Western Illinois men's basketball team secures a 61-59 victory over Tennessee State in the OVC quarterfinals with Ryan Myers' game-winning shot, advancing to face top-seed Little Rock in the semifinals.

The Big Picture

The Leathernecks' hard-fought win showcases their resilience and sets them on a path towards potentially reaching the OVC championship game for the first time in nearly a decade.

By the Numbers
  • Western Illinois (21-11) secured the victory with a 37.5% field goal percentage and outrebounded Tennessee State 52-36.
  • The game featured 13 ties, ten lead changes, and 19 turnovers by WIU resulting in 25 points for Tennessee State.
State of Play
  • Western Illinois faces top-seed Little Rock in the OVC semifinals following their quarterfinal win.
  • The victory marks WIU's first conference tournament win since 2018-19 and a step closer to a championship game appearance not seen since 2011-12.
Bottom Line

The Leathernecks' tenacity and teamwork propelled them to a crucial win, signaling a potential return to conference championship contention after years of absence.