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Western Illinois University Athletics

Garret Covington
WIU Visual Productions Center
77
Winner Oral Roberts ORU 11-9, 3-3
68
Western Illinois WIU 7-9, 0-5
Winner
Oral Roberts ORU
11-9, 3-3
77
Final
68
Western Illinois WIU
7-9, 0-5
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Oral Roberts ORU 31 46 77
Western Illinois WIU 38 30 68

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

Oral Roberts Grabs Late Lead in Win Over Men’s Basketball

Garret Covington led Western with 22 points and seven rebounds

PHOTOS | COACH WRIGHT POSTGAME INTERVIEW

MACOMB, Ill. – Oral Roberts grabbed its first lead of the game midway through the second half as the Golden Eagles defeated Western Illinois Saturday evening (Jan. 16) in Macomb, 77-68. The Leathernecks fall to 7-9 overall and 0-5 in Summit League play after the loss, while ORU improves to 11-9 on the year and 3-3 in league action.
 
"Just disappointed in the way we finished the game," said head coach Billy Wright. "We've had enough games where we are in the game or have the lead, and for whatever reason, particularly quick shots and turnovers down the stretch which really hurt us in a lot of these situations. Once again tonight quick shots and turning the ball over late… and Oral Roberts, give them credit they were able to capitalize off our mistakes."
 
Western, who only committed two turnovers during the first 20 minutes of play, scored the first five points of the game and eventually took a 7-point lead into halftime, 38-31.
 
The Leathernecks came out of the break and quickly built their lead up to 10 points when senior forward Tate Stensgaard completed a 3-point play, getting fouled on a made layup and making his free throw.
 
Oral Roberts then used a 13-3 run to tie the game at 50-50 with just under 12 minutes to play. The two teams went back-and-forth until their was 3:24 left on the clock and the score was 65-all. The Golden Eagles then closed the game out on a 12-3 run and picked up their third league victory of the year. Western recorded 10 turnovers in the second half.
 
"Decision making is a big part of basketball, big part of sports, big part of life. And right now we are not making good decisions, particularly in what we call winning time. Whether it's the last eight minutes or the last three minutes, it's not making good decisions with the ball," concluded Wright.
 
Junior guard Garret Covington led Western with 22 points on 9-of-20 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 shooting from long range. He also tied for the team lead in rebounds with seven and tallied two assists in 35 minutes of play. Fellow junior Jabari Sandifer also grabbed seven boards and dished out a team-high seven assists.
 
Jalen Chapman, a senior forward, gave WIU a solid 22 minutes off of the bench and scored in double-digits for the third consecutive game. He finished with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and pulled down four rebounds.
 
Senior J.C. Fuller contributed 10 points and six rebounds, while Stensgaard finished with seven points and three boards.
 
Oral Roberts was led by senior Obi Emegano who finished with 30 points, the only Golden Eagle to score in double figures, in 39 minutes of action.
 
The Leathernecks will look to end their losing skid on the road next Wednesday (Jan. 20) at South Dakota. 
 
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