MACOMB, Ill. - After playing three of their first four games on the road, the Western Illinois men's basketball team (2-2) will return home and play host to North Dakota State (6-0) Thursday (Dec. 1). Thursday's game will be the first Summit League contest for both teams, and the Leathernecks will play six of their next eight games at home. Tip-off for league contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Waste Management Court inside of Western Hall.

The Breakdown
Who: Western Illinois (2-2) vs. North Dakota State (6-0)
When: Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.
Where: Macomb, Illinois
Arena: Waste Managment Court (3,300)
Live Stats: HERE

Radio
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A LOOK AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE: The North Dakota State Bison, a fellow member of the Summit League, enter Thursday night's game with a 6-0 record...In their most recent action, Bison forward Marshall Bjorklund posted career highs of 27 points and 14 rebounds as North Dakota State never trailed in a 78-65 win over Fresno State Saturday, Nov. 26, before a crowd of 3,251 at the Bison Sports Arena...Through the first six games, NDSU is led by Bjorklund and Mike Felt who average 13.3 and 13.0 points per game, respectively...The Bison also have two other players (Braun and Alexander) that average 12.3 per game...Bjorklund leads the team with an impressive field goal percentage, having shot 70.5 percent from the floor...He also leads the team in rebounds per game with an 8.0 average...As a team, North Dakota State has outscored its opponents, 462-372...The Bison have shot 48.8 percent from the floor so far this season, 40.4 percent from behind the arch, and 69.7 percent from the stripe...North Dakota State is coached by Saul Phillips (Wisconsin-Platteville '96) who is in his fifth season at the helm and owns a 73-53 record while coaching the Bison.

WHAT'S IN A WIN?: A win would mark the team's 1,187th victory in program history...A win would mark head coach Jim Molinari's 32nd victory at Western, and 255th career victory...A win would be the third straight for the Leathernecks which has not occured since the 2009-10 season...In 09-10 Western rattled off four straight, defeating Oral Roberts (Feb. 11th), Centenary (Feb. 13th), Southern Utah (Feb. 18), and UMKC (Feb. 20)...The streak ended with a loss to SDSU on Feb. 28, 2010.

MAKING 'EM COUNT: Both freshman Obi Emegano and junior Terell Parks are making the most of their shot attempts...Omegano has taken 27 shots and made 20 of them for a 74.1 shooting percentage...Parks has taken a team-high 31 shots and made 21 of them for a 67.7 shooting percentage...Not only do they rank atop the Summit League, but both rank nationally...Emegano ranks #3, while Parks ranks #11.

SWIPIN' AND DISHIN': Senior point guard Ceola Clark III has been racking up assists and steals  since the beginning of his career at Western...He currently sits second in career steals with 140, and 14th in career assists with 208.

DISHIN' (CONTINUED): After three games this season, senior point guard Ceola Clark III averages 6.3 per game, which ranks tied for 19th nationally.

GRABBIN' BOARDS: Junior newcomer Terell Parks has pulled down a team-best 39 rebounds  this season (9.8 per game)...12 of them offensive and 27 of them defensive...He has been the top rebounder in each game so far this season with a game-high of 15 on Nov. 22 vs. Greenville...He ranks in the top seven of all Summit League rebounding categories: second in overall rebounds (9.8 per game), second in defensive rebounds (6.8 per game). and seventh in offensive rebounds (3.0 per game).

MORE PARKS ON THE GLASS: Junior forward Terell Parks' 9.8 rebounds per game also ranks tied for 37th nationally.

AS A TEAM: The Leathernecks are the owners of 15.0 personal fouls per game, which ranks as the 10th least per game nationally.

50-PLUS REBOUNDS: On November 22, 2011, the Leathernecks pulled down 54 rebounds as a team, the most since November 21st of 2006 against IPFW when they had 51...That total is the most of any Summit Leagu

HONORING THE MEN'S SOCCER TEAM: The Western Illinois athletics department will be honoring the 2011 Summit League Regular Season and Tournament Champions at halftime of the Saturday, December 10th game between the Leathernecks and Eastern Illinois. The teams are set to tip-off at 7 p.m. inside of Western Hall.

LEADING THE WAY: Leading the Leathernecks in points per game is  freshman Obi Emengano and junior forward Terell Parks, who are each averaging 13.0...Two other Western players average double-digit points in senior guard Ceola Clark III (12.0) and senior guard Tommie Tyler (10.8)...Clark owns the most assists on the team with 19 (6.3 per game)...Two Leathernecks have made more than one three-pointer on the year, Clark (7), junior forward Jack Houpt (4), and Tyler (2)...Parks' 9.8 rebounds per game is a team-best...Emegano leads the team in field goal percentage, having made 20-of-27 (74.1 percent) from the floor...Tyler leads the team in free throw percentage, having made 13-of-16 (81.3 percent) from the stripe...Seniors Clark and Tyler are averaging the most minutes per game having averaged 33.7 and 32.2 minutes, respectively.

