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Western Illinois Men Score Home Victory over Southern Indiana

| By: WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Leathernecks pick up crucial win, 82-76

Box Score MACOMB – When you are desperate for a win, especially on your home floor, you take them as they come. Having lost four straight at home, the Leathernecks had fallen to fourth place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

On Saturday, Western Illinois was able to shake off the home woes and take down Southern Indiana, 82-76. The Leathernecks improve to 18-11 overall and 11-5 in the OVC.

The victory was not easy for WIU as Southern Indiana refused to go away. The Leathernecks led by as many as 13 in the second half but the Screaming Eagles trimmed the lead to two, 74-72 with 57 seconds left. But Ryan Myers (14 points) was ice water at the line, hitting four straight free throws to the Leathernecks back up six. USI again rallied, cutting the deficit to two again, 78-76 with 12 seconds left.

But Myers and James Dent Jr. (eight points, five assists, five rebounds) both hit two free throws to ice the game and end the Western Hall blues.

It was a balanced effort for the Leathernecks as Jesiah West scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Drew Cisse added nine points and 12 boards, Quinlan Bennett finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists, JJ Kalakon scored 11, and Tay Knox finished with 10 points and four rebounds.

The Leathernecks started quickly, taking a 7-2 lead in the first 2:30, but Southern Indiana stormed back, taking their largest lead of the night, 22-16 at the 9:48 mark. Western Illinois responded, going on a 10-0 run over the next four minutes to lead 26-22. WIU extended the lead one more bucket at the half, taking a 39-33 advantage into the break.

In the opening 20 minutes, Western Illinois controlled play, going 17-31 from the floor (54.8 percent) and outrebounding USI 25-16.

In the second half, WIU started quickly, taking a 46-35 lead on a Kalakon three-pointer with 18:03 to go. Western Illinois' lead grew to 13, 55-42 on a Knox dunk off a Kalakon feed. But as they did all game, the Screaming Eagles did not fold, making a late run before the Leathernecks iced the game at the line.

For the contest, WIU went 22-29 (75.9 percent) from the charity stripe, 27-60 from the field (45 percent), and 6-22 (27.3 percent) from three. The Leathernecks outrebounded the Screaming Eagles 51-29 and held a 17-7 second-chance points advantage.

USI went 26-66 (39.4 percent) from the field, 7-25 (28 percent) from three, and 17-22 (77.3 percent) from the line.

Western Illinois remains in fourth place in the conference, one game back of Morehead State, UT Martin, and Little Rock, who are all tied for first. The Leathernecks close out the regular season next week, hosting Eastern Illinois on Thursday and SIU-Edwardsville on Saturday.
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