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Western Illinois University Athletics

Kyle Arrington
71
Winner South Dakota St. SDSU 17-8,8-2 Summit League
61
Western Ill. WIU 5-15,2-8 Summit League
Winner
South Dakota St. SDSU
17-8,8-2 Summit League
71
Final
61
Western Ill. WIU
5-15,2-8 Summit League
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
South Dakota St. SDSU 42 29 71
Western Ill. WIU 24 37 61

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Leathernecks Rally But SDSU Sweeps the Season Series

Fans got their monies worth Saturday night.

MACOMB, Ill. -  If there was any game Western Illinois men's basketball would take back this season, it was Saturday night's 71-61 loss to South Dakota State (February 1). 

Western Hall fell quiet as its home team sat on the unfavorable side of a 20-point deficit, until the Leathernecks rallied for a two-point contest in the final minutes.

"The fans really stuck with us, and we feed off the energy they gave. Our guys showed that when they make their minds up to play the right way, the entire 40 minutes, we're very capable of beating anyone in this league," said head coach Billy Wright. 

"At halftime, the conversation was about remembering who we are. We want to move the ball, share the ball, and take good shots. Our guys just did a tremendous job executing the gameplan in the second half."

Though the halftime score didn't suggest, the first half began in a sparring match. The two went basket for basket through the midpoint of the frame, until the latter half spiraled in favor of the Jacks. They outscored Western, 24-5, by shooting 10-for-15 from the field over a seven-minute stretch and entered their locker room up by a mirrored score of 42-24. 

Of special note, Western shook up its starting lineup for just the second time this season, and Kyle Arrington's first career start proved to be fruitful. The junior transfer singlehandedly went on a 6-0 run to kick start the second period before finishing the night with 10 points and seven rebounds.

"Basketball is a game of matchups, and both he and James have had some early foul trouble. [Matt Dentlinger] is a good physical low post player, and we felt that going into this game, Kyle was the better matchup. He is an energy giver. Whether he plays one minute or 31, he's always ready, and he earned it." 

It was Arrington's floater that pulled WIU back within single digits for the first time since the early goings, and suddenly Western Hall was electric. The 772 in attendance rose to their feet as Arrington's basket ignited his team on an 11-2, and suddenly, the Leathernecks were down by one with 3:07 to go. 

Ben Pyle splashed a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to set things at 58-57, but that was close as the Leathernecks would get to conclude the night. 
 
Zion Young guided the offense with a team-high 16 points, trailed closely by Pyle's 15 and Kobe Webster's 12. 

Western turns its focus to Purdue Fort Wayne next Wednesday for a 6 p.m. CT tip. 

The Leathernecks currently sit eighth in league standings, with six contests remaining, before The Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls (March 7-10). The top eight teams qualify for the championship event.

 
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