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Western Illinois University Athletics

JJFlores
80
Ill. Springfield UIS 0-0,0-0 GLVC
92
Winner Western Ill. WIU 0-0,0-0 Summit League
Ill. Springfield UIS
0-0,0-0 GLVC
80
Final
92
Western Ill. WIU
0-0,0-0 Summit League
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Ill. Springfield UIS 37 43 80
Western Ill. WIU 38 54 92

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

Western Men’s Basketball Wins First Exhibition

Against UIS on Wednesday (Oct. 27), the team won 92-80.

MACOMB, ILL. – The Western Illinois University Fighting Leatherneck men's basketball team was in action on Wednesday, defeating the University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars 92-80 at Western Hall. Wednesday's game was the first of two exhibitions the team will play before starting their regular season on Nov. 9 against Nebraska.
 
"It's the first game so it's a good reflection on ourselves, we can see it in film and really point out what we need to do different," Will Carius said of the game. "At the end of the day it was nice to play someone besides ourselves, get a run in and it's only going to make us better."
 
The first half was a tightly contested, back-and-forth battle, with Western holding a 38-37 lead at halftime. Will Carius led all Leatherneck scorers in the game's first 20 minutes with 10 points, and George Dixon had five rebounds. Carius' scoring would accelerate in the second half,  finishing with 30 points and a spectacular alley-oop dunk in the team's 92-80 victory. Luka Barisic scored 23 points in the game (9-11 from the free throw line), with 12 different players receiving playing time.
 
"I thought Tamell did a nice job of picking us up, along with Luka, and with Will, and now when you start getting a full lineup together, you wonder if you can start having a special night," head coach Rob Jeter said. "We have to make sure the other side is where we get it done and that is more of a discipline, grit and fight that I think we can get better at."
 
In his Leatherneck debut George Dixon had four points and six rebounds, and JJ Flores pitched in three points, three rebounds and one assist. KJ Lee, playing his first game at the collegiate level, had three points and a rebound during his time on the floor. Tamell Pearson had a team-high two blocks, with three different Leathernecks recording two or more steals.
 
"You can see the energy picked up with those guys (George Dixon and JJ Flores) and I think Braden Lamar is a guy who can do that along with Cameron Burrell," Jeter said. "When you look at the dynamic… boy if we can get that marriage together and get it on the same page maybe we can have some fun."
 
The Leathernecks have one more exhibition before starting regular season, scheduled for Monday (Nov. 1). Tip-off at Western Hall is scheduled for 6 p.m. and admission will be free to all attendees.
 
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