MACOMB, Ill- Western Illinois Men's Basketball fought hard but ultimately came up short in a 69-65 loss to SIUE on Saturday at Western Hall. The Leathernecks (8-15, 2-10 OVC) showed resilience, rallying in the second half but could not overcome SIUE's balanced attack.
Marko Maletic led WIU with 24 points, including five three-pointers, while Trey Deveaux added 13 points and eight rebounds. Julius Rollins contributed 11 points and five rebounds, and Massal Diouf chipped in 11 points and six boards. The Leathernecks won the battle on the glass, outrebounding SIUE 42-38 and racking up 17 second-chance points.
Despite a strong defensive effort with five blocks and four steals, WIU struggled with efficiency, shooting just 37.5% from the field and committing nine turnovers. The team also had difficulty converting from beyond the arc, hitting just six of their 20 three-point attempts.
SIUE (15-8, 8-4 OVC) built a 37-29 halftime lead, but WIU clawed back in the second half, outscoring the Cougars 36-32. Maletic's hot shooting kept WIU in the game late, but SIUE managed to hold on by hitting key free throws down the stretch.
The Leathernecks will look to bounce back next week as they hit the road to take on Tennessee State and UT Martin. They will tip off at 7 p.m. on Thurday night against the Tigers and will play at 3:30 p.m. next Saturday in Martin, TN.
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