SAINT CHARLES, MO – The Western Illinois Men's Basketball team showed resilience and effort in their Ohio Valley Conference matchup at Lindenwood on Saturday night, but ultimately fell short, 71-65, at Robert F. Hyland Arena.

The Leathernecks (7-6, 1-1 OVC) were led by a standout performance from Ryan Myers, who poured in 18 points, including four three-pointers, while shooting an efficient 7-of-11 from the field. Marko Maletic added 19 points, going 7-for-12 from the floor, and Julius Rollins contributed 12 points and 7 rebounds.

Western Illinois started the game strong, matching Lindenwood's energy and finding offensive success in the paint, where they scored 32 points. However, the Leathernecks had 13 turnovers which proved to be costly, allowing the Lions to capitalize with 11 points off those miscues.

WIU showcased their defensive prowess with six blocks, highlighted by Tay Knox, who had two rejections and added five points and four rebounds. Despite trailing by as much as 15 points early in the second half, the Leathernecks mounted a late rally, cutting the deficit to four points in the final minutes. Maletic and Myers combined for several key baskets down the stretch, but Lindenwood's free-throw shooting sealed the victory. 

The Leathernecks will aim to bounce back as they prepare to hit the road to take on SIUE on Thursday, January 2. The game will be streamed on ESPNU with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m.