Box Score HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team was in mid-season form Tuesday, grinding out a 62-52 win over Western Illinois at the University Center.
Southeastern (3-2) expanded upon a two point halftime lead to hold off a pesky Leatherneck squad looking for its first road win of the season.
"We got every thing we bargained for," coach Jim Yarbrough said. "They were a very tough team, but it was great to wrestle it away. Typical of Lion basketball, we had a very prolific second half and pulled away to a good working margin."
The Lions scored the game's first seven points, eventually stretching the lead to 13 with 4:43 remaining in the first half. Western Illinois (1-4) spent the remainder of the half shaving down Southeastern's advantage and setting the tone for the contest.
Antonnio Benton recorded his second double-double of the season, both having come in Lion victories. Benton dropped in a season-high 17 points, on 7-of-10 shooting, and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Southeastern in both categories.
JaMichael Hawkins added 15 points for the Lions while
Devonte Upson grabbed nine boards, eight coming in the first half.
Garrett Covington's 22 points led all scorers despite leaving the game due to an ankle injury with 1:01 left on the game clock. He was also the Leatherneck's leading rebounder with eight boards in 36 minutes of action. Michael Ochereobia was next with nine points and six rebounds.
Southeastern hits the road for back-to-back contests at North Texas (Nov. 30) and at Arkansas (Dec. 3) before returning home to host Southeast Missouri State, Dec. 7, at the University Center.
WESTERN ILLINOIS (1-4)
Covington, Garret 8-16 2-2 22; Ochereobia, Michael 4-4 1-1 9; Stensgaard, Tate 2-5 1-2 5; Foster, Jordan 2-4 0-2 4; Roberts-Burnett, R. 2-8 0-0 4; Link, Adam 2-7 0-4 4; Miklusak, Mike 1-4 0-0 2; Conde, Mohamed 0-3 1-2 1; Sandifer, Jabari 0-1 1-2 1; Hawthorne, Jason 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-52 6-15 52.
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA (3-2)
Benton, Antonnio 7-10 3-4 17; Hawkins, JaMichael 5-12 2-2 15; Evans, Dre 2-4 2-4 7; Upson, Devonte 3-7 1-4 7; Ochie, Onochie 2-6 2-4 6; Filmore, Joshua 2-3 0-1 5; Ricard, Jeffery 1-6 2-4 4; Campbell, Jeremy 0-0 1-2 1; Chiera, Julian 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-50 13-25 62.
Western Illinois.............. 23 29 - 52
Southeastern La............ 25 37 - 62
3-point goals--Western Illinois 4-15 (Covington, Garret 4-9; Foster, Jordan 0-1; Roberts-Burnett, R. 0-2; Miklusak, Mike 0-3), Southeastern La. 5-14 (Hawkins, JaMichael 3-7; Filmore, Joshua 1-2; Evans, Dre 1-2; Ricard, Jeffery 0-1; Chiera, Julian 0-1; Ochie, Onochie 0-1). Fouled out—Western Illinois-None, Southeastern La.-None. Rebounds--Western Illinois 31 (Covington, Garret 8), Southeastern La. 40 (Benton, Antonnio 11). Assists--Western Illinois 12 (Roberts-Burnett, R. 6), Southeastern La. 10 (Hawkins, JaMichael 3; Evans, Dre 3). Total fouls--Western Illinois 22, Southeastern La. 15. Technical fouls--Western Illinois-None, Southeastern La.-None. A-460
