West Central Reporter

In a recent home game at Western Hall, the Western Illinois University (WIU) Leathernecks men's basketball team faced Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) and suffered their sixth consecutive defeat. The match ended with a score of 72-51 in favor of SEMO.

The Leathernecks, now holding an 8-13 overall record and 2-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), started the game on equal footing with the Redhawks, who have an 11-10 overall record and 6-4 in the OVC. Forward Trey Deveaux was a standout player for WIU, scoring 14 points and securing seven rebounds. Guard Sean Smith added ten points to the team's total, including two successful three-point shots. Ryan Myers and Marko Maletic each contributed nine points.

Despite leading in rebounds with a count of 34 against SEMO's 31, WIU struggled with turnovers, committing 13 compared to SEMO's six. These errors proved costly as SEMO capitalized by scoring 15 points from these mistakes. The Redhawks' bench also made a significant impact by adding 21 points, while WIU's bench managed only five.

Defensively, WIU managed to hold SEMO to just 27 points in the first half and trailed by only four points at halftime. However, SEMO gained momentum in the second half, scoring an additional 45 points through efficient shooting and fast-break opportunities.

Looking ahead, WIU will remain at home for upcoming games against Eastern Illinois and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) next Thursday and Saturday. The Thursday game is scheduled for a tip-off at 7:30 p.m. at Western Hall.

For more information on Leatherneck Basketball or updates on future games, fans can visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow them on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.