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Four score in double figures as Western Illinois downs Kennesaw State, 66-54

January 20, 2008 on 8:15 pm | In Athletics |

MACOMB, Ill. - David Nurse’s 18 points led four Western Illinois starters who scored in double figures as the Leathernecks defeated Kennesaw State, 66-54.

After leading 40-25 at the half, the Leathernecks (4-7) let the Owls (2-8) come within four points, 58-54, with 3:39 remaining, but kept them scoreless the rest of the way to improve to 3-2 at home. Nurse and David Jackson combined to hit all six free throw attempts in the final 1:15 to seal the victory.

“It feels great to go into Christmas break with another home win, especially after having dropped the last two,” said Western Illinois head coach Derek Thomas. “We stole one on the road like we wanted to do and we knew we couldn’t slip up and let this one get away from us. A home win gets us back on the right track going into the conference season.”

The Owls held a small lead for most of the first eight minutes of the game, but a three-pointer by Nurse sparked a 23-6 run that gave the Leathernecks a 16-point edge, their largest of the game, with 3:14 left in the half.

After the break, the Leathernecks’ lead remained at double-digits until the 14:12 mark when the Owls came within eight, 47-39. They continued chipping away slowly at the deficit, coming within five, 53-48, seven minutes later, but a jumper by Jackson and Nurse’s fourth three-pointer of the night put the lead back to 10. The Owls responded with three consecutive baskets, which proved to be their last of the game.

The Leathernecks shot 54.8 percent from the field overall, their highest in seven games, and 62.5 percent in the first half. They outrebounded the Owls, 33-25, paced by Jerryck Owens-Murrey’s game-high 10 rebounds which matched his career high and gave him the team’s first double-double of the season.

Jackson added 16 points for the Leathernecks and was joined in double-figures by Owens-Murrey, 13, and David DuBois, 10. The Owls were led in scoring by Shaun Stegall’s 14 points, and received 11 from Ronell Wooten and 10 from Jon-Michael Nickerson.

Originaly from Source