A combination of poor NIU defensive intensity and an effective Western Illinois run-and-gun offense resulted in a 97-90 Leatherneck victory over the men’s basketball team last night at Chick Evans Field House.

Coach Jack Margenthaler’s WIU squad displayed an up-tempo, fast-breaking offense which at times left NIU standing in its tracks. The high score is nothing unusual for the 9-3 Leathernecks, who entered the game with an offensive average of 92.9 points per contest.

NIU Coach Jim Rosborough said the loss could be attributed to his team’s inability to execute on the defensive end of the floor.

“When the game gets into the 80s, we haven’t won a game all year,” he said. “If you can’t defend, you can’t win. You come in on your own floor and give up 97 points and lose, I’m not pleased about anything.”

An all-out sprint from the opening tip, the fast pace was exactly what WIU wanted and exactly what NIU was attempting to avoid. By intermission the Leathernecks had gunned their way to a 55-50 advantage.

“We’re scoring a lot of points. We weren’t looking to score 80 or 90 points tonight,” said Margenthaler. “Normally, what it takes us to win is to play with a transition game up and down the floor and take the first open shot. We’re just that kind of basketball team.”

uskie guard Randy Norman said NIU intended to avoid the transition game for which WIU is known.

“Basically we wanted to control the tempo,” Norman said. “We had heard about how many points they had scored. In order for us to win or stay in the game we had to get back on the break and stop their fastbreak. That’s what they do best—fastbreak. We couldn’t stop it and as a result they beat us.”

NIU falls to 5-12 on the season despite scoring 90 points—its third-highest output of the season. Rosborough said he is so disappointed in his team’s defensive intensity that he is set to make some major adjustments.

“There will be some lineup changes next Wednesday (against Toledo). Our five best defenders will be on the floor,” he said.