Sioux Falls, SD (Sports Network) - Ceola Clark scored a game-high 21 points as the Western Illinois Leathernecks held on for a 54-53 win over the South Dakota Coyotes in the quarterfinals of the Summit League Tournament at Sioux Falls Arena.

Clark converted 9-of-15 shots from the floor for the second-seeded Leathernecks (22-7), the only player on the team to make more than three field goals on the night. Before fouling out, Adam Link accounted for nine points and five rebounds.

South Dakota (10-20) was paced by Trevor Gruis who recorded a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 12 boards, while Juevol Myles accounted for 14 points for the seventh-seeded Coyotes. Brandon Bos contributed eight points and eight rebounds, but shot just 2-of-12 from the floor.

Both teams had trouble finding the basket in the first half, but even with just 9-of-25 shooting from the floor the Coyotes were able to put up a 25-21 lead at the break. WIU hit on only 8-of-25 from the floor in the frame.

In the second half the Leathernecks turned it around with a staggering 61.1 percent accuracy from the field, en route to a late six-point edge and the eventual narrow win.

In a game that featured seven ties and five lead changes, the Leathernecks survived despite a disappointing 11-of-22 performance at the charity stripe.

With the victory Western Illinois now advances to the semifinals on Monday night where it will face the survivor of the UMKC/North Dakota State meeting which takes place on Sunday night.

GAME NOTES:

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