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Box Score

Western Ill. WIU 7-15,5-9 Summit League

South Dakota SD 14-10,11-4 Summit League

Western Ill. WIU

7-15,5-9 Summit League

Final

Mar. 06, 2021

South Dakota SD

14-10,11-4 Summit League

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Western Ill. WIU	30	39	69
South Dakota SD	43	43	86

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | Saturday, March 06, 2021 | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Fall to No. 2 South Dakota, Close out 2020-21 Season

Western Illinois dropped 69-86 to No. 2 South Dakota on Saturday (March 6) night.

SIOUX FALL, S.D. - A lot can be said about the Western Illinois men's basketball team this season. In a year truly like none other, the Leathernecks overcame obstacles throughout and never quit. Unfortunately, the season came to a close in a 69-86 loss to No. 2 South Dakota on Saturday (March 6) night in the quarterfinals of the Summit League Tournament at the Pentagon Center.

First-year head coach Rob Jeter brought in 14 new faces into the program that returned two from the previous year. After only a month to prepare for a full season, the newcomers immediately made their mark in the record books, around the league and in the community.

Justin Brookens scored 37 points to tie for second in the single-game all-time mark in WIU's Division I history, and Colton Sandage tied the program record for the most three-pointers made (9). Western also won five straight Summit League games, highlighted by back-to-back sweeps. The Leathernecks had previously won three straight Summit League games since the 2012-13 season, where they won six in a row.

"South Dakota has done a nice job all year playing at their pace and tempo and defensively being tough," Jeter said. "My biggest concern was, could we make enough challenged threes and figure out a way to get easy shots inside."

Ramean Hinton started the contest off with a pull-up three, but the No. 2 Coyotes responded with a 14-0 run and forced a Western timeout. USD stayed hot in the first half and shot over 60 percent (16-26) from the field and 70 (7-10) from the deep for a 43-30 lead into half.

Out of halftime, the Leatherneck offense started to spark. Second Team All-Summit selection Will Carius and Hinton drilled shots from deep to lead an 8-1 run to make it a seven-point game, 38-45 (18:05). However, that would be the closest Western would get as they couldn't get over the hump.

Sandage scored a team-high 16 points while Anthony Jones (13), Carius (12), and Hinton (11) all ended in double-figures.

"We've got some growing up to do, more growing up to do over the summer to be better for next year."

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