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Western Illinois University Athletics

Mike Miklusak FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
92
Winner South Dakota USD 20-10 (11-4)
81
Western Illinois WIU 8-18 (5-10)
Winner
South Dakota USD
20-10 (11-4)
92
Final
81
Western Illinois WIU
8-18 (5-10)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
South Dakota USD 44 48 92
Western Illinois WIU 41 40 81

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

South Dakota Tops Leatherneck Men's Basketball Thursday

Mike Miklusak led WIU with his seventh double-double of the season

MACOMB, Ill. – South Dakota pulled away in the second half on its way to defeating Western Illinois men's basketball Thursday night (Feb. 23) in Macomb, 92-81.
 
The Leathernecks fall to 8-18 overall and 5-10 in league play after the loss, while South Dakota improves to 20-10 on the year and 11-4 in league games.

WIU trailed by three points at halftime and hung around until USD used a 14-2 run midway through the second half to grab its largest advantage of the game, 16 points, 68-52. The Leathernecks were able to cut their deficit to single digits a few times during the last nine minutes of play but ultimately dropp the Summit League contest.
 
"They're a really good team, and they're fighting for first place for a reason," said head coach Billy Wright about South Dakota. "And when we are locked in and we execute at both ends of the floor for 40 minutes, we can compete with the best of them. But tonight, we just didn't do that. I thought we had our moments throughout the game, when we were in the right position, we made the right switches, we double-teamed when we were supposed to, guys were really locked in. But this team will make you pay anytime you have a miscue. Give them credit."
 
Senior Mike Miklusak, a native of Dyer, Ind., recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 24 points and 13 rebounds. He shot 8-of-15 from the field and 5-of-6 from long range. Miklusak also recorded three assists with only one turnover in 37 minutes of play.
 
Fellow senior Garret Covington tallied 21 points and led the team with seven assists. The Edwardsville, Ill. native also grabbed three rebounds, made five triples and played a team-high 39 minutes.
 
Finishing with 15 points and six rebounds was Leatherneck big man Brandon Gilbeck. Jalen Morgan added nine points, and C.J. Duff contributed six points and five assists.
 
"(South Dakota) did a really good job getting to the free throw line. They attacked the paint, and we were there, and we fouled them," continued Wright. "There were a couple of times we weren't there. We have to do a better job in transition defense, whether it's a miss or a make. We knew they would push it up the floor really quickly. It's a combination of fouling and putting them on the free throw line, 34 times, we have to do a better job of that. And give them credit, they made shots and took the ball to the basket and finished."
 
For the second straight contest Western finished with 10 or less turnovers. WIU also added 18 assists.
 
The Coyotes were led by Trey Dickerson who finished with 21 points, and Trey Burch-Manning who scored 10 points and 14 rebounds.

"I think we've identified our keys for success, and it's been pretty much the same throughout the year. We want to get stops on defense, and on offense, move the ball and share the ball, and most importantly, take care of the ball. We're not into moral victories, and we want to make sure we have a great showing, a great outing, on Saturday against Fort Wayne."
 
With one game remaining, Western Illinois will face the number one seed in the opening round of The Summit League Championships in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Saturday, March 4.
 
The Leathernecks will celebrate Senior Night Saturday (Feb. 25) when Fort Wayne comes to Macomb for the regular season finale. The contest is slated to tipoff at 7:30 p.m. and the game will air live on ESPN3. 

 
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