INJURY REPORT: Sophomore guard Billy Molinari suffered a season-ending knee injury in Western's second game of the season at Michigan on November 17th...After redshirting his freshman season two years ago, Molinari suffered a season-ending foot injury last season in the team's season-opener.

LAST TIME OUT: The Western Illinois men's basketball team picked up their first road victory of the 2011-12 season Saturday as the Leathernecks topped the North Dakota Fighting Sioux, 65-62. "We got stops when we needed to get stops, and we were being patient on offense," said head coach Jim Molinari. "I told our guys, unless your Duke or North Carolina, you're not going to dominate teams on the road. What you need to do is make a run and then take a run, and I thought we did that today." Junior forward Terell Parks led the way for the Leathernecks, scoring a team-high 17 points to go along with a team-best 11 rebounds. The double-double marks the second straight for Parks. Senior guard Ceola Clark III added 10 points, a team-high nine assists, and two steals. "The second half felt much better down the stretch," said coach Molinari. "We got stop after stop, we took some charges, Terell (Parks) got some big rebounds in a crowd, and I think that is the way we are going to have to play, possession by possession. We made it interesting, I think that is a great road win and as a coach your excited when your players are rewarded."  The Sioux finished the game with a 43.4 shooting percentage, while the Leathernecks finished shooting 42.6 percent from the floor. North Dakota also won the rebound battle, 38-28. North Dakota was led by guard Jamal Webb who finished with a game-high 22 points.

UP NEXT: The Leathernecks will continue Summit League play at home Saturday against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits...The Jackrabbits will play at IUPUI on Thursday prior to their game at Western Hall.

2011-12 EXHIBITION ACTION: The Western Illinois men's basketball squad defeated the Illinois College Blueboys in an exhibition game Wednesday evening (Nov. 9) at Waste Management Court in Western Hall, 70-62. Three Leathernecks scored double-figures in the game, with senior guard Tommie Tyler posting a team-high 19 points, while also dishing out a team-best five helpers. Freshman guard Remy Roberts-Burnett finished the game with 16 points, while junior forward Terell Parks scored 10 points and finished with a team-high 10 boards.

PRESEASON POLL: Western Illinois senior guard Ceola Clark III was tabbed preseason Second Team All-Summit League as announced by the Summit League office on Oct. 13th...As a team, the Leathernecks were picked to finished ninth in the league...Oral Roberts (473 points) received 27-of-32 first-place votes and was tabbed as the favorite to win the 2011-12 Summit League Men's Basketball Championship...Two-time defending champion Oakland (423 points) received four first-place votes and finished second in the poll...IUPUI forward Alex Young was the preseason choice for 'Player of the Year'...The 2011-12 preseason All-League teams and team rankings were voted on by the head coaches, sports information directors and media members.

OTHER PRESEASON HONORS: Western Illinois senior guard Ceola Clark III was also tabbed First Team All-Summit League by Athlon Sports in their 2011-12 College Basketball issue...Athlon's Sports also predicted the Leathernecks to finish eighth in the Summit League.

MORE RECOGNITION FOR CLARK: ESPN Chicago writer and blogger Scott Powers ranked his 'Top 30' college basketball players in Illinois earlier this month, and Western Illinois senior guard Ceola Clark III was listed 12th.

A FRESH START: Western Illinois took part in its first official practice on October 14th inside of Western Hall...The Leathernecks return five letterwinners, including three starters from last year's 7-23 team that ended its injury-plagued season ninth in the Summit League, and welcome six newcomers to the squad.

2011-12 SENIOR CLASS: This season will be the last for two Leatherneck men's basketball players...Guards Ceola Clark III joined the Leatherneck family in 2007 and was redshirted his freshman season, while Tommie Tyler joined the team in 2008...Both have already had very successful careers at Western.

RETURNERS: This season, senior guard Ceola Clark III returns to the team after playing in only six games a year ago due to injury. Along with Clark, Western will welcome back senior guard Tommie Tyler, junior forward Jack Houpt, sophomore center David Gebru and sophomore guard Billy Molinari. Clark III, Molinari, Tyler and Gebru played a combined 32 games last season due to injuries.

NEWCOMERS: This offseason coach Molinari and the Leathernecks were able to land a pair of JUCO All-Americans in Don McAvoy III and Terell Parks, and sign four freshmen in Obi Emegano,  Jeremy McDonald, Jalen Packer and Remy Roberts-Burnett.

WHAT IS A LEATHERNECK?: Western Illinois holds the distinction of being the only non-military institution to officially have its nickname derived from a branch of the military service. The school began use of the Marine Corps' official nickname, "The Fighting Leathernecks," in 1927 when then-athletic director and head baseball, basketball and football coach Ray "Rock" Hanson was granted permission by the U.S. Navy, based on his status as a Marine hero, to use the Marine's official seal, bulldog mascot and nickname.