MACOMB, Ill- Western Illinois Men's Basketball (9-17, 3-12 OVC) put on a commanding performance Thursday night, rolling past the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (9-16, 4-11 OVC) with an 87-62 victory at Western Hall, snapping the Leathernecks' 10 game losing streak.
From the opening tip, Western controlled the pace of the game, jumping out to an early lead and never looking back. WIU used efficient shooting, strong defense, and a well-balanced attack to secure their third conference win of the season.
Western Illinois set the tone early with hot shooting from beyond the arc, led by Marko Maletic, who poured in 30 points on an impressive 10-of-15 shooting, including making his first six three-pointers, which tied the program record for most consecutive three pointers made without a miss (6). His ability to stretch the floor opened up opportunities in the paint, where Trey Deveaux contributed 17 points while also grabbing five rebounds.
The Screaming Eagles struggled to keep up with the Leathernecks' offensive efficiency. While Jayland Randall tried to keep Southern Indiana in the game with 17 points, including three three-pointers, WIU's defense forced key turnovers and limited second-chance opportunities. At the break, WIU led 45-31, shooting a blistering 51.6% from the field and hitting 6-of-10 from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes of action.
The second half was much of the same, as WIU continued to build its lead. Maletic remained the focal point of the offense, hitting big shots while also contributing 10 rebounds for a double-double. Ryan Myers provided additional support with 13 points, and Julius Rollins added 12 points along with three blocks. The Leathernecks' defense tightened up in the final 20 minutes, holding Southern Indiana to just 31 second-half points. Damoni Harrison was a bright spot for the Screaming Eagles, recording 21 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to mount a comeback.
As a team, the Leathernecks shot 56.7% from the field, hit 11 three-pointers, and dished out 15 assists on 34 made field goals. With the win, WIU picks up a crucial conference victory, while Southern Indiana will look to regroup as they approach the final stretch of the regular season.
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