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Western Illinois University Athletics

Dalan Ancrum
74
Fort Wayne FW 13-9, 2-3
75
Winner Western Illinois WIUM 10-7, 1-3
Fort Wayne FW
13-9, 2-3
74
Final
75
Western Illinois WIUM
10-7, 1-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Fort Wayne FW 36 32 6 74
Western Illinois WIUM 26 42 7 75

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

Leathernecks Capture First League Win In Overtime Thriller

Late Webster runner secures victory

MACOMB, Ill. – Down by one with the game on the line Wednesday (January 17), the Western Illinois University men's basketball team looked no further than its freshman point guard Kobe Webster to earn its first Summit League victory of the season.
 
The young Indianapolis, Ind., native connected on a runner down the middle with 1.1 seconds remaining to lift the Leathernecks (10-7, 1-3 SL) to a 75-74, overtime decision over Fort Wayne (13-9, 2-3).

"At halftime, we talked about the adjustments we needed to make defensively. Give our guys credit, they responded to the challenge. Even when we were down big, we just kept chipping away at it and chipping away at it," said head coach Billy Wright. "I felt like we had an advantage having them on their heels in transition, and we just wanted to go. Kobe made a terrific play. He's great in the open court, and fortunately it went in. I did not want to call a timeout and let them set their defense."
 
Western trailed by 13 points at the start of the second quarter (17:40), before tying things at 68-all at the end of regulation.
 
Webster recorded a game-high 24 points with seven rebounds, and senior Dalan Ancrum tabbed his third double-double of the season on 23 points and 12 rebounds. Junior Brandon Gilbeck rounded out Western's double-figure scoring with 16 points.  
 
The Mastodons hopped out to an early 7-0 edge in the first three minutes of Wednesday's contest, but quickly saw the advantage turn into a deficit as WIU pieced together a 9-0 run.
 
The sides went on trade six leads until a Jordan King three-pointer settled the score at 16-15 in favor of Fort Wayne with 11:25 to go before halftime. The Mastodons maintained their lead through the 1:43-mark of the second period.
 
Gilbeck banked a lay-up off of the glass to pull the Leathernecks within two at 53-51 with 11:32 on the clock in the second. Western couldn't turn the corner until a long three-pointer by Webster later in the half. Free throws sent the game into overtime.
 
Following the Webster trey, Bryson Scott knocked down a pair at the line to regain Fort Wayne's lead, 68-67, and Gilbeck split a trip at the stripe to tie things with 20 seconds remaining.
 
With both teams fighting through the final horn, three more lead changes occurred in overtime with the largest edge sitting at three points for WIU.
 
Fort Wayne recorded five unanswered points between the 3:29 and 1:37 marks to hold a 74-72 advantage, but it was not enough for the Gilbeck and Webster duo.
 
The Leathernecks return to Western Hall Saturday (Jan. 20), when they play host to South Dakota State. The contest is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
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