Macomb, Ill- Western Illinois fell to Northern Iowa 82-56 on Tuesday night as the Leathernecks dropped to 2-3 on the season despite having a balanced offensive effort. Marko Maletic and Trey Deveaux both scored 15 points for WIU, with Maletic demonstrating range with two three-pointers and Deveaux scoring 13 second-half points to lead the way for the Leathernecks. Kayden Carter added 8 points, with Rodrick Payne and Ryan Myers each having 6 points.
The team struggled with turnovers, committing 12, which led to 17 points for Northern Iowa. As a team, the Leathernecks had 28 points in the paint and had 36 bench points, with 30 of them coming from Deveaux and Maletic.
Defensively, the Leathernecks forced eight turnovers scoring three points off of those turnovers. Northern Iowa would outscore WIU in the paint and in transition, as the Panthers scored 50 points in the paint and added 21 fast-break points compared to the Leathernecks 2 fast-break points. UNI ended the first half on an 11-0 run leading 42-24 at the break and would never trail in the game.
The second half saw WIU's bench score 31 of the team's 32 points as Tay Knox would knock down a free throw at the 16:27 mark of the second half. The Leathernecks shot 6-9 (66.7%) from the free throw line with all nine attempts coming in the second half.
WIU will return home to take on Monmouth College on Thursday night inside Western Hall. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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