MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois men's basketball returns to action this Monday (Dec. 20) following a nine-day layoff. The Fighting Leathernecks (5-5 overall) look to go over .500 again on the season when they travel to Creighton. Tip at the Qwest Center is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

The game can be heard on the Leatherneck Sports Network and on the internet at www.GoLeathernecks.com. This marks the third all-time meeting between the two programs with Creighton winning both previous meetings.

Western took the week off from games to concentrate on final exams. The Leathernecks last action was December 11th, a 61-58 loss at Eastern Illinois. The team ranks 24th nationally holding opponents to 27.5 percent shooting from 3-point range. The 59.1 points allowed per game puts Western 26th nationally.

Offensively the Leathernecks are 63rd hitting 38 percent from beyond the arc and 84th committing just 13 turnovers per game.

Senior Matt Lander (Evansville, Ind.) ranks second in the Summit League and 71st nationally averaging 17.9 points per game. He also leads the Leathernecks with 61 free throws in 80 attempts (.763).

Newcomers Jack Houpt (Chesterton, Ind.) and Kaimarr Price (Phoenix, Ariz.) average 7.9 and 7.5 points per game, respectively. Houpt's 16 3-pointers lead Western and Price averages a team-leading 5.6 rebounds.

Creighton ended a three-game losing streak with an 82-75 win over Saint Joseph's last Saturday. The Bluejays (5-4 overall) play host to Idaho State this weekend (Dec. 18th), then face Western and Samford (Dec. 22) in the Qwest Center to close out a three-game in five-day stretch. Creighton is 5-1 at home heading into the ISU game.

Antoine Young leads the scoring attack at 14.1 points, followed by true-freshman Doug McDermott and Kenny Lawson, Jr. at 12.9 points each. Lawson also leads the Bluejays averaging 7.8 rebounds with McDermott next at 5.8 boards.