MACOMB, Ill. – Ceola Clark scored 16 points as Western Illinois rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to beat IUPUI 57-53 on Saturday night, giving the Leathernecks their best 15-game start in 54 years.
Clark made four 3-pointers, including one with 3:31 left in regulation that tied the game at 43. Adam Link then put the Leathernecks (12-3, 5-0 Summit League) ahead on a layup with 28 seconds to play, but Lyonell Gaines' layup with 5 seconds left got the Jaguars (6-13, 1-5) back even.
In overtime, Clark's free throws with 1:07 left put WIU up 53-49, and Jack Houpt's foul shots in the final seconds sealed the victory.
Terell Parks added 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Leathernecks, who trailed 28-16 at halftime but rallied to improve to 7-0 at home and match the 12-3 start of the 1957-58 team. John Hart led IUPUI with 14 points.
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