MACOMB, Ill- In front of a home crowd of 696 at Western Hall, the Leatherneck Men's Basketball Squad faced off against Southeast Missouri State but ultimately lost their sixth game in a row. Despite a spirited effort in the first half, WIU fell short, losing 72-51.
The Leathernecks (8-13, 2-8 OVC) started strong, keeping pace with the Redhawks (11-10, 6-4 OVC) through much of the first half. Forward Trey Deveaux led WIU with 14 points and 7 rebounds, showcasing his ability to drive into the paint and battle for second-chance opportunities. Guard Sean Smith chipped in with 10 points, including two three-pointers, while Ryan Myers and Marko Maletic contributed 9 points a piece.
Despite their hustle on the boards, where the Leathernecks out rebounded SEMO 34-31, turnovers plagued WIU, committing 13 compared to SEMO's 6, with the Redhawks capitalizing by scoring 15 points off those mistakes. The Redhawks' bench also provided a crucial spark, contributing 21 points compared to WIU's 5.
The defensive effort for the Leathernecks was there as they held SEMO to 27 points in the first half, trailing by just 4 points at the break. However, the Redhawks exploded for 45 points in the second half, pulling away with efficient shooting and fast-break opportunities.
WIU will stay at home next week as they will be hosting Eastern Illinois and SIUE next Thursday and Saturday. Tip-off on Thursday is at 7:30 p.m. in Western Hall.
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