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Western Illinois University Athletics

C.J. Duff FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
C.J. Duff
93
Winner Western Illinois WIU 4-8, 1-0 Summit
91
Fort Wayne FW 10-4, 0-1 Summit
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
4-8, 1-0 Summit
93
Final
91
Fort Wayne FW
10-4, 0-1 Summit
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western Illinois WIU 40 53 93
Fort Wayne FW 43 48 91

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

WIU Opens Summit League Play with Win Over League Favorite Fort Wayne

The Leathernecks made a program record 18 threes in the victory

COACH WRIGHT POSTGAME RADIO INTERVIEW

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Western Illinois made a program record 18 threes and kicked off its Summit League slate with a 93-91 victory at Fort Wayne Thursday night (Dec. 29).
 
"I think, for the most part, when we left for Christmas break and returned Sunday night, we just said, 'Hey, we're 0-0.' We learned last year that non-conference record doesn't mean anything," said head coach Billy Wright. "To our kids' credit, they fought. This is a great Fort Wayne team that's beaten a lot of great teams. I'm just proud of our guys because they work so hard and they deserve it."
 
The Leathernecks improve to 4-8 overall on the season and have won their last two games against mid-major opponents. Fort Wayne, who ranks sixth in the CollegeInsider.com mid-major top 25 poll, falls to 10-4 on the year. With its win Thursday, WIU has won five of its last six league opening contests.
 
"For the most part, watching film, (Fort Wayne) goes under a lot of ball screens. And we thought if they do that against us, with our three-point shooting ability in Garret (Covington), Mike (Miklusak), C.J. (Duff) and even Delo (Bruster), Dalan Ancrum and Jeremish (Usiosefe), we've got guys who can shoot the three," said Wright. "We felt going in, if they played it that way and we had some open shots, we would knock them down. To our kids' credit, 18-for-37 on the road isn't bad."
 
Senior Garret Covington led all scorers with 25 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the field and making 4-of-7 from long range. The Edwardsville, Ill. native moved into sole possession of fourth place on Western's career scoring list with 1,574 points, and now ranks first all-time in 3-pointers at Western during the DI era (249).
 
Finishing with his third consecutive double-double was fellow senior Mike Miklusak.  The Dyer, Ind. native finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while also adding four assists. He made three 3-pointers in the win.
 
Freshman C.J. Duff opened the game by making his first five shots, all 3-pointers, and finished the game 7-of-9 from long range. His seven triples was two shy of the program's game record.
 
Delo Bruster, a sophomore, was the fourth Leatherneck to score in double figures. Bruster, who made two 3-pointers, finished with 12 points and a team-high six assists.
 
Fellow sophomore Brandon Gilbeck finished with a game-high five blocks and seven rebounds to go along with his eight points (3-of-3 from the field).
 
WIU led for nearly the entire first 20 minutes of play before the Mastodons finished the first half on a 13-5 run and held a 43-40 advantage at halftime.
 
Fort Wayne then used the first five minutes of the second half to build its largest lead of the game, 58-50. The Leathernecks, who shot 65.6% from the field in the second half, responded with a 15-0 run that was kicked off by back-to-back C.J. Duff 3-pointers. The Leathernecks' big run gave them a 9-point lead, 69-60, with 9:22 to play and forced a Fort Wayne timeout.
 
The Mastodons answered with a run of their own, 12-2, which allowed them to recapture the lead, 72-71, with just over six minutes left in regulation.
 
The Leathernecks then used big baskets from Duff, Covington, Miklusak and Gilbeck down the stretch to jump back out to a six-point lead with 2 minutes to play. After Fort Wayne made it a one-possession game, Gilbeck made a pair of clutch free throws with 13 seconds to play that sealed WIU's victory. 
 
Fort Wayne had five players score in double figures led by Mo Evans who scored 24.
 
The Leathernecks continue their Summit League road swing at IUPUI on Dec. 31 for a New Year's Eve matinee. Tipoff is slated for 12 p.m. (CT) and is slated to air live on ESPN3.
 
"We focus on the process, that's what we've been saying from day one. It's not who you play, it's how you play. We're familiar with IUPUI, they're familiar with us. It's up to the coaching staff, the seniors and guys who have been a part of this, to understand, 'Hey, enjoy it for another 10 minutes and we've got to get on the bus and get on to the next one. Our guys will be ready. They've been through this enough to know what this is about. I'm really proud of our guys," concluded Wright.
 
 
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