MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois will take a 2-2 record into its first-ever game at Allen Fieldhouse, where Kansas coach Bill Self is 29-3 in his two-plus seasons. The matchup against the Jayhawks opens a three-game road swing for the Leathernecks, who travel to Loyola and Evansville next week and play seven of their next eight games away from home.The Jayhawks have drawn a capacity crowd for every game since the beginning of the 2001-02 season and have compiled a 57-3 record during that time.Leathernecks Versus the Big 12This will be third-year head coach Derek Thomas? first meeting against a Big 12 team, but the Leathernecks have had several Big 12 opponents in recent history, most recently visiting Iowa State in 2002-03 (L 59-44). Big 12 road games in recent history: 2002-03 (Iowa State, L 59-44) 2001-02 (Nebraska, L 72-53) 1998-99 (Iowa State, L 80-73) 1997-98 (Nebraska, L 86-57) 1996-97 (Oklahoma, L 74-62) 1994-95 (Nebraska, L 69-62) 1993-94 (Iowa State, L 90-53)Leatherneck Staff has Connections with Bill SelfThe Leatherneck coaching staff has several connections to Kansas head coach Bill Self. Western Illinois assistant coach Jeff Guin as the administrative assistant during Self?s three years at Illinois, while Thomas and Self spent a short time together at Illinois in 2000.A Homecoming of Sorts for ThomasGrowing up a native of Kansas City and a fan of Kansas basketball, head coach Derek Thomas will have about 40 friends and family in attendance Saturday, including some of his former coaches. Thomas was a standout at Hickman Mills High School in Kansas City before attending Johnson County Community College, the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Missouri State University. Thomas? father, Emmitt, played 13 seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs and is a member of their Hall of Fame. He currently coaches the Atlanta Falcons? secondary.Jackson Sets Sophomore Scoring Record in Win Over Eastern IllinoisDavid Jackson exploded for 32 points against Eastern Illinois, scoring more points than any other sophomore in school history. Jackson shot 10-of-20 from the field, including 4-of-7 from long range and a perfect 8-of-8 from the line. He also added five rebounds, a block, a steal and an assist in Western?s 76-68 victory.At times Jackson took matters into his own hands. With the Leathernecks down 11 in the first half, Jackson scored 11 points during a 14-0 run that gave Western a 23-20 lead with 4:31 remaining in the period. He also accounted for 11 of the team?s final 17 points, connecting on all four free throw attempts with under a minute to play.Leathernecks Come From BehindTrailing 30-29 at halftime, the Leathernecks recorded their first come-from-behind victory of the season, having previously trailed at halftime twice. Second-Half SurgeWestern could be soon known as a second-half team as the Leathernecks have scored 47 points after the break in each of their last two games. Against Indiana, the Leathernecks were outscored by only two points in the second half, and they outscored Eastern Illinois, 47-38, after the break. On the season, Western is averaging 47.5 points in the second half and 36.0 in the first period.Leathernecks Overcome Slow StartsA pair of slow starts couldn?t keep the Leathernecks down against Eastern Illinois. Western opened the game by missing its first eight shots and going 1-for-13 from the floor, then started the second half by hitting just one of their first nine attempts. The first-half drought was followed with a 14-0 run that gave the Leathernecks a 23-20 lead, and Western used a 17-3 run in second half to turn a 10-point deficit into a 59-55 lead with 3:53 remaining.Hunter Notches Career-High for Second Straight NightJunior Sammy Hunter recorded a career-high 12 points against Indiana, then bettered that performance with a 13-point night against Eastern Illinois one game later, shooting 3-of-4 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the line. The Southeastern Illinois Community College transfer has started all four of his games at Western Illinois and currently leads the team in free throw shooting at 88.9 percent (16-18).Clutch Free Throw ShootingThe Leathernecks turned in a clutch free throw shooting performance against Eastern Illinois, hitting all 10 attempts from the line in the final minute of the game. David Jackson went 4-for-4 while Fred Oguns, N?Vonta Kentle and Sammy Hunter also knocked down a pair.