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Western Illinois University Athletics

Dalan Ancrum FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
69
IUPUI IUPUI 9-14, 3-6 SL
78
Winner Western Illinois WIU 7-13, 4-5 SL
IUPUI IUPUI
9-14, 3-6 SL
69
Final
78
Western Illinois WIU
7-13, 4-5 SL
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
IUPUI IUPUI 29 40 69
Western Illinois WIU 30 48 78

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

Leatherneck Men’s Basketball Tops IUPUI to Conclude the Month of January

Dalan Ancrum scored a career-high 20 points

PHOTOS

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois concluded the month of January with a 78-69 victory over the IUPUI Jaguars Saturday evening (Jan. 28) inside Western Hall.
 
"We just wanted to focus on things we could control. That's kind of been our motto from day one," said head coach Billy Wright. "Hats off to our guys - our back has been against the wall and we've faced so much adversity. I'm just so proud of our guys. They continue to fight, they continue to play together and I'm very proud of our effort today, and we're fortunate to pull out this win."
 
WIU improves to 4-5 in Summit League play with the win and 7-13 overall, while IUPUI drops to 9-14 overall and 3-6 in league action.
 
Four Leathernecks scored in double figures led by junior Dalan Ancrum who scored a career-high 20 points in 33 minutes of action.
 
Sophomore center Brandon Gilbeck finished with 15 points, tying his career high, and added seven rebounds and three blocks. The Spring Green, Wis. native was effective from the field making 7-of-9 attempts.
 
Picking up his sixth double-double of the season and seventh of his career was senior Mike Miklusak. He recorded 13 points and 10 rebounds. All 13 of his points came in the second half.
 
Fellow senior Garret Covington scored 16 points, and 11 of his points came during the final 20 minutes of play.
 
"We took care of the ball, we got stops when we needed to get stops and we made free throws down the stretch to close it. We're doing it without a point guard, which is hard because Dalan (Ancrum) is playing some at the one, C.J. (Duff) is playing some at the one and Garret (Covington) is playing some at the one, and I'm just very proud of their commitment to the all-in philosophy and it was evident tonight," concluded Wright.
 
The opening six minutes of play was all Western as the Leathernecks jumped out to a 14-7 advantage.
 
IUPUI, however, used the next five minutes to remove its deficit and grab the lead. The Jaguars went on a 14-3 run and held a 21-17 lead with less than nine minutes to play in the first half.
 
After WIU put a stop to the Jag's run, the two teams played an even rest of the half and the Leathernecks took a 30-29 lead into the break.
 
The first 15 minutes of the second half was back-and-forth and with just under five minutes to play in the game, the Jags found themselves up 59-57.
 
An 8-0 Western run made up of a Covington 3-pointer, a jumper and free throw from Duff, and a pair of free throws from Ancrum gave the Leathernecks a 6-point lead, 65-59, with 2:46 to play in regulation.
 
The Leathernecks were able to hold off the Jaguars for the final 2-plus minutes and end their 4-game losing streak.
 
Western was impressive from the field, shooting 51.9% for the game's entirety and 65.2% during the second half alone.
 
IUPUI was led by Darell Combs who finished with a game-high 21 points and four assists.
 
Western Illinois continues the backend of its Summit League schedule on Wednesday (Feb. 1). The Leathernecks travel to Brookings, S.D. for a 7 p.m. showdown with the Jackrabbits and the game is set to air live ESPN3.

 
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