Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Justin Brookens
88
Western Ill. WIU 1-4,0-0 Summit League
92
Winner Eastern Ill. EIU 3-4,0-0 OVC
Western Ill. WIU
1-4,0-0 Summit League
88
Final
92
Eastern Ill. EIU
3-4,0-0 OVC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western Ill. WIU 32 56 88
Eastern Ill. EIU 45 47 92

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Brookens, Hinton Deliver at EIU

Five games into his Leatherneck career, Justin Brookens is already in the record books.

CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Old Railsplitter Ax will remain in Charleston after a 92-88 score in favor of Eastern Illinois, but there were bright spots for the visiting Leathernecks of Western Illinois. Men's basketball action was starred by a high-scoring second half, which at one point saw the Leathernecks trailing by 21 points, and the stellar play of Justin Brookens and Ramean Hinton. 

The junior transfer from Iowa Lakes Community College recorded a game-high, career-high 37 points, which also tied for second all-time in WIU's Division I history and is the most scored in the Summit League this season. Coincidentally, the program's all-time leading scorer Joe Dykstra previously recorded the mark against EIU in 1983. 

"Our guys don't quit, but we're not a team yet, and that's on me," said head coach Rob Jeter. "We finish games and we put runs together, but what hurts us is ourselves. We make simple mistakes that we should not make. But honestly, I'm glad we have a bunch of guys that keep fighting." 

On target with their 3-point shooting, the Panthers hit four triples en route to an early 21-9 edge. A few were worked within an 11-0 run, but while Western countered with an 8-2 stretch of its own, it was unable to turn the corner and trailed 45-32 at the half. 

There were lulls that led to a 21-point deficit, but the Panthers' inability to find an answer for Brookens proved costly. He was involved in all of Western's major breaks, including the final 1:12 where he captured six points on his own. Brookens nearly tied the game at 88-all with 25 seconds left, but the attempt circled the rim. 

"I'm very proud of him," Jeter added. "He has not been in the starting group, but tonight, when his number was called, he was able to come in and play at a good pace. More than anything, his pace was good, and his energy was good; good or bad, his energy was up." 

A 3-pointer by Hinton pulled the score to 90-88 a few ticks later. The freshman recorded a career-high 19 points. 

The Leathernecks do not currently have another opponent on their schedule until league play opens with North Dakota State on Jan. 2. 
Print Friendly Version