Rabbits roll Leathernecks in Macomb

Thursday, January 13

Macomb, Ill.

7 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Western Illinois

1/13/2011 10:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball

By: SDSU Sports Info

MACOMB, ILL. - Playing in front of a large contingent of family and friends, Seneca, Ill., native Griffan Callahan tied a career-high with 20 points in leading South Dakota State to a convincing 81-50 win over Western Illinois on Thursday in Summit League action in Macomb, Ill.

Callahan tied the career mark on 7-of-10 shooting, including a 4-of-7 night from three point range, but did miss his second free throw of the season in 44 tires by going 2-for-3 at the line. He got plenty of help in the win, which boosts the Jackrabbits record to 12-5 overall and 4-2 in The Summit League, with 18 points and a career-high 10 rebounds from Nate Wolters, his second double-double of the season. Wolters also added seven assists. Chad White pitched in with 13 points off the bench, while Clint Sargent scored 11 points.

Matt Lander led the Fighting Leathernecks, who fall to 6-10 overall and 1-5 in league play, with 12 points.

"The first half, we weren't great, we gave up 47 percent shooting to a team that's been struggling to score. They don't have many offensive players with Ceola Clark out, that really hurts them," SDSU head coach Scott Nagy said after the win. "The second half though, we really guarded. We got in, there were just no driving lanes for them, and we did a great job of keeping our hands off. It wasn't perfect, but it was a lot better."

SDSU held Western to just 40 percent from the floor in the second half on 18-of-45 shooting, and countered with a 52 percent performance on 29-of-56 shooting, as the Jackrabbits pulled away in the second half.

After a trio of early ties, the Jacks went up for good on a Wolters layup that broke a 9-all tie with just under 13 minutes to play in the first half.

Western trailed by just two points with 2:22 left in the first half, but SDSU ended the half on an 11-0 run to take a 42-29 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Jacks steadily increased their lead in the second half, reaching a peak of 33 points with less than two minutes to play.

Now 3-0 in Summit League road games, the Jackrabbits go for a fourth straight league road win on Saturday against IUPUI in Indianapolis, Ind. The action from the Jungle begins at 7 p.m. ET.