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Western Illinois University Athletics

Kobe Webster
98
Winner UT Martin UTM 2-1,0-0 OVC
91
Western Ill. WIU 0-3,0-0 Summit League
Winner
UT Martin UTM
2-1,0-0 OVC
98
Final
91
Western Ill. WIU
0-3,0-0 Summit League
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UT Martin UTM 43 55 98
Western Ill. WIU 46 45 91

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Highs & Lows Come in UT Martin Contest

High: Kobe Webster joined the 1,000 career point club.

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois men's basketball experienced an evening of highs and lows in a 98-91 loss to UT Martin Wednesday (Nov. 13). The highs included a career-best 28 points -- and lucky No. 1,000 – for Kobe Webster, but the lows changed the momentum of the game as the Leathernecks led by as many as 15 in the second quarter.
 
"We knew that they (UT Martin) like to get up and down the floor so we would have opportunities on offense. At the defensive end, it's about getting the first rebound, being the first one to the floor, and being able to close out games. It's tough right now, but I was pleased with the way our guys showed up to play," said head coach Billy Wright. "I thought we had a pretty good first half and came out ready in the second half."
 
The rollercoaster evening saw Western trailing 35-24 at the 7:40-mark of the opening half before roaring back on a 10-2 run. One of Western's four double-digit scorers, Ben Pyle evened things at 41-all with 1:18 on the clock and back-to-back baskets by newcomers Jaeden King and Roderick Smith provided the 46-43 halftime edge.
 
The home team eyed a 70-55 advantage with 13:12 left but just couldn't sustain as the Skyhawks turned up their defensive pressure and allowed Patrick Stewart to do the rest.
 
UTM's redshirt-sophomore guard recorded 25 second half-points, at one point rolling on a singlehanded 12-0 run,  to pull his team back in distance. His run was followed by eight unanswered from his teammate Derek Hawthorne and the stretch ended in UTM's 78-76 lead. The final tie sat at 82-82 with 5:29 remaining, but Western never regained its advantage.
 
Pyle and James Claar also recorded career-highs with 18 and 13 points, respectively, while Zion Young rounded out the double-digit contingent with 15. Webster entered the game one point shy of joining the 1,000 career point club and currently sits 24th all-time with 1,027.
 
"Kobe is a young man who came in ready from day one," Wright said. "He embraced the Division I lifestyle of being a student-athlete and continues to get better."
 
Western returns to action next Wednesday in a 7:30 p.m. contest against Northern Illinois.
 
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