FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Fred House scored a team-high 20 points, pulled down eight rebounds and recorded seven steals in Southern Utah University's 78-68 victory over Western Illinois Sunday in the first round of the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament.
The win was SUU's first-ever in the Mid-Con Tournament, and the T-Birds (15-12) look to notch their second victory Monday night when they face No. 3 seed UMKC at 8:30 p.m. (EST). That game can be seen live on Fox Sports Midwest (satellite).
UMKC opened tourney play by beating Chicago State, 62-61.
"He (House) played really well," SUU coach Bill Evans said. "He really attacked off the dribble and made some shots."
The T-Birds forced 11 turnovers to build a 20-point halftime at 37-17, but the Leathernecks (8-21) made things interesting by cutting SUU's 20-point lead to eight with two minutes to go in the game.
"Basketball is a game of runs," Evans said. "We lost a little intensity and a little focus, but we outscored them in the end."
Tyson Hancock, who scored 17 points, was big in the last five minutes by answering the Leathernecks' runs with key buckets, Evans said.
Western Illinois' Juan Martinez led all scorers with 34 points.
No. 1 seed Valparaiso battles No. 5 seed Oral Roberts in other semifinal action Monday.