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Western Illinois University Athletics

J.C. Fuller
Junior J.C. Fuller finished with a season-high 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor
68
Winner South Dakota USD 10-10, 4-2 SL
58
Western Illinois WIU 7-11, 2-5 SL
Winner
South Dakota USD
10-10, 4-2 SL
68
Final
58
Western Illinois WIU
7-11, 2-5 SL
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
South Dakota USD 25 43 68
Western Illinois WIU 33 25 58

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Struggle in Second Half, Fall to South Dakota

Junior J.C. Fuller finished with a season-high 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor

COACH WRIGHT POSTGAME RADIO INTERVIEW | COACH WRIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE | PHOTOS

MACOMB, Ill. – Despite leading by eight points at halftime, Western Illinois men's basketball fell to South Dakota in Summit League action Thursday evening (Jan. 22) in Macomb, 68-58.
 
"Our defense was disappointing tonight," said head coach Billy Wright. "We take pride in our defense. Obviously we didn't show it much in the second half. I thought we did a great job in the first half, they shot 27 percent, but we didn't come out with that same focus and intensity in the second half. Credit South Dakota for attacking the basket and getting to the free throw line. I thought they did a great job of that, but we have to do a better job of moving our feet on defense."
 
The Fighting Leathernecks fall to 7-11 overall and 2-5 in league play after the defeat, while South Dakota improves to 10-10 in the year and 4-2 in league action. WIU has now dropped five straight after beginning its league schedule 2-0.
 
WIU trailed early before using a 12-3 run to take a six-point lead, 19-13, midway through the first half. J.C. Fuller, who finished with a season-high 23 points in the game, had seven of the 12 points during the run, and sophomore guard Garret Covington had the other five points.
 
After an 11-2 USD run, Western answered by finishing the opening half on a 12-1 run and taking a 33-25 advantage into the break. Covington tallied 10 of those 12 points.
 
The second half was all Coyotes as USD opened the period on a 20-6 run to regain the lead and never allowed WIU to get back into the game. South Dakota's largest lead of the game was 15 points at the 4:43 mark of the second.
 
Fuller tallied his 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field, and went 4-of-5 from long range. He also had four assists, two rebounds, a block and a steal.
 
Covington had 15 points, all of which came in the first half. He also grabbed five rebounds.
 
Junior forward Jalen Chapman finished with a team-best six boards, while sophomore guard Jabari Sandifer recorded a team-best six assists.
 
WIU was out-rebounded 43-32 in the game, and South Dakota scored 18 second-chance points on 14 offensive rebounds. Western only had four offensive boards and four second-chance points.
 
USD only had eight turnovers to the Leathernecks' 12. Western did have more assists, 15-10.
 
Western Illinois continues its home stand next Friday, Jan. 30, when IUPUI comes to town for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
 
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