Southern Indiana Tops Western Illinois in Close Contest
Thursday, February 19, 2026, 8:30 PM ET · Western Hall
Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles 77, Western Illinois Leathernecks 70, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
The next free pick, for your email
Team, bet, price and the hash it was sealed under, on this page the moment you send. Lose or win, it stays public.
or by email
Public record of the main pick, losses included: 115 won, 44 lost. See every pick
One free pick a day by email until you unsubscribe, in one click. 21+.
Quick answers
Who won Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles vs Western Illinois Leathernecks?
Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles beat Western Illinois Leathernecks 77-70 at Western Hall on February 19, 2026.
Who was favored in Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles vs Western Illinois Leathernecks?
Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -166 (about 62% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles edged out the Western Illinois Leathernecks with a final score of 77-70 at Western Hall. This victory marks a significant moment for Southern Indiana, who have struggled throughout the season, now improving their record to 7-21, while Western Illinois falls to 5-24.
Both teams have faced challenges in their recent outings. Over their last ten games, Western Illinois has managed just one win against nine losses, with an average of 64.7 points scored per game and 79.9 points allowed. Their recent form has seen them on a one-game losing streak, having lost their last match against Little Rock Trojans 58-77 on February 13. In contrast, Southern Indiana has a record of 2-8 in their last ten games, also on a six-game losing streak prior to this victory. They averaged 65.5 points scored and 70.2 points allowed in that stretch, indicating a slightly better defensive performance than their opponents.
At home, Western Illinois has struggled, posting a record of 1-3 in their last four games at Western Hall, while Southern Indiana's away record stands at 1-3. This match was crucial for both teams as they aimed to end their respective losing streaks. In their previous meeting on January 24, 2026, Southern Indiana had decisively defeated Western Illinois 96-64, which added to the anticipation of this rematch.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details about player availability, but the overall performance of both teams suggests that they have been dealing with challenges throughout the season, impacting their consistency and results.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Southern Indiana favored by 3.5 points with a total set at 140.5. This reflects the expectations surrounding the matchup, with Southern Indiana entering as the slight favorite given their recent victory over the Leathernecks.
The conditions during the game were typical for a late February evening in Illinois, with both teams needing to adapt to the indoor climate of Western Hall. Fans witnessed a competitive atmosphere as both sides fought hard for every point.
Key moments in the game included a series of scoring plays that highlighted the back-and-forth nature of the contest. Notably, Amaree Brown's layup put Southern Indiana ahead 69-68 in the second half, and subsequent free throws by Sheridan Sharp extended their lead to 73-68. A crucial dunk by Ola Ajiboye further solidified their advantage, as they maintained composure in the final minutes to secure the win.
Overall, this matchup showcased the resilience of Southern Indiana as they broke their losing streak and provided a glimpse into the competitive spirit of both teams, despite their struggles this season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | USI -3.5 | 140.5 o -108 / u -112 | Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles -166 · Western Illinois Leathernecks +140 |
Leaders
- PointsFrancis Okwuosah19Western Illinois Leathernecks
- AssistsAntwaun Massey4Western Illinois Leathernecks
- ReboundsFrancis Okwuosah5Western Illinois Leathernecks
- PointsAmaree Brown18Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
- AssistsTolu Samuels6Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
- ReboundsTolu Samuels10Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
Recent form
Western Illinois Leathernecks
Last 10: 1-9Streak L164.7 scored · 79.9 allowed per game1-3 at home
- L58-77vs Little Rock TrojansFeb 13
- W79-70vs Eastern Illinois PanthersFeb 11
- L56-83at Tennessee State TigersFeb 7
- L72-97at Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesFeb 6
- L44-84vs UT Martin SkyhawksJan 31
- L74-78vs Southeast Missouri State RedhawksJan 30
- L64-96at Southern Indiana Screaming EaglesJan 24
- L66-71at Morehead State EaglesJan 23
- L79-86at Little Rock TrojansJan 17
- L55-57at Eastern Illinois PanthersJan 14
Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
Last 10: 2-8Streak L665.5 scored · 70.2 allowed per game1-3 away
- L74-82vs Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesFeb 14
- L71-73vs Tennessee State TigersFeb 13
- L65-90at Southeast Missouri State RedhawksFeb 7
- L54-76at UT Martin SkyhawksFeb 6
- L46-58vs SIU Edwardsville CougarsFeb 1
- L60-73vs Lindenwood LionsJan 30
- W96-64vs Western Illinois LeathernecksJan 24
- L51-59vs Eastern Illinois PanthersJan 23
- L67-73at Tennessee State TigersJan 17
- W71-54at Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesJan 16
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee State | 23-10 | - | 15-5 |
| Morehead State | 20-13 | - | 15-5 |
| Southeast Missouri State | 20-13 | 1 | 14-6 |
| UT Martin | 22-11 | 2 | 13-7 |
| SIU Edwardsville | 19-13 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Lindenwood | 18-15 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Little Rock | 12-20 | 6 | 9-11 |
| Tennessee Tech | 13-18 | 6 | 8-12 |
| Eastern Illinois | 13-20 | 7 | 8-12 |
| Southern Indiana | 7-23 | 11 | 4-16 |
| Western Illinois | 5-26 | 14 | 1-19 |
Box score
| Stat | Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles | Western Illinois Leathernecks |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-59 | 27-54 |
| Field goal % | 46 | 50 |
| Three-pointers | 3-16 | 9-17 |
| Three-point % | 19 | 53 |
| Free throws | 20-30 | 7-12 |
| Free throw % | 67 | 58 |
| Rebounds | 39 | 22 |
| Offensive rebounds | 16 | 7 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 15 |
| Assists | 13 | 12 |
| Steals | 6 | 3 |
| Blocks | 5 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 13 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 19 | 9 |
| Fast-break points | 8 | 11 |
| Points in the paint | 42 | 30 |
| Fouls | 13 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 7 |
| Lead changes | 5 | 5 |
| Time in front | 8 | 82 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half40-42Ola Ajiboye makes 19-foot jumper (Sheridan Sharp assists)
- 2nd Half40-44Lucas Lorenzen makes layup
- 2nd Half42-44Ola Ajiboye makes 1-foot dunk (Sheridan Sharp assists)
- 2nd Half42-45Goanar Biliew makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-45Amaree Brown makes layup (Josiah Dunham assists)
- 2nd Half44-47Francis Okwuosah makes layup (Danny Stephens assists)
- 2nd Half46-47Ismail Habib makes layup (Tolu Samuels assists)
- 2nd Half46-50Danny Stephens makes 25-foot three point jumper (Makai Kvamme assists)
- 2nd Half48-50Ismail Habib makes layup
- 2nd Half50-50Amaree Brown makes layup (Tolu Samuels assists)
- 2nd Half50-52Lucas Lorenzen makes 18-foot jumper (Antwaun Massey assists)
- 2nd Half50-54Isaiah Griffin makes 15-foot jumper
- 2nd Half51-54Tolu Samuels makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-55Danny Stephens makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-56Danny Stephens makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-56Tolu Samuels makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-56Devin Curtis makes 13-foot jumper (Cardell Bailey assists)
- 2nd Half54-59Francis Okwuosah makes 27-foot three point jumper (Lucas Lorenzen assists)
- 2nd Half55-59Amaree Brown makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-59Amaree Brown makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-61Lucas Lorenzen makes layup
- 2nd Half58-61Amaree Brown makes layup (Tolu Samuels assists)
- 2nd Half60-61Devin Curtis makes layup
- 2nd Half60-64Danny Stephens makes 25-foot three point jumper (Lucas Lorenzen assists)
- 2nd Half62-64Tolu Samuels makes layup
- 2nd Half62-66Lucas Lorenzen makes layup
- 2nd Half63-66Sheridan Sharp makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-66Amaree Brown makes 8-foot jumper (Sheridan Sharp assists)
- 2nd Half65-67Isaiah Griffin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-68Isaiah Griffin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-68Amaree Brown makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-68Amaree Brown makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-68Amaree Brown makes layup
- 2nd Half71-68Ismail Habib makes layup
- 2nd Half72-68Sheridan Sharp makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-68Sheridan Sharp makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-68Ola Ajiboye makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half76-68Amaree Brown makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half77-68Amaree Brown makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half77-70Isaiah Griffin makes layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Western Illinois Leathernecks, below favours Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles.
Venue
- Western HallMacomb, IL
- Attendance505
- OfficialsEric Lowe, Kenneth Moreland, Bob Franklin
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond