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Western Illinois University Athletics

MBB_SDSU_FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
79
Winner South Dakota State SDSU 20-8, 11-3 SL
77
Western Illinois WIU 8-16, 3-10 SL
Winner
South Dakota State SDSU
20-8, 11-3 SL
79
Final
77
Western Illinois WIU
8-16, 3-10 SL
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
South Dakota State SDSU 41 38 79
Western Illinois WIU 36 41 77

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

Men’s Basketball Drops Heartbreaker Despite Career Night from Covington

Sophomore Garret Covington scored a career-high 31 points on 13-of-17 shooting from the field

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

MACOMB, Ill. - Despite a career night from sophomore guard Garret Covington, Western Illinois men's basketball dropped a heartbreaker at home to South Dakota State Wednesday evening (Feb. 18), 79-77.

The Fighting Leathernecks trailed by four with less than a minute to play but they were able to cut their deficit to two points after a Covington basket and a defensive stop with less than 10 seconds to play. With less than four seconds on the clock, J.C. Fuller found Mohamed Conde open in the lane, but Conde's game-tying layup attempt rimmed out as the buzzer sounded and the Jackrabbits picked up their 11th league victory in regulation.
 
South Dakota State remains first in The Summit League standings with an 11-3 league mark after the win and improves to 20-8 overall on the season. The Leathernecks drop to 8-16 overall and 3-10 in league play.
 
"South Dakota State is in first place for a reason, and I have to give our kid's credit. (Our guys) showed up ready for a fight, they showed up ready to play," said head coach Billy Wright. "They really understand the circumstances with the injuries and they (didn't let those circumstances) stop them. They do a really good job each and every day, and I'm proud of them for that."
 
Covington, who entered the game ranked in the 'Top 10' in career three-pointers and 'Top 50' in career points at WIU as a sophomore, finished with a career-high 31 points. The Edwardsville, Ill. native connected on 13-of-17 shots from the field and 5-of-7 from long range. He also dished out four assists, grabbed six rebounds, and two steals in 39 minutes of play.
 
After the 31 points and five triples, Covington moved up to 45th all-time in career points scored at WIU with 486, and eighth in career three-pointers made with 125.
 
Junior guard J.C. Fuller finished with 16 points and was again efficient from the field, making 6-of-12 attempts. The Sioux City, Iowa native also had three assists and zero turnovers.
 
Leading the team in rebounds was Mohamed Conde with eight. The senior forward also had 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting. He also had two steals.
 
Jamie Batish also scored in double figures with 10 points. The junior guard, who hails from Melbourne, Australia, made 4-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He also had two rebounds and two assists in the loss.
 
South Dakota State was led by its five starters who each scored 13 or 14 points. Jake Bittle, Reed Tellinghuisen and George Marshall each had 14 points, while Cody Larson and Deondre Parks each tallied 13 points.
 
WIU shot better from the field (55.6 percent – 52.7), but SDSU edged WIU from three (56.5 percent – 53.3) and the free throw line (57.1 percent – 45.0).
 
The Leathernecks had 15 assists to their seven turnovers, while the Jackrabbits had 22 helpers to their 11 turnovers.
 
"I think we had a great crowd, our student section was involved, the band was here and that helps as well. Our guys feed off that energy. When you make shots and make defensive stops, that helps as well. We just didn't make enough free throws and give South Dakota State credit, they made theirs," concluded Wright.
 
Western plays host to Denver Saturday evening (Feb. 21) with tip scheduled for 7 p.m. following the women's game. The men's basketball program will celebrate its two seniors prior to the game.
  
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