BOX SCORE
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Western Michigan was held to 33.3 percent shooting and fell at Southern Illinois, 64-46, in front of 5,324 at the SIU Arena on Monday night.
David Kool, the reigning Co-Mid-American Conference West Player of the Week, led the Broncos (3-9) with 12 points, while Shawntes Gary added 10 points. Junior center Donald Lawson led all player with a career-high 11 rebounds, but it wasn't enough against the Salukis (5-6).
The Broncos hit just 16 field goals and were only 7-of-28 (.250) in the second half and the Bronocs were held to only three three-pointers in 20 attempts (.150).
The Salukis countered by hitting 11-of-19 second-half shots (.579), including five three-pointers, on their way to shooting .488 overall (21-43) and 8-of-21 from beyond the arc.
The Broncos were within one, 35-34, with 12:28 to play after Kool knocked down a three-pointer and a jumper in the paint on consecutive possessions, but then the Salukis took over. Kevin Dillard hit back-to-back three-pointers to ignite a 24-4 run over the next 10 minutes that put them up by 21, 59-38, with 2:43 to play.
The Salukis scored the first points of the game, but Western Michigan answered with a three-pointer from Kool and a layup by Lawson to take a 5-2 lead. The Broncos eventually pushed their lead to six, 15-9, after Gary scored six straight. He hit a short jumper on the glass, then was fouled and hit the first free throw. He missed the second, but Flenard Whitfield snagged the offensive rebound. Gary then penetrated hit the layup, was fouled and converted the free throw.
SIU scored on the next possessions, but Derek Drews converted on a post move to put WMU back up six, 17-11, with 11:59 to play.
The Salukis then shut the Broncos down and went on a 16-3 run to build a seven-point lead, 27-20, with 1:01 to play in the half and Kool and Gary on the bench with two fouls each for much of the run. Lawson hit a fadeaway jumper in the paint with 34 seconds to play to account for the halftime margin, 27-22.
The Broncos started the second half with a three-pointer by Michael Redell, following a Lawson offensive rebound, and two Kool free throws to even the score, 27-27. Southern Illinois went back up two, but the Broncos answered with a turnaround jumper by Gary, before Wesley Clemmons hit consecutive three-pointers to put SIU up for good, 35-29.
Dillard led SIU with 16 points and eight assists, while Clemmons added 11 points.
The Broncos outrebounded SIU, 32-31, including 11 offensive rebounds that led to a 12-4 edge in second-chance points. The Broncos also were strong in the paint with a 22-12 advantage in points in the paint, but their opportunities were limited when SIU began to pack in its defense.
The Broncos turned the ball over 17 times and were outscored 15-6 in points off turnovers.
Western Michigan is back in action against Green Bay (8-4, 2-0 Horizon) on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. at University Arena. Fans can purchase a 4 for $40 Pack that includes four tickets, four hot dogs, four fountain drinkgs and four bags of chips. Call 1-888-4-WMU-TIX or order online at WMUBroncos.com.
