MACOMB, Ill. - The Fighting Leatherneck men's basketball team (3-2, 1-0) will continue Summit League action Saturday evening, playing host to the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (5-3, 1-0)...The league contest is slated for a 7 p.m. start and will take place at Waste Management Court inside of Western Hall.
The Breakdown
Who: Western Illinois (3-2, 1-0) vs. South Dakota State (5-3, 1-0)
When: Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.
Where: Macomb, Illinois
Arena: Waste Management Court (3,300)
Live Stats:
HERE
Radio
Leatherneck Sports Network (88.3 FM)
Radio Talent: Beau Spencer (play-by-play) & Adam Studzinski (color)
Listen HERE
Video
Rocky Vision
Video Talent: Aaron Viner (play-by-play) & Andrew Jones (color)
Watch HERE
A LOOK AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE: The South Dakota State Jackrabbits enter Saturday night's game with a 5-3 overall record and 1-0 leage mark...In the Jackrabbits Summit League opener Thursday evening, Summit League Preseason Player of the Year, IUPUI's Alex Young scored 16 points, including four three-pointers, in the final five minutes of regulation to force an overtime period in Thursday's Summit League opener, but South Dakota State regained its poise in the extra frame, and went on to defeat IUPUI by the score of 97-93...Through the team's first eight games, junior guard Nate Wolters (21.9) and senior guard Griffan Callahan (13.4) lead the Jackrabbits, each having averaged in the double-figures...Callahan is the owner of a team-best field goal percentage and field goal percentage, having shot 70.5 percent from the floor and 41.5 from the stripe...He also leads the team in rebounds per game with an 6.4 average...As a team, South Dakota State has outscored its opponents, 589-580...The Jackrabbits have shot 41.1 percent from the floor so far this season, 32.7 percent from behind the arch, and 66.2 percent from the stripe...South Dakota State is coached by Scott Nagy (Delta State '88) who is in his 17th season at the helm and owns a 294-193 record while coaching the Jackrabbits.
THE SERIES: Heading into Saturday night's game, the Leathernecks trail the Jackrabbits in the all-time series, 6-3...The two teams first met in the 1948-49 season when the Leathernecks defeated SDSU, 64-41 at home...The two team's then did not meet until 2008 in Summit League action....Last season the Leathernecks were swept by the Jackrabbits.
WHAT'S IN A WIN?: A win would mark the team's 1,188th victory in program history...A win would mark head coach Jim Molinari's 33rd victory at Western, and 256th career victory...A win would be the fourth 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.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Junior forward Terell Parks earned his third consecutive double-double Thursday night, helping the Leathernecks earn their third-straight victory...Parks is the only Leatherneck to have recorded a double-double this season,...After his 14 points and 15 rebounds against NDSU on Dec. 1, Parks is now averaging a double-double per game, 13.2 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game.
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 142, and 14th in career assists with 210.
DISHIN' (CONTINUED): Through November 27th, after the first three games this season, senior point guard Ceola Clark III had averaged 6.3 per game, which ranked tied for 19th nationally.
UP NEXT: The Leathernecks continue their home stand, playing host to the Eastern Illinois Panthers...The tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside of Western Hall and will feature a 'Think Purple Wear Purple' event...The event encourages all to wear purple to the game and help cheer on the Laethernecks as they take on the in-state rival Panthers...Along with the 'Think Purple Wear Purple' event, the Western Illinois athletics department will be honoring the men's soccer team who earned both the 2011 Summit League Regular Season tournament titles at halftime of the Saturday, December 10th's game.
