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Western Illinois University Athletics

Gilbeck
Sarah Twidwell
80
Winner Omaha OMAHA 10-8 (4-1)
71
Western Illinois WIUMM 6-13 (1-5)
Winner
Omaha OMAHA
10-8 (4-1)
80
Final
71
Western Illinois WIUMM
6-13 (1-5)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Omaha OMAHA 45 35 80
Western Illinois WIUMM 33 38 71

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

Balanced Attack Leads Late Charge in Setback

Omaha held off Western Illinois, 80-71 on Thursday night (Jan. 17).

MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois (6-13, 1-5) men's basketball team saw another late rally fall short in an 80-71 loss to Omaha (10-8, 4-1) on Thursday night (Jan. 17).
 
"Omaha did a good job of isolating and making some tough shots," head coach Billy Wright said. "We wanted to crowd a little bit, but I thought we overcrowded in the first half to give up eight threes. Obviously, our kids fought hard but we just came up short."
 
Coming out of the first media timeout, Jeremiah Usiosefe used his first touch of the evening to drain a corner 3-pointer. The shot pulled Western within three, 15-12, with 14:11 on the clock and the game remained close, no more than two possessions, for the next seven minutes.
 
Kobe Webster's knock down 3-ball set the score at 29-24 with 6:43 to go before halftime, but the Leathernecks were outscored 16-9 down the stretch to enter the locker room trailing 45-33.
 
At halftime, the Mavericks possessed two double-figure scorers in Zach Jackson (18) and JT Gibson (13) while Webster led the for Western with 12. Both teams were shooting above 45 percent from the floor in the first half, and the difference lied in three extra makes from beyond the arc for Omaha (8-to-5).
 
Omaha led by as many 18 points, 51-33 with 17:20 to go in the second half after a mid-range jumper by Mitch Hahn. Isaac Johnson threw down a one-handed dunk with 4:14 remaining in regulation as the Leathernecks trailed, 74-59. Western cut the deficit to single-digits after a Johnson layup in the final minute, but the comeback effort was not enough.
 
Brandon Gilbeck recorded his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Webster led four double-digit scorers with 22 points while Johnson and Ben Pyle both added 11 points. The Purple and Gold finished shooting 46.8 percent from the field (14-for-31) and 32.1 percent from beyond the arc (9-for-28).
 
The Leathernecks have a quick turnaround as they play host to Purdue Fort Wayne inside Western Hall on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m.
 
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