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Western Illinois University Athletics

Webster
Sarah Twidwell
66
Western Illinois WIU 9-20, 4-12
86
Winner South Dakota State SDSU 24-7, 14-2
Western Illinois WIU
9-20, 4-12
66
Final
86
South Dakota State SDSU
24-7, 14-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western Illinois WIU 33 33 66
South Dakota State SDSU 49 37 86

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

Western Battles SDSU in Regular Season Finale

After a 86-66 loss at South Dakota State, the Leathernecks will play the Jackrabbits in rematch at the opening round of the Summit League Tournament (March 9).

BROOKINGS, S.D.- The Western Illinois (9-20, 4-12) men's basketball team battled the Summit League regular season champion South Dakota State (24-7, 14-2) in an 86-66 loss on Saturday (March 2).  
 
"I give our kids a lot of credit," head coach Billy Wright said. "Obviously, it was a quick turnaround in terms of playing less than 48 hours ago, but that's part of the grind. I was pleased that our guys were able to fight. We did a much better job in executing what we wanted to do, but when you play a team like South Dakota State on their floor, you have to be near flawless."
 
After the Jackrabbits jumped out to an early lead, Kobe Webster helped the Leathernecks claw back with a wing triple behind 20-18 nearly halfway through the first half (10:31). A mid-range baseline jumper by Isaac Johnson kept Western within two possessions (37-31) with 5:31 left. South Dakota State closed out the opening half on a 12-2 run to take a 49-33 advantage into halftime.
 
The Leathernecks came out of the locker room on an 8-2 run capped off by a Brandon Gilbeck layup to cut the deficit to 51-44 at the 17:14 mark of the second half. From that point on, the Jackrabbits used timely baskets by Mike Daum on his senior day and a game-high 31 total points from Skyler Flatten to pull away.
 
Webster led the way with 17 points while tying his career-high of five 3-pointers made in a game. Off the bench, Johnson delivered 15 points and Ben Pyle added 10 in a starting role. Brandon Gilbeck tallied 10 points and ripped down six rebounds with two blocks.
 
Western Illinois qualified for the 2019 Summit League Tournament as the No. 8 seed and will face top-seeded South Dakota State at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, March 9 in the quarterfinal round with a 6 p.m. tip-off.
 
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