MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois men's basketball team opens its home schedule this Sunday, Nov. 13, when Oak Hills Christian comes to Macomb for a 5 p.m. tip. The nonconference tilt between the Leathernecks and Wolfpack is the first ever, and is slated to be streamed live on Fighting Leathernecks All-Access via GoLeathernecks.com.
A LOOK