WIU Visual Productions Center

Box Score

South Dakota USD 14-17, 5-11

Western Illinois WIU 10-17, 3-13

South Dakota USD

14-17, 5-11

Final

Feb. 27, 2016

Western Illinois WIU

10-17, 3-13

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
South Dakota USD	29	47	76
Western Illinois WIU	54	36	90

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | Saturday, February 27, 2016 | WIU Athletic Communications

Senior Night a Success for Men’s Basketball Saturday

Five players scored in double figures as WIU topped South Dakota inside Western Hall

PHOTOS | COACH WRIGHT POSTGAME INTERVIEW

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois sends its four senior student athletes out with a victory Saturday evening (Feb. 27) inside Western Hall as the Leathernecks topped South Dakota, 90-76.

Prior to tipoff WIU recognized seniors Jamie Batish, Jalen Chapman, J.C. Fuller and Tate Stensgaard.

The Leathernecks finished their 2015-16 season 10-17 overall and 3-13 in Summit League play. South Dakota will be the eighth seed in The Summit League's tournament with a 5-11 league mark and a 14-17 overall record.

"Obviously I'm thrilled for the victory and the way we played, and the way we were able to communicate and execute down the stretch when it was winning time… something that we haven't done for the bulk of the league season. I was pleased that we were able to learn from those mistakes and capitalize, and pull out the win. Great crowd support and we appreciate that, and obviously we wanted to make sure that our seniors went out with a win. It was a total team effort and I was just thrilled to end the season with a win," said head coach Billy Wright.

WIU was on fire in the first half, jumping out to a 25-point lead at halftime thanks to shooting 61.3 percent from the field (19-31) and 62.5 from long range (10-16). Of those 10 first half triples, junior Mike Miklusak hit four, while Batish, junior Garret Covington and junior Jabari Sandifer each tallied two.

The hot shooting continued initially in the second when WIU jumped out to its largest lead of the game, 28, two minutes into the half. After some back-and-forth hoops USD was able to put together a 19-0 run to cut its deficit to six points, 67-61, with just under ten minutes to play in regulation.

Western would halt the Coyotes' comeback effort, eventually getting its lead back out to double-digits before time expired.

"You always want to win every game no matter what time of the season it is or what is at stake so it is definitely a great feeling and it is great for our seniors to go out on a win. We can build from this moving forward in our offseason spring workouts," continued Wright.

As a team, Western shot better than South Dakota from all areas of the floor, and won the rebound battle, 41-34.

Covington finished with a team-best 16 points, including three triples, and dished out four assists.

Fellow juniors Miklusak and Sandifer were only a point behind Covington 15 points. Like Covington, Sandifer also finished with four assists, and added five rebounds and a team-best three steals. Miklusak contributed eight boards to WIU's winning effort.

Fuller finished with 13 points, two steals and two assists, and freshman center Brandon Gilbeck continued his impressive play with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, and grabbed nine rebounds.

Jalen Morgan also pulled down nine boards, a season high.

South Dakota also had five players score in double figures led by Tre Burnette who finished with 18 points.

When it comes to WIU's future and what the Leathernecks can take away from this season, Wright sees potential.

"I think (our players) can take the memories of the first nine games. I think that the potential is there and the challenge is sustainability, and being consistent… you have to be consistent in every single day in your life, on and off the court. That is the challenge for us moving forward because the potential is there and we've proven that," concluded Wright.