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Western Illinois University Athletics

WIU-USI men's basketball
WIU Athletics
78
Southern Ind. USI 3-4,0-0 OVC
86
Winner Western Ill. WIU 3-4,0-0 Summit League
Southern Ind. USI
3-4,0-0 OVC
78
Final
86
Western Ill. WIU
3-4,0-0 Summit League
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Southern Ind. USI 34 44 78
Western Ill. WIU 36 50 86

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

WIU holds off USI, snaps losing streak

Leathernecks top Screaming Eagles, 86-78

MACOMB -- It was an emphatic way to end a four-game losing streak as the Western Illinois men found a way to hold on for an 86-78 victory over Southern Indiana inside Western Hall on Wednesday. The Leathernecks (3-4) led the bulk of the way, but had to hold off the Screaming Eagles in the final minutes to get the win.

"It's a big win because we've been close but haven't finished," Western Illinois' Vuk Stevanic, who scored a season-high 17 points, said. "It's always good to win, we could have played better but we found a way to grind out a good win. You want to build on something when you're going day by day."

The Leathernecks led for all but three minutes, 16 seconds of game time, but could never shake the Screaming Eagles, having to knock down free throws and get key defensive stops late.

"It think it's more about being dialed into the ordinary plays, make the pass, don't foul late in the game, don't give up the clean look for three, do the ordinary well, that's what has eluded us," Western Illinois coach Rob Jeter said. "We did the ordinary today, keep a man in front, do the basic stuff we haven't done, then when it's time to win, do the extraordinary stuff.
"We saw that with Jesiah West (season-high 16 points, three blocks, six rebounds), Trenton Massner (seven assists, three rebounds, two steals, season-high 23 points) got going, but we have to make sure we take care of the ordinary first."

The Leathernecks were able to get off to a strong start, leading by 11 in the first half, but Southern Indiana battled back, cutting the WIU advantage to two, 36-34 at half.

"It was a great win, but the thing is, we've started games well and we are not closing halves well, I thought today we did not close the first half," Jeter said. "We go up 11 with 5:47 to, then go in the locker up two. But the second-half run game us a cushion to hold them off."

The beginning of the second half belonged to Western as an 11-2 run gave WIU its largest lead of the game, 14 points.

"Coming out with energy, it gets everybody going, especially our starting five," West said. "When we stay together and play together, we can do anything."

Southern Indiana kept battling back though, but could never get over the hump as Western held the lead the entire second half, getting things done at the foul line. For the night, WIU hit a season-high 25 free throws, going 25-33. In the second half, Western Illinois went 18-21 from the line.

"We've been rattled early this year with some runs, self-destructed and hurt ourselves," Jeter said. "We still have to be better, 20 points off turnovers we have to clean up but we countered that with free throws. If we do not hurt ourselves, this team can settle in and do some good things."

Southern Indiana had a chance late, but a key block by West and late points from Stevanic, Quinlan Bennett (12 points) and Alec Rosner (12 points) helped Western pull away.

"I'm just being me, that's what Coach Jeter is preaching, play your game, be you and play hard," West said. "The last couple games, I've seen myself on film take plays off. Today, I had the mindset I was not going to take any plays off and be myself."

All five Leatherneck starters were in double figures, combining for 80 points. As a team, WIU went 28-54 (51.9 percent) from the field, 5-19 (26.3 percent) from three and 25-33 (75.8 percent) from the line. The Leathernecks outrebounded USI 38-32. Western Illinois returns to action on Saturday, hosting Texas Rio Grande Valley at 2:30 p.m.
 
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