Owens helps Chicago State hold off W. Illinois 77-70

CHICAGO (AP) Clemmye Owens V scored 18 to help Chicago State beat Western Illinois 77-70 Saturday and snap an eight-game skid.

Fred Sims Jr. scored 12, Elliot Cole added 11 and Jawad Adekoya 10 points for Chicago State (4-9).

Garret Covington scored four points during an 8-1 run that put Western Illinois (7-3) up 66-65 with under six minutes to play.

Owens found Adekoya for a 3-pointer then hit a jumper before assisting on Devon Friend's layup that put Chicago State up by six with 1:42 left.

The Cougars made 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Covington led Western Illinois with 21 points and J.C. Fuller scored 17.

The game featured 21 lead changes and seven ties. Two free throws by Owens with eight seconds left capped the scoring and gave Chicago State the game's biggest lead by either team.