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Dalan Ancrum FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
55
Western Illinois WIU 6-13, 3-5 SL
62
Winner South Dakota USD 14-9, 5-3 SL
Western Illinois WIU
6-13, 3-5 SL
55
Final
62
South Dakota USD
14-9, 5-3 SL
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western Illinois WIU 25 30 55
South Dakota USD 22 40 62

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

South Dakota Tops Leatherneck Men’s Basketball in Vermillion Wednesday

The Coyotes used a big second-half run to propel them past WIU, 62-55

VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota used a 20-6 run in the second half to propel itself past Western Illinois in men's basketball action Wednesday evening (Jan. 25) in Vermillion, 62-55.
 
"We had guys playing out of position but, at the end of the day, we've been in this position before. It's not ideal," said head coach Billy Wright. "The turnovers we made were uncharacteristic, just simple plays that you can't make whether you have a true point guard or not. Those are basketball plays that our guards have to be better at in making those decisions. You look at that, 18 turnovers, missing free throws down the stretch, we didn't shoot well and still had a chance though. Our kids fought and I'm proud of that."
 
Both teams struggled to take care and shoot the basketball. There were a combined 33 turnovers in the game, but due to teams struggling to make shots, only nine total points were scored off of those 33 turnovers.
 
WIU shot 35.7% from the field, 30% from three and 52.9% from the free throw line, while USD shot 33.3% from the floor, 21.4% from long range and 61.8% from the charity stripe.
 
The Leathernecks, who dropped their fourth consecutive contest, fall to 6-13 overall and 3-5 in Summit League play, while the USD Coyotes improved to 14-9 overall and 5-3 in league action.
 
"Our defense kept us in it. I thought we did a really, really good job defensively. That's what kept us in the ballgame, quite honestly. North Dakota State really picked us apart and South Dakota does some of the similar actions with the weave actions, and I thought our guys did a really good job responding, and had really good practice with that the last two days. It was just unfortunate that we didn't shoot the ball well, and didn't take care of the ball," concluded Wright.
 
Three Leathernecks scored in double figures. Dalan Ancrum and Garret Covington each finished with 13 points, while Brandon Gilbeck tallied 12 on 6-of-6 shooting from the field.
 
Ancrum and Mike Miklusak each pulled down a team-high eight rebounds, while Gilbeck grabbed seven boards and finished with four blocks.
 
WIU found itself down one point, 13-12, midway through the opening half before using a 13-4 run to grab an 8-point lead, 25-17, with five minutes to go until halftime. USD used a 5-0 run to conclude the half and cut its deficit to three points at halftime, 25-22.
 
The Leathernecks were clinging to a 4-point lead two minutes into the second half before the Coyotes completely shifted the momentum of the game by using a 20-6 run and grabbing a 9-point lead, 46-37, with just over seven minutes to play.
 
The Coyotes were able to hold off WIU for the remainder of the contest and pick up their fifth league win of the season.
 
South Dakota was led by Matt Mooney's 16 points and Tyler Hageforn's double-double (13 points 11 rebounds).
 
Western Illinois heads back to Macomb to open the second portion of its Summit League schedule when the IUPUI Jaguars come to town. The two teams are slated to tipoff at 7 p.m. inside Western Hall and the contest will air live on ESPN3.

   
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