SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Leathernecks found themselves down 51-50 with under a minute to play Sunday evening (March 4), but a dramatic four-point play from senior guard Ceola Clark III with 39 seconds left gave Western a three-point advantage, propelling them to a 58-53 victory over the No. 5 North Dakota State Bison in the 2012 Summit League Tournament.
Western improves to 17-13 overall on the season, the most wins since the program achieved 19 in its 1996-97 campaign. The Summit League tournament victory was the first since the 1998-99 season, and the Leathernecks improve to 12-23 overall in tournament-play.
Clarks dramatic three-point shot, in which he turned into a four-point play, was his 78th of the year. His 78th triple this season sets a new Western Illinois single-season recording passing Bill Heisler who finished the 1999-00 season with 77.
Freshman forward Obi Emegano finished with a game-high 19 points to pace Western, while junior forward Terell Parks tallied 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the year. Clark was the only other Leatherneck to tally 10-plus on the night, finishing with 13 points, while also dishing out a team-high four assists.
NDSU, who had four players finish in double figures in TrayVonn Wright (14), Taylor Braun (11), Lawrence Alexander (11), and Mike Felt (10), drops to 17-13 on the year.
The Bison earned the opening tip and capitalized on their first possession, knocking down a three to take the early lead.
It didn't take long for Western to capture its first advantage of the game as Emegano connected on his second jumper of the contest, making it 9-7 with 15:35 left in the first.
Western built its lead up to four points, 15-11, midway through the half after junior forward Jack Houpt connected on his second three-pointer of the game.
A triple from NDSU's Felt, followed by a jumper from Wright would cap a 6-0 NDSU run and give them the lead back, 17-15.
The Bison would continue their run, scoring six more unanswered points and extending their lead to the largest of the half, 23-17. However, Western would rattle of five straight to conclude the first and head to the locker room down one, 23-22.
Emegano continued his hot shooting into the second, scoring five quick points for Western and giving them a 27-25 advantage early on.
The two teams found themselves knotted up at 29 each, but Emegano found Parks for the electrifying alley-oop slam dunk to give Western the lead back and spark a short 4-0 run.
NDSU's Wright would respond with back-to-back baskets, a triple and a long jumper as the Bison regained the lead 34-33 with 10:48 left in the game.
A three from Clark, his first points of the game, gave Western the lead back, 36-34 heading into the final nine minutes of play.
With Western leading 42-39, junior forward Don McAvoy III hit Parks streaking down the lane who finished with a thunderous one-handed slam. McAvoy then finished a tough basket under the hoop to put Western up 46-39 with just over five to play.
The Bison would again answer, this time with a 6-0 run sparked by Wright again, making it 46-45 in favor of Western. A free throw from Braun with 4 minutes on the clock tied it up at 46.
Clark then connected on his second three of the game while being fouled, sending him to the line where he was able to complete the four-point play with just 39.4 seconds left in the game.
Free throws and smart defense would finish off the Bison as Western would earn the 58-53 victory.
The Leathernecks advance to the semifinal round of The Summit League tournament, and face the No. 1 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (27-5) tomorrow at 6:05 p.m. ORU downed No. 8 IPFW yesterday (March 3).
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