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Western Illinois University Athletics

LB
Rachael Keating
75
Winner South Dakota SD 12-7,5-3 Summit League
72
Western Ill. WIU 12-8,3-5 Summit League
Winner
South Dakota SD
12-7,5-3 Summit League
75
Final
72
Western Ill. WIU
12-8,3-5 Summit League
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
South Dakota SD 40 35 75
Western Ill. WIU 36 36 72

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

WIU Falls to USD

The Leathernecks move to 12-8 on the season, will host St. Thomas on Saturday (Jan. 29).

MACOMB, ILL. – The Western Illinois University Fighting Leatherneck men's basketball team played on Monday (Jan. 24), falling 72-75 to the Coyotes of South Dakota. The Leathernecks are now 12-8 on the season and 3-5 in Summit League play.
 
"We just didn't play well tonight," assistant coach Kyle Heikkinen said. "All the credit to them – they're a good, fundamentally sound basketball team."
 
Both teams traded runs at the start of the game, with USD opening on a 10-0 run and Western immediately countering with a 7-0 run in response. The Coyotes countered again, and both teams traded blows the rest of the period as WIU trailed 36-40 at the intermission. Western opened the second half by shooting 3-6 in the period's opening 4:10, taking a one-point lead off a Colton Sandage layup with 15:50 remaining in the game. USD responded once more, but Western came cut the deficit to just two points on multiple times in the game's waning minutes.
 
The Leathernecks had a chance at the end to tie the game. After the Coyotes hit one shot at the line to build a three-point lead, Western heaved a pass down court and called timeout, getting possession right in front of the scorer's table next to the team bench. Off the ensuing inbounds play Trenton Massner received a pass and cut to the lane, ultimately shooting a step-back three-pointer at the buzzer that was just short and Western fell 72-75.
 
"We've run that quite a few times, it's a play with two options," Heikkinen said. "We drew it up, it looked good, but it just didn't go in. It was on target, a little contested, but it's one that we drew up and they defended well."
 
Luka Barisic led all scorers with 18 points, shooting 8-16 from the field and grabbing six rebounds. Trenton Massner scored 17 points that included a tremendous breakaway slam late in the first half, while grabbing seven rebounds and finishing with two steals and a block. Colton Sandage had a balanced effort with 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists and one steal, and Tamell Pearson scored ten points while blocking two shots. Will Carius scored six to go with five rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocks, and George Dixon had another solid outing off the Leatherneck bench with six points, six rebounds and one block.
 
As a team Western Illinois shot 47.7% from the field, making three shots from deep and seven from the line. The team's efforts on the glass resulted in 38 rebounds (eight offensive), which translated into 50 points in the paint and six second-chance points. The Leatherneck defense limited South Dakota to just 3-15 shooting from deep and forced eight turnovers, while scoring seven points off the Coyote mistakes.
 
Western Illinois is back in action this Saturday (Jan. 29), hosting St. Thomas at Western Hall. Tip-off against the Tommies is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
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