Western Illinois' men's basketball team ended their run at the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament after a tough 82-57 loss to Little Rock in the semifinals. Little Rock's strong offensive performance outpaced the Leathernecks, who struggled to keep up despite a promising start.

The Big Picture

The Leathernecks faced a formidable challenge in Little Rock, highlighting the competitiveness and intensity of conference tournaments for mid-major teams.

By the Numbers
  • Western Illinois finished the game shooting 30% from the field, 22% from three-point range, and 61% from the free-throw line.
  • The team's top scorers were JJ Kalakon with 15 points, Ryan Myers with 12, and Quinlan Bennett with nine.
State of Play
  • Western Illinois' successful season under Coach Chad Boudreau included a first-ever 20-plus win season and 13 conference wins since 2012-13.
  • The team's strong performance on the road, winning 10 games, reflects significant progress and competitiveness in the program.
  • The defeat in the conference tournament does not diminish the overall success and growth achieved throughout the season.
What's Next

Despite the tournament loss, Western Illinois looks ahead to building on the successes of the season and continuing to grow under Coach Boudreau's leadership.

Bottom Line

Western Illinois University's men's basketball team's season ended with a challenging loss in the OVC Tournament, but the overall success and progress mark a significant turning point for the program under Coach Chad Boudreau.