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Western Illinois University Athletics

MBB_Omaha_FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
78
Omaha OMAHA 7-7, 1-1 SL
80
Winner Western Illinois WIU 7-6, 2-0 SL
Omaha OMAHA
7-7, 1-1 SL
78
Final
80
Western Illinois WIU
7-6, 2-0 SL
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Omaha OMAHA 33 45 78
Western Illinois WIU 30 50 80

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

@WIUMensHoops Begins Summit League Play 2-0 after Trumping Omaha Sunday

The Leathernecks trailed by 14 points midway through the first half before clawing back to earn their second consecutive league victory

Coach Wright Postgame Radio Interview | Photos | Coach Wright Press Conference

MACOMB, Ill. – The Fighting Leathernecks trailed by 14 points midway through the first half before clawing their way back and defeating Summit League foe Omaha on Sunday afternoon (Jan. 4), 80-78 inside Western Hall.
 
Western Illinois trailed 24-10 with 8:20 left in the opening half before the Leathernecks used a 20-9 run to get within three points at the break. WIU would use the first 10 minutes of the second half to continue to chip away at Omaha's advantage and eventually take the lead, 55-52, with just under 10 minutes left in regulation - a lead it never gave up.
 
Western improved to 2-0 in Summit League play and 7-6 overall after the victory, while UNO dropped to 1-1 in league action and 7-7 overall.
 
When asked about starting league play 2-0 (for the second time in three years), head coach Billy Wright said that it gives his team confidence as the Leathernecks move forward with their league schedule.
 
"I think for our kids (starting league play 2-0) is a confidence boost," said Wright. "We need to continue to play to our identity, and play the right way on both ends of the floor. But it definitely gives us a confidence boost moving forward. But give Omaha credit, they came in with a great game plan. We were just fortunate to win this game."
 
Both Mike Miklusak and Jabari Sandifer finished with 20-plus points. Miklusak finished with a career-high 21 points and seven rebounds in 36 minutes of play, while Sandifer tallied 20 points and six assists in a team-high 38 minutes. Sandifer has now scored 20-plus points in back-to-back games, the two highest scoring performances of his career.
 
Also contributing offensively for WIU was sophomore Garret Covington who recorded his third career double-double, and first of the season. The Edwardsville, Ill. native dropped 19 points on the Mavericks while grabbing 10 rebounds. He also had five assists and two steals.
 
Melbourne, Australia native Jamie Batish was a big part of WIU's comeback effort. All of the junior guard's season-best 15 points came during the Leathernecks' climb back into the game as he connected on five consecutive three-pointers (5-of-7 overall). His first triple kicked off the WIU comeback midway through the first, and his fifth and final three-pointer gave WIU its lead midway through the second half. He also grabbed three rebounds, dished out three assists and didn't turn the ball over in 31 minutes of action off of the bench.
 
Western shot better then Omaha from the field (50.0 percent - 42.1), from long range (40.0 percent – 26.3), and from the free throw line (76.9 percent – 64.1).
 
UNO edged WIU in rebounds, 36-33, but Western finished with 10 more assists than the Mavericks, 18-8.
 
The Leathernecks continue their league schedule on the road Wednesday (Jan. 7) at South Dakota State.
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