Western Illinois Breaks USD's Heart Again

by Zach Borg, Weekend Sports Anchor
March 09, 2013 11:39 PM


SIOUX FALLS, S.D. --  For the third time this season the South Dakota Coyote men's basketball team came within a basket of beating Western Illinois, only to lose.

In their first ever Summit League Tournament game the seventh seeded Coyotes fell to Summit League Co-Champion Western Illinois 54-53.  The Coyotes finish the season 10-20 overall.

USD lost their three games to Western Illinois by a combined five points (dropping a pair of two point decisions during regular season play).

USD had a strong first half, taking a 25-21 lead into the break.  In the second half WIU's Ceola Clark rattled off eleven straight points to help pull the Leathernecks back in front.  The Yotes pulled to within 50-48 on a Trevor Gruis layup with 36 seconds left.  The Leathernecks hit free throws the rest of the way to clinch the win.

Clark led all scorers with 21 points.  Juevol Miles led USD with 14 points, and Gruis got a double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds).

Western Illinois faces the winner of Sunday's quarterfinal between North Dakota State and UMKC on Monday at 8:30 in the semifinals.

Tune into KDLT News tomorrow night at 10 for extended highlights and reaction from the USD players and Dave Boots.