Hot-shooting Western Illinois beats South Dakota 90-76

Feb 27, 2016, 10:42 pm

MACOMB, Ill. -- Garret Covington scored 16 points and Western Illinois shot 50 percent from the floor to beat South Dakota 90-76 on Saturday night and snap a four-game skid.

Covington, a junior, made three 3-pointers and has 77 in his career to move to third all-time in the program, one shy of second and nine back of leader Ceola Clark.

Jabari Sandifer and Mike Miklusak had 15 points apiece for Western Illinois (10-17, 3-13 Summit League), which shot 46 percent on 11-of-24 shooting from long range. Miklusak hit four 3-pointers and Sandifer had two.

Tre Burnette scored 18 points to lead South Dakota (14-17, 5-11).

The Leathernecks had a 25-point halftime lead, and South Dakota used a 32-13 spurt to pull to 67-61 with 9:30 remaining. Jalen Morgan answered with a layup, Miklusak made a free throw and Covington sank a 3-pointer and Western Illinois cruised from there.