W. Illinois 68, Culver-Stockton 44

By foxsports
Published

Matt Lander and Jack Houpt combined for 39 points Wednesday night to pace Western Illinois to a 68-44 victory over Culver-Stockton.

Lander hit 8 of 10 free throws and went over 20 points for the fourth time this season, leading all scorers with 21 for the Leathernecks (5-4). Houpt made two 3-pointers among his 18 points.

The victory was the 250th of coach Jim Molinari's career.

Steven Crawford scored 10 points to pace the NAIA Wildcats (0-8), who counted the game as an exhibition.

Tommie Tyler's 3-pointer put Western Illinois ahead 18-6 with 12:31 left in the first half. Culver-Stockton ran off the next nine points to close within 18-15, but that was as close as the score got the rest of the way.

The Leathernecks led 27-21 at intermission and pulled away from there.