IUPUI beats Western Illinois 69-67, ties for 1st in Summit

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Matt O'Leary posted career highs of 20 points and 10 rebounds, and IUPUI held on to beat Western Illinois 69-67 on Friday to move into a four-way tie for first place midway through the Summit League season.

Aaron Brennan's basket gave IUPUI a 66-63 lead. Garret Covington cut the deficit to one before Marcellus Barksdale put back his own shot to make it a three-point advantage with a minute to go. Western Illinois' Jabari Sandifer made two free throws and the Leathernecks got a defensive rebound. After a timeout, the Leathernecks worked the clocked down but Covington was double-teamed inside and traveled with 2.3 left.

Darell Combs finished with 18 points for the Jaguars (10-13, 6-2), who shot 52 percent.

Covington led Western Illinois (7-12, 0-8) with 23 points with four 3-pointers.

O'Leary scored 11 points in the first half as IUPUI took a 36-31 lead.