West Central Reporter

The Western Illinois Men's Basketball team faced a challenging game against Lindenwood in their Ohio Valley Conference matchup on Saturday night. Despite their efforts, the Leathernecks were defeated 71-65 at Robert F. Hyland Arena.

Ryan Myers led Western Illinois with a notable performance, scoring 18 points, including four three-pointers, and shooting an efficient 7-of-11 from the field. Marko Maletic contributed 19 points, going 7-for-12 from the floor, while Julius Rollins added 12 points and seven rebounds.

Western Illinois began the game strong, matching Lindenwood's energy and finding success offensively in the paint, scoring 32 points there. However, the Leathernecks committed 13 turnovers which allowed Lindenwood to score 11 points off those errors.

Defensively, WIU recorded six blocks with Tay Knox contributing two blocks along with five points and four rebounds. Despite trailing by as much as 15 points early in the second half, Western Illinois rallied late in the game. They managed to reduce Lindenwood's lead to four points in the final minutes. Key baskets by Maletic and Myers were not enough as Lindenwood secured their victory through effective free-throw shooting.

Looking ahead, Western Illinois will aim for recovery as they prepare for an away game against SIUE on Thursday, January 2. The match is scheduled for broadcast on ESPNU at 8 p.m.

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