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Western Illinois University Athletics

Gilbeck
68
St. Mary's SMU 0-1
109
Winner Western Illinois WIUM 1-0
St. Mary's SMU
0-1
68
Final
109
Western Illinois WIUM
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
St. Mary's SMU 43 25 68
Western Illinois WIUM 47 62 109

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

62-Point Second Half Guides Western To Season Opening Win

Brandon Gilbeck (31 points) and Dalan Ancrum (21 points) each set new career highs in points.

MACOMB, Ill.- The Western Illinois men's basketball team did not have a problem scoring on Saturday evening, as the Leathernecks defeated the Cardinals of Saint Mary's of Minnesota 109-68 inside Western Hall. This was the first time that the Leathernecks eclipsed 100 points since 2005 against Harris-Stowe.

"It was a good win for us. I think that the way our guys responded in the second half is something we can learn from and is very encouraging moving forward," said head coach Billy Wright. "We give them credit, they came in here and made some shots early. It was a good test. Obviously, it will get tougher moving forward and I think our guys are up to the challenge."

The Leathernecks came out of the gate fast, as freshman Kobe Webster knocked down two early buckets to put Western up 7-1 two minutes into the half. Brandon Gilbeck put in his first of 31 points at the 14:31 mark to put the Leathernecks up by 10, 15-5. The Cardinals would not let Western get away in the first half as Kareem Anthony-Bello put in five buckets from behind the arc while also recording a rebound.
           
Western went on a 9-0 run two-thirds into the first half as Isaac Johnson, Dalan Ancrum, and Gilbeck all put the ball through the net. At the end of the first half, the Jason Timm and Sawyer Rosner put down a pair of three point basketballs assisting the Cardinals' 9-2 run to pull the game within two points with five seconds remaining in the half. On the ensuing possession, Delo Bruster took the ball up the court and missed a contest layup, but Gilbeck was there with the put back to extend the Leathernecks' lead to four at the half.

The second half went Western's way as the Leathernecks outscored the Cardinals 62-25. The Leathernecks shot 85.2% in the half, while putting away five of seven three pointers. C.J. Duff found an open Ancrum on the first Leatherneck possession, who drained an open shot beyond the arc to put Western on the board first. There wasn't much looking back for the Leathernecks as Gilbeck put down 13 second half points. The Leathernecks found their stride in the second half as they managed to go on a 15-0 run. With 7:18 left in the second half, Delo Bruster found Jeremiah Usiosefe who knocked down a three pointer to extend the Leathernecks' lead to 31 points. With eight seconds to go, Lynrick Moxey stole the Cardinal ball and finished, giving Western their final 109 points.

The Leathernecks return to action on Nov. 15 against Eastern Illinois. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
GAME NOTES:
-Gilbeck recorded a new career high in points, 31. (Previously 15 vs. South Dakota, 2017)
- Ancrum also set a new career high in points with 21 (previously vs. IUPUI, 2017)
-All twelve players that saw action for Western recorded points
-Kobe Webster finished with 19 points, eight assists, five rebounds, four steals and zero turnovers
- The Leathernecks scored 100 points for the first time
- Western only turned the ball over eight times, the least since Oral Roberts 1/17/17, a game in which Western only committed six.
 
 
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