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Western Kentucky surges early in second half to send Illinois State to third straight loss

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands — Western Kentucky broke away from a tie early in the second half to defeat Illinois State, 78-66, in a Cayman Islands Classic consolation bracket game Tuesday at John Gray Gymnasium.

ISU, which dropped to 2-4 with its third straight loss, faces Tulane or Rhode Island at 10 a.m. (CT) Wednesday for seventh place.

Western Kentucky (4-1), which features one of the nation's biggest teams with 7-foot-5 Jamarion Sharp, received 14 points each from 6-5 Luke Frampton, 6-8 Emmanuel Akot and 6-11 Fallou Diagne. The Hilltoppers shot 51% from the field and made 10 of 17 attempts from 3-point range.