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Western Illinois University Athletics

MBB_IUPUI_FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
59
IUPUI IUPUI 8-14, 4-4 SL
63
Winner Western Illinois WIU 8-11, 3-5 SL
IUPUI IUPUI
8-14, 4-4 SL
59
Final
63
Western Illinois WIU
8-11, 3-5 SL
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
IUPUI IUPUI 27 32 59
Western Illinois WIU 28 35 63

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

Covington Sinks Late Three to Help Push Leathernecks Past IUPUI

Western Illinois ends five-game losing skid with its 63-59 Summit League victory over the Jaguars

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

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois put an end to its losing streak Friday evening (Jan. 30) at home with a 63-59 Summit League victory over the IUPUI Jaguars.
 
After a back-and-forth game, the Leathernecks found themselves down one, 59-58, with less than a minute to play after IUPUI's P.J. Boutte banked in a three.
 
Western would answer, however, when sophomore guard Jabari Sandifer found fellow sophomore guard Garret Covington who knocked down his lone three of the game to make it 61-59 in favor of WIU with 12 seconds to play.
 
"Jabari (Sandifer) did a great job with his dribble penetration on the last possession," said head coach Billy Wright of WIU's late three-point play. "As a second option we always boot Garret (Covington) back around and obviously he's a great shooter. We have total confidence in him and he made a big shot at the right time."
 
Senior forward Mohamed Conde then sealed the win after grabbing his 14th rebound of the game, getting fouled, and knocking down two free throws with three seconds to play.
 
WIU improves to 3-5 in league play and 8-11 overall. The Leathernecks are now only one game behind third place in the standings. IUPUI falls to 8-14 on the year and 4-4 in league action.
 
"I think we had great student support, we had great fans -- from the community, ROTC, the pep band and we even had the little kids at half time. I think our video boards help get our guys excited as well, especially during the starting lineups," said Wright.
 
J.C. Fuller posted his third consecutive 20-plus point game, dropping 20 on the Jaguars. The junior guard, who made his fourth start of the season, finished 8-of-14 from the field and made 4-of-7 from long range.  He also grabbed three rebounds and tallied two assists in 35 minutes of play.
 
Pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds, six of which were offensive, was Mo Conde. The Belleville, Mich. native also recorded seven points and a team-high three steals.
 
Junior guard Jamie Batish was the only other Leatherneck to score in double figures. Batish finished with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor, and 3-of-4 from the arc.
 
Covington finished with nine points and three helpers, while Sandifer dished out a game-high seven assists.
 
Junior forward Tate Stensgaard played a game-high 36 minutes and finished with six points on a perfect 3-of-3 from the field. He also grabbed four boards.
 
Western begins the second round of league play Sunday afternoon (Feb. 1) when second-place North Dakota State (14-7, 6-2 SL) comes to town for a 2 p.m. contest.
 
"I think we have a great feel for our (League) opponents just like everyone has a good feel for us in The Summit League. I think, moving forward, we just have to focus on what we can control. Right now we have a great balance offensively, we just need to attack the rim and the paint a little bit more, and not get three-point happy. Defensively we have to make sure we're sharp," concluded Wright.
 
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