MARTIN, TN- Despite a red-hot shooting night from Marko Maletic, Western Illinois couldn't keep pace with UT Martin, falling 81-70 on Saturday afternoon at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.
Maletic was on fire from beyond the arc, drilling eight three-pointers and shooting 50% from the field on his way to a game-high 27 points. The senior guard shot 9-of-18 from the field and added three rebounds in 32 minutes of action. His sharpshooting kept the Leathernecks competitive throughout, but UT Martin's second-half surge proved too much to overcome.
Trey Deveaux provided a strong inside presence, finishing with 17 points and seven rebounds. The forward showcased his efficiency, going 4-of-8 from the field while also sinking 8-of-9 free throws. He chipped in three assists and played a key role on both ends of the floor.
Western Illinois (8-17, 2-12 OVC) put together a shooting display from deep, connecting on 12 three-pointers as a team. However, turnovers and second-chance points allowed UT Martin to create separation in the second half.
The Leathernecks will now return home to take on Southern Indiana and Morehead State. WIU sits in 11th place in the OVC with six games to go.Â
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