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Western Illinois University Athletics

Pyle
Sarah Twidwell
70
Winner WIUM WIUM 4-4
63
Southeast Missouri SEMO 4-4
Winner
WIUM WIUM
4-4
70
Final
63
Southeast Missouri SEMO
4-4
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
WIUM WIUM 27 43 70
Southeast Missouri SEMO 27 36 63

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

Pyle Lifts Leathernecks to Road Win

Freshman Ben Pyle records his first collegiate double-double in a 70-63 victory at SEMO.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.— The Western Illinois (4-4) men's basketball team made late free throws to close out a hard-earned 70-63 win at SEMO (4-4) on Saturday evening (Dec. 1). The victory marks the first road win for the Leathernecks since Nov. 22, 2017 at SIUE. 
 
"We had tough losses at Eastern Illinois and UT Martin," head coach Billy Wright said. "All of the credit goes to our kids. They still had to go out there and do it. We had poise under pressure, took care of the ball and got defensive stops. That's what we need to be great at when it's winning time. Our second unit in the second half did a tremendous job of coming in and extending the lead. I really challenged them at halftime and they gave us a lift off the bench then the starters came back in to close the game."
 
Kobe Webster knocked down a mid-range jumper at the 14:39 mark of the first half to build a 17-5 Leatherneck lead. SEMO embarked on a 14-0 run over the next seven minutes, capped off by a Sage Tolbert layup for a 19-17 edge. 
 
Western Illinois settled back into a 25-21 advantage on a right-side jumper by Isaac Johnson with under four minutes to go in the first half. Alex Caldwell knotted the game at 27 for the Redhawks with a wing triple and that was the halftime score. 
 
Both teams exchanged baskets until halfway through the second half when Ben Pyle drilled back-to-back three-pointers as the Leathernecks led 52-45. SEMO battled to cut the deficit to 57-52 with 2:29 to go, but Johnson answered with a right-wing trifecta. 
 
Webster drove in for a layup with one minute left in regulation for a double-digit advantage and after missing his first attempt, Pyle iced the game with six consecutive free throws. The Leathernecks drained eight threes and finished 14-of-17 from the charity stripe. 
 
Pyle recorded his first career double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Johnson scored 17 points and pulled down seven rebounds while Webster added 16 points. 

The Leathernecks travel to the state of Florida for a matchup at Stetson on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. (CT). 
 
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