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Gilbeck

Leathernecks Cannot Overcome Early Deficit on the Road

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Brandon Gilbeck swatted seven shots in the 82-63 road loss.

Box Score TULSA, Okla. – The Western Illinois (6-10, 1-2) men's basketball team fell behind after a 23-0 run in the first half by Oral Roberts (7-11, 3-0) in an 82-63 loss Saturday night (Jan. 5).

"We focused on taking care of the basketball, making shots and keeping them off the glass," head coach Billy Wright said. "Those were the three big keys going into the game and we did not do a good job. I thought the second half was much better but we were down too big, too early."
 
Kobe Webster drained a 3-pointer to give the Leathernecks an 8-7 lead with 15:27 to go in the first half. Two minutes later, Webster drilled another triple to bring Western within one trailing 12-11. Until 7:04 left before halftime, Oral Roberts embarked on a 23-0 run and led 35-11 after a mid-range jumper by Kevin Obanor.
 
A layup by Ben Pyle cut the deficit to 38-24 (2:38), but the Golden Eagles finished the first half on a 10-2 run for a 48-26 advantage over the Leathernecks.
 
With under 12 minutes left in the second half, Isaac Johnson buried a wing trifecta followed by a thunderous dunk by Brandon Gilbeck to trim the score down to 59-54 at the 11-minute mark but that was the closest Western Illinois would get to a comeback in the second half.
 
Webster scored 15 points with five rebounds and six assists while Johnson contributed 15 points off the bench. Gilbeck scored 12 points and blocked a game-high seven shots.
 
The Leathernecks continue their road swing at North Dakota State Thursday, Jan. 10 with a 7 p.m. tip-off.  
 
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