MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois men's basketball team renews its longest rivalry on Saturday night (Dec. 11) when it travels to Eastern Illinois. Tip at Lantz Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The game can be heard on the Leatherneck Sports Network and on the internet at www.GoLeathernecks.com. Western (5-4 overall) has won three of its last four games, including two straight in Western Hall.

This marks the 152nd all-time meeting between the two programs, with EIU holding a one-game edge at 76-75. Last year the Leathernecks were edged at home 44-41. The two programs competed annually in the former Mid-Continent Conference (now Summit League).

Senior Matt Lander (Evansville, Ind.) leads the team in scoring and ranks second in the Summit League averaging 18.4 points per game. Lander has scored in double-figures every game this season with four games of 20 or more points. His 59 free throws in 77 attempts (76.6%) also leads the Leathernecks.

Jack Houpt (Chesterton, Ind.) is coming off a season-high 18-point performance in the win over Culver-Stockton, netting 12 of his points during the second half. The sophomore forward leads the team with 15 3-pointers.

Kaimarr Price (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Tommie Tyler (Houston, Texas) shared the team-high honors each grabbing six rebounds last time out. Price leads the way averaging 5.6 rebounds per game. Ceola Clark III (Gurnee, Ill.) ranks second on the team averaging 10.1 points per game. His 30 assists and 14 steals lead the Leathernecks.

The Leathernecks turned the ball over only four times - two each half - while forcing 16 Culver-Stockton turnovers in the 68-44 win. That victory was the 250th career win for head coach Jim Molinari. Western will look to turn the tide in the series starting Saturday night, having lost nine of the last 12 meetings against the Panthers (3-6 overall).

EIU, which lost twice already this season to Summit League member South Dakota State, is coming off losing both ends of a home-and-home series with Ball State, dropping a 58-51 decision Wednesday in Lantz Arena. The Panthers shot just 16 percent from the field (5-of-31) during the second half, seeing their nine-point halftime lead slip away. Jeremy Granger led the scoring with 11 points while Curry McKinney and Shaun Pratl added 10 points each. James Hollowell recorded game-highs of 16 rebounds and three blocked shots.

Overall preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference guard Tyler Laser leads the scoring at 12.1 points per game. Granger is at 11.3 while Pratl averages 10.1. Hollowell is averaging 6.1 rebounds with 15 of the team's 21 blocked shots.