West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University's men's basketball team secured a narrow 71-68 victory over Tennessee Tech in their Ohio Valley Conference opener at Western Hall. The win marked the Leathernecks' first conference victory, bringing their overall record to 7-5.

Ryan Myers led the scoring for Western Illinois with 21 points, shooting 7-of-13 from the field and making two three-pointers. Marko Maletic added 14 points and five rebounds, while Sean Smith contributed 12 points and a game-high four assists. The team's defensive efforts were highlighted by five blocks and eight steals.

The game was closely contested, with both teams tied at 31 points at halftime. In the second half, Western Illinois outscored Tennessee Tech by three points and held them to a shooting percentage of 42.6%. Key contributions from the bench, including Tay Knox's four points, eight rebounds, and two blocks, were instrumental in the victory.

In the final moments of the game, Western Illinois maintained composure by converting crucial free throws to fend off Tennessee Tech's late attempts to close the gap. The team made five of six free throws in the last ten seconds of play.

Western Illinois will next face Lindenwood Lions in St. Charles with a scheduled tip-off at 3:30 p.m.

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