Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Garret Covington FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
Garret Covington
91
Western Illinois WIU 8-17, 5-9
100
Winner North Dakota State NDSU 18-9, 10-4
Western Illinois WIU
8-17, 5-9
91
Final
100
North Dakota State NDSU
18-9, 10-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 F
Western Illinois WIU 44 35 8 4 91
North Dakota State NDSU 42 37 8 13 100

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

NDSU Bison Edge Leathernecks Saturday in Double Overtime

Garret Covington finished with a team-high 32 points

FARGO, N.D. – Western Illinois men's basketball dropped a hard-fought Summit League contest that required double overtime in Fargo Saturday night (Feb. 18) to North Dakota State, 100-91.
 
Western falls to 5-9 in league play (8-17 overall) after the loss and NDSU improves to 10-4 in league action (first in The Summit League) with the win (18-9 overall).
 
"Today, I thought our guys did a very good job. They were tough at both ends of the floor," said head coach Billy Wright. "We had a chance to win it down the stretch in regulation but we couldn't come up with the stops we needed to put it away. We battled, double overtime, hostile environment with a great crowd, but we just came up a little short."
 
There were 14 lead changes and 20 ties in the game, and Western used the four minutes of action to jump out to its largest lead of the game, seven points, 13-7. NDSU was able to respond and eventually take the lead, but the Leathernecks stuck around and took a 44-42 advantage into halftime.
 
Similar to the first half, the second half was also very close. Western did eventually build its lead back up to seven points, 77-70, with just under three minutes to play. The Bison then rattled off seven consecutive points to tie the game at 77-77.
 
Both teams then exchanged points and after an NDSU turnover with one second left, WIU missed its desperation shot and the game went to overtime.
 
After neither team was able to grab more than a 3-point lead in the first overtime, NDSU outscored WIU 13-4 in the second OT to pick up its 10th league win of the season.
 
"We have a couple different packages that try to counter what they do defensively and spread them out a bit. It gave us angles to drive and kick and drive and finish, and we did a really good job, our guards, number one, at taking care of the ball. We only had seven turnovers in 50 minutes, so that's really good," continued Wright. "Anytime we take care of the ball and move the ball and share the ball, guys get in the right spot to make shots and finish around the basket, and we did that tonight."
 
Senior guard Garret Covington finished two points shy of his career best. The Edwardsville, Ill. native recorded 32 points on 10-of-22 shooting from the field. He also led the team with four assits.
 
Finishing one point shy of his career high was junior Dalan Ancrum who tallied 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting. He also went 1-of-1 from three and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe.
 
Also scoring in double figures with 10 points and pulling down seven rebounds was Mike Miklusak.
 
Sophomore center Brandon Gilbeck contributed eight points, nine rebounds and four blocks.
 
WIU did a great job taking care of the ball, only turning it over seven times while distributing 12 assists in a double overtime contests. The Leathernecks also shot 45% from both the field and long range.
 
"I was just proud of (our players') approach. We talk all the time about how it's your approach, bringing energy, being energy-givers, players leading players. Before we got off the bus, they were determined. And when you have that, and you bottle that up and be consistent with that approach and that determination, anything can happen," concluded Wright.
 
NDSU was led by Paul Miller who finished with 29 points and Dexter Werner who recorded 21 points and nine rebounds.
 
Western returns home for their final two regular season games next week. The Leathernecks play host to South Dakota on Thursday (Feb. 23) and Fort Wayne on Saturday (Feb. 25).
Print Friendly Version