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Western Illinois University Athletics

Mike Miklusak FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
50
Western Illinois WIU 3-8
82
Winner Purdue PURDUE 10-2
Western Illinois WIU
3-8
50
Final
82
Purdue PURDUE
10-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western Illinois WIU 28 22 50
Purdue PURDUE 44 38 82

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

Leathernecks Fall at No. 15 Purdue Monday to Conclude Non-League Schedule

Mike Miklusak led Western Illinois with 16 points and nine rebounds


WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Western Illinois men's basketball concluded the non-league portion of its 2016-17 season with an 82-50 loss at No. 15 Purdue Monday evening (Dec. 19). The Leathernecks head into Summit League play with a 3-8 overall record, while Purdue improves to 10-2 on the season.
 
"Give our kids credit, they battled," said head coach Billy Wright. "I thought they did a really good job on both ends of the floor trying to execute, but we just didn't shoot the ball well. Give (Purdue) credit. They're big, physical, long and athletic, but we held them to 42 percent shooting on their home floor where they normally shoot 50 percent. The effort was there."
 
The Boilermakers quickly jumped out to a 13-3 lead and eventually held an 11-point advantage, 27-16, with 8:40 to play in the first. WIU then had seniors Garret Covington and Mike Miklusak drain back-to-back unanswered 3-pointers to get the Leathernecks within five points at the 6:16 of the first, 27-22.
 
Purdue, who outscored WIU 34-8 in the paint, would conclude the first by outscoring WIU 17-6, though, and take a 44- 28 lead into halftime.
 
The second half was all Purdue as the Boilermakers, who were led by Caleb Swanigan who finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds, grabbed their 10th victory of the year.
 
Western was led by senior Mike Miklusak who scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed a team-best nine rebounds. The Dyer, Ind. native, also made 4-of-5 from beyond the arc and both of his attempts from the free throw line. He also added two assists and two steals in a team-high 36 minutes of play.
 
C.J. Duff finished second on the team with eight points and tallied four rebounds as well.
 
Delo Bruster, who led the team with three assists, and Dalan Ancrum each tallied seven points, while Garret Covington and Jalen Morgan scored six points a piece.
 
Finishing second on the team in rebounds was sophomore Brandon Gilbeck.
 
"Moving forward to conference play… everyone is 0-0. It's going to be a tough, competitive and fun year in The Summit League. As far as our assessment right now going into this holiday break, I think we're making progress. We only had 11 turnovers (tonight), which is progress. At the same time we are holding teams below 45 percent shooting from the field, which is where we want to be. We've just got to sharpen up, get healed, get healthy, and get ready for Summit League play," concluded Wright.
 
The Leathernecks are off until Dec. 29 when they travel to Fort Wayne, Ind. to begin Summit League action against the Mastodons. Two days later WIU heads to Indianapolis to face the Jaguars.
 
 
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