MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois men’s basketball team received its first glimpse of Summit League play with back-to-back games in back-to-back days against North Dakota State. The Leathernecks displayed an improved performance in the Sunday finale (Jan. 3), though the final resulted in a 78-67 setback.
“Looking at the statistics, they made us pay for our mistakes. For us, the lesson was discipline. [NDSU] was a lot more disciplined, made us fight through tough finishes, and it was just a few things that we gave up. Like, we gave up some threes helping on post play and we didn’t fight hard enough to get the ball inside. They made us fight for everything.
“Tonight, we learned a lesson; it can’t be a sometime thing. It has to be every possession, all the time, and then we’ll have a chance. We gave ourselves a chance tonight.”
In one of its hottest starts of the season, Western ran on all cylinders to jump out to an early 10-2 advantage (17:21). Anthony Jones, Justin Brookens and Tamell Pearson each had a hand in the action, and the Leathernecks maintained their lead until the 3-ball came into play.
There were a lot of treys inside Western Hall, as WIU finished the first half with five to the Bisons’ seven. Just before the break, NDSU recorded four in four minutes to crown a 14-5 run, and the visitors entered the locker room up, 43-34.
After making his season debut a day prior, Adam Anhold continued to be a bright spot in the league-opening weekend. The 6-8 junior transfer received substantial minutes in game two, which also captured his first career points in purple and gold. He brought his teammates to their feet with a two-handed jam at the 12:24-mark, and the basket helped the Leathernecks creep within six.
Five points separated the two teams down the stretch, but Western was unable to turn the corner.
Anhold finished 4-of-7 from the field for nine points and added three rebounds and a block. Pearson (17), Will Carius (14), and Rod Johnson (14) all scored in double-figures.
“It felt great being out there with the guys again,” said Anhold. “Being at home for two months, rehabbing this knee, it felt great to be back out there again and hooping with my brothers. I missed the guys and the coaches. I need to work on my defense and my jump shot a little bit, but my knee is feeling great again, 100 percent.”
Western resumes Summit League play at South Dakota State. Tip-off on Friday and Saturday are scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
***Recap courtesy of WIU Athletics***
