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Western Illinois University Athletics

Garret Covington
WIU Visual Productions Center
87
Winner South Dakota State SDSU 21-7, 10-4 SL
67
Western Illinois WIU 9-16, 2-12 SL
Winner
South Dakota State SDSU
21-7, 10-4 SL
87
Final
67
Western Illinois WIU
9-16, 2-12 SL
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
South Dakota State SDSU 47 40 87
Western Illinois WIU 29 38 67

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

Western Illinois Drops Home Contest to SDSU Saturday

Covington led all scorers with 23 points and four rebounds

PHOTO | COACH WRIGHT POSTGAME INTERVIEW

MACOMB, Ill. – South Dakota State quickly grabbed an early advantage over Western Illinois Saturday afternoon (Feb. 20) inside Western Hall, as the Jackrabbits topped the Leathernecks, 87-67, in Summit League action.
 
SDSU improves to 21-7 overall on the season and 10-4 in league action after its win, while WIU drops to 9-16 overall and 2-12 in league play.
 
"First, I just wanted to say I appreciate the student section and our fans who were here. I think they did a really good job supporting and cheering for us from beginning to end. Our players recognize that, we appreciate that. I'm just a little disappointed that we couldn't give a better showing for our home fans," said head coach Billy Wright.
 
The Jackrabbits scored the first five points of the game and never allowed WIU to possess the advantage throughout the first, taking a 47-29 lead into halftime.
 
The second half was much of the same. Western was able to cut its deficit to 14 points with after five minutes of play in the second, but SDSU built its lead up to as much as 27 points, eventually topping WIU by 20.
 
"Give South Dakota State credit, they did a really good job of attacking inside out and they did a really good job getting to the free throw line. I think they scored 33 points off the free throw line. So we have to do a better job defensively of showing our hands and moving our feet so that we are not putting our opponent to the free throw line as much," said Wright.
 
South Dakota State grabbed 21 more rebounds than Western, 48-27, and shot 11 more free throws, 37-26. The Jacks also were more effective from the charity stripe, making 89.2 percent compared to WIU's 61.5.
 
The Jackrabbits had more turnovers than Western, 16-14, but scored more points off of WIU's mishaps, 26-12.
 
Overall SDSU shot 43.6 percent from the field (24-55), while the Leathernecks were only able to connect on 37.3 percent of theirs attempts (22-59).
 
Junior guard Garret Covington led all scorers with 23 points while grabbing a team-best four rebounds and two steals.
 
Also scoring in double figures was fellow junior Mike Miklusak who recorded 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 shooting from long range.
 
Three Jackrabbits scored 10-plus points in Mike Daum (18), Deondre Parks (17), George Marshall (13).
 
The Leathernecks continue their regular season homestand Thursday when Fort Wayne, who sits atop the league standings, visits Macomb for an 8 p.m. tipoff inside Western Hall.

 
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