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Western Illinois University Athletics

Roderick Smith
NDSU Athletics
74
Western Ill. WIU 4-8,1-1 Summit League
94
Winner North Dakota St. NDSU 10-5,2-0 Summit League
Western Ill. WIU
4-8,1-1 Summit League
74
Final
94
North Dakota St. NDSU
10-5,2-0 Summit League
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western Ill. WIU 34 40 74
North Dakota St. NDSU 50 44 94

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Leathernecks Unable to Claim Third Straight

A 20-point setback to NDSU ended Western’s win streak at two.

FARGO, N.D. – There was a bit of hype surrounding Thursday's contest between the Western Illinois and North Dakota State men's basketball teams. The two last met in a tight semifinal matchup at last year's Summit League Tournament, and a win for the Leathernecks would've extended their season's streak to three. Instead, the final fell in favor of the home team 94-74. 

While the Leathernecks were looking to generate offense, North Dakota State was running on all cylinders. 

"Give [NDSU] credit in terms of their effort and aggressiveness to get to the basket," said head coach Billy Wright. "They posted up well, finished at the rim, and rebounded from the very first possession. As the game went on, we made adjustments in the second half, came out with a little more focus and energy, but dug ourselves in too big of a hole." 

NDSU put up just three more shots than WIU in the opening half, but built a 19-point edge by outrebounding its counterpart 25-12 and shooting a perfect 12-for-12 clip at the free-throw line with six 3-pointers. The Bison led 50-34 at halftime, and the difference continued to grow from there. 

The early goings saw North Dakota State up 20-10 with 13:29 to go – helped by a slump where Western was 0-for-6 from the floor -- but then the Roderick Smith Show began. The Leatherneck big man entered the contest near the 12:25 mark and made his presence known on the next possession with an old-fashioned 3-point play. The bucket was the first of four first-half field goals for the Southwest Mississippi transfer, and he missed just one attempt for a team-high nine points by the half. 

"Roderick gives us a big body down low that can finish. He's working hard, guys like him and Kyle Arrington have great attitudes. When it's their night, and their number is called, they were ready to go." 

Smith finished the evening with a career-high, team-high 15 points, shooting 7-for-11. The Leathernecks also saw Zion Young (13), Kobe Webster (12), and C.J. Duff (11) finish in double-figures. 

Western continues its journey through the Dakotas this Saturday at South Dakota State. The contest is scheduled to tip at 4:15 p.m. 
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