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Western Illinois University Athletics

quinlan at semo
76
Winner Western Ill. WIU 15-8,8-2 OVC
55
Southeast Mo. St. SEMO 7-16,2-8 OVC
Winner
Western Ill. WIU
15-8,8-2 OVC
76
Final
55
Southeast Mo. St. SEMO
7-16,2-8 OVC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western Ill. WIU 37 39 76
Southeast Mo. St. SEMO 28 27 55

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

SHOW ME SQUAD: WIU Men Sweep Trip Through Missouri

Leathernecks rout SEMO, 76-55

MACOMB – They call Missouri the Show Me State.

On this week's two-game stretch through Missouri, the Leathernecks showed everyone they are for real.

After a win over Lindenwood on Thursday night, the Leathernecks played one of their most complete games of the season, rolling past Southeast Missouri, 76-55 on Saturday afternoon. The win was the largest conference victory for the Leathernecks (15-8 overall, 8-2 in Ohio Valley Conference) since a 29-point rout of St. Thomas on January 29, 2022.

"It doesn't feel normal," Western Illinois coach Chad Boudreau said after the game. "Normally, everyone one of these is close, so I appreciate that."

It was a balanced effort for the Leathernecks with six different players scoring in double figures. It was the most players in double figures since seven players scored in double digits against Central Christian College of the Bible on November 23, 2019.

"Our last two games, we're really playing together well as a group," Boudreau said.

Western Illinois led for nearly 37 of the game's 40 minutes and held an advantage as great as 26, controlling the Redhawks.

Quinlan Bennett and JJ Kalakon led the way, each scoring 15 points. Drew Cisse had his fifth double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Ryan Myers, Jesiah West, and James Dent Jr. were also in double digits, scoring 10 each, respectively. 

Western Illinois controlled the game in about every way, possible, shooting 53 percent (29-55) from the field while holding SEMO to 36 percent (20-55). The Leathernecks even were lights-out from the free throw line, hitting 13-15 (87 percent). In the paint, the Leathernecks outscored the Redhawks 40-18 and Western Illinois won the rebound margin, 38-20.

The win capped a 3-1 road trip for Western Illinois and saw the Leathernecks improve to 6-1 on the road in the OVC this season. The Leathernecks also won their eighth road game of the season, the most since the 1996-97 team also won eight. The most true road wins in program history is 11, belonging to the 1957-58 squad.

The Leathernecks came out hot, riding Bennett and Kalakon early as they built a nine-point lead at the break. The duo each scored 11 in the opening 20 minutes, getting the job done inside and outside.

In the second half, it was much more of a balanced attack, as Cissee and Myers scored eight of their 10, and Dent Jr. had seven of his 10 after intermission.

Western Illinois is back at home on Thursday, hosting Little Rock at 7:30 p.m. The game is the first of six of eight WIU games to be played inside Western Hall.
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