minutes of defense. I think the guy for me tonight was Tommie (Tyler). His approach, the way he played, his attitude, I think Tommie is the one that really put us over the top."

Junior forward Terell Parks led the Leathernecks in scoring with 15 while grabbing 11 rebounds, good for his sixth double-double of the season. He also tallied three blocks, one assist, and one steal.

Senior guard Tommie Tyler (12), freshman forward Obi Emegano (12) and senior guard Ceola Clark III (11) each finished in double figures as well. Clark also delivered 10 helpers on his way to a double-double, his second of the season.

The two Leatherneck double-doubles marks the first time two players have achieved the accomplishment in a single-game since Jan. 5, 2008 at UMKC.

"If you're going to have a good season you have to have these wins," continued Molinari. "Conference basketball in February is ugly. You just have to stick with your identity and our's is defense. This is what these games are going to be like."

The Leathernecks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after a jumper from Emegano, and held onto that lead for the first four minutes of competition. A three-pointer from IPFW guard Frank Gains at the 15:38 mark gave the Mastodons their first lead of the game, 7-6.

After a pair of free throws from Emegano, Western regained the lead and held onto the lead for the rest of the half. The Leathernecks 10-2 run over the final six minutes of the first allowed them to take a 10-point lead into the break, 34-24.

Tyler led Western with nine points in the first, followed by Emegano who tallied eight.

IPFW used a 10-5 run early in the second to make it a five-point contest, 39-34, but a tremendous lob pass from Clark to Parks, who finished with a two-handed slam, would momentarily steal the Mastodons momentum.

Another short 4-0 run from the Mastodons cut their deficit to just two points, 41-39, with 12:51 left in regulation. Parks then rattled off a pair of baskets, and a jumper from Emegano extended Western's lead back to six points, 47-41, with just under 10 minutes to play.

The Leathernecks held onto their six-point advantage for the next five minutes of play, 49-43, down to the five minute mark, when an IPFW slam dunk from Mario Hines forced Western to use a timeout. The Mastodons continued to close in on the Leathernecks, this time using three-point play to make it one point game with three minutes to play.

It was Parks again who answered, giving Western a little breathing room by finishing off a three-point play of his own, and a thunderous block on IPFW's next possession.

Western added to its lead thanks to junior forward Jack Houpt as he connected on his second triple of the contest to give Western the 55-48 lead with 1:30 left in the game.          

Clark did his job to seal the win for the Leathernecks by knocking down five-of-six free throws after being fouled three times with under a minute to play, guiding the Leathernecks to a 62-52 triumph.

The Leathernecks (13-8, 7-5) will conclude its three-game Summit League home stand Saturday night as they play host to the Golden Grizzlies of Oakland (12-13, 6-7) at 7 p.m. inside Western Hall.

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