GAME NOTES

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico - The Western Illinois men's basketball team continues 2010 Cancun Challenge play on Tuesday (Nov. 23) afternoon by taking on Morgan State at the Aventura Spa & Cove Palace Resort at 12:30 p.m. The Fighting Leathernecks (2-2 overall) will then wrap up the 2010 Cancun Challenge by facing either North Florida or Prairie View A&M on Wednesday (Nov. 24).

Western Illinois opened the 2010 Cancun Challenge last Thursday (Nov. 18) with a 66-61 loss at No. 14 Missouri, which saw the Fighting Leathernecks hold a 57-56 lead with just 2:55 remaining. Western then dropped a 64-55 decision at Wyoming on Saturday (Nov. 20).

The Fighting Leathernecks look to even up their all-time series (1-0) with Morgan State, who has participated in the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons.

WESTERN ILLINOIS FIGHTING LEATHERNECKS (2-2) vs. MORGAN STATE BEARS (1-2)
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 • 12:30 p.m. • Playa del Carmen, Mexico (Aventura Palace Resort)
All-Time Series: WIU trails 1-0
Last Meeting: MSU 70, WIU 66 (1990-91 season)
Radio: Leatherneck Sports Network (Kyle Schassburger)
Internet Radio Broadcast: CLICK HERE

SCOUTING THE MORGAN STATE BEARS

Morgan State opened the 2010-11 season with a 81-79 road win at Loyola Marymount, but has dropped the last two games at Providence (55-77) and LaSalle (74-79). The Bears, members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), have earned bids to the last two NCAA Tournaments and participated in the 2008 postseason NIT. Morgan State returns just two starters from last season's 27-10 squad that won the regular season MEAC crown with a 15-1 mark in conference play. Six-foot-9 junior forward Kevin Thompson, the 2009 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, averages 18.7 points and 10.3 rebounds and poured in a career-high 25 points against LaSalle on Saturday. Sophomore DeWayne Jackson, the 2009 MEAC Rookie of the Year, averages 14.7 points and 2.0 steals per contest.

vs. NORTH FLORIDA (1-3) OR PRAIRIE VIEW A&M (1-4)
Wednesday, November 24, 2010 • TBA • Playa del Carmen, Mexico (Aventura Palace Resort)
All-Time Series: WIU leads North Florida 1-0; WIU trails Prairie View A&M 0-1
Last Meeting: WIU 58, UNF 52 (12/30/05); Prairie View A&M 80, WIU 68 (1961-62)
Radio: Leatherneck Sports Network (Kyle Schassburger)
Internet Radio Broadcast: CLICK HERE

SCOUTING NORTH FLORIDA/PRAIRIE VIEW A&M

The Ospreys and Panthers play Tuesday (Nov. 23) morning at 10 a.m. to kick off the Playa del Carmen portion of the 2010 Cancun Challenge. North Florida (1-3) returns four starters from last season's 13-18 squad and are led by sophomore forward Andres Diaz, who averages 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest. The Ospreys lost 95-49 at No. 4 Pittsburgh on Nov. 13 and picked up a 76-60 victory at Wyoming Thursday (Nov. 18) before a 96-58 loss at Missouri Saturday (Nov. 20).

Prairie View A&M was picked to finish fourth in the SWAC preseason poll after a 16-14 record in 2009.The Panthers (1-4) have losses at Marquette, Wisconsin, LaSalle and Providence thus far this season and are led offensively by senior Trant Simpson (14.8 points per game).

WESTERN ILLINOIS MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES

PRICE DOUBLES UP

Junior transfer Kaimarr Price posted his first career double-double against the No. 14 Missouri Tigers. The 6-foot-8 center, who leads the team with 26 rebounds this season, collected 15 points and 12 rebounds in his first career start. In addition, Price had two blocks and leads the squad with seven blocks. Price owns a team-high 12 offensive rebounds thus far this season. Last year at Chandler-Gilbert CC, Price averaged a double-double and was a Third Team All-Conference and Third Team All-Region selection.

LANDER SETS NEW SCORING STANDARD

Senior Matt Lander scored 20 points in a game twice last season. He needed four games into his senior year to set a new scoring high, netting 24 at Missouri. Lander hit 7-of-11 field goals, including 3-of-4 from behind the arc, and 7-of-8 at the free throw line. 

BEYOND THE ARC ADVANTAGE

Western Illinois hit 13 three-pointers over the last two games, including a season-high eight at Wyoming. The Leathernecks have drained 23 three-pointers this season, and have limited the opposition to 14 triples.

AMENYEDZI'S BREAKOUT

Freshman forward Mael Amenyedzi entered the Wyoming game having played four minutes over the Leatherneck's first three games. The 6-foot-6 forward from Blois, France broke out against the Cowboys, hitting three-of-four three-pointers for a career-high nine points in 14 minutes.

STEALS RECORD WATCH

Ceola Clark III had seven combined steals against Missouri and Wyoming, including four versus the No. 14 Tigers. Ranked fifth in the nation in 2009 for steals per game (2.7), Clark finished the season with 72 steals, the second-highest total in Western history. He was just three steals shy of breaking the program record for season steals. With 133 career steals, Clark ranks third in the Leatherneck steals record book, 35 steals away from breaking the record.

STEALS (DIVISION I)
1. 167 Bill Heisler ..........................................1997-01
2. 138 Andre Humphrey ................................1993-95
3. 133 Ceola Clark III ...................................2009-pr
4. 127 David Jackson ....................................2004-08

MEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNS OBI EMEGANO

Head coach Jim Molinari announced the signing of Obi Emegano (Edmond, OK/Memorial) to a National Letter of Intent. The prep standout is the second signing for Western's 2011-12 class, joining point guard Remy Roberts-Burnett.

Emegano - listed at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds - averaged 17.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals during his junior year. The Mid-State Conference 'Player of the Year' and Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association All-Region selection last year (Class 6A), he earned Preseason All-State selection by the Daily Oklahoman heading into his senior year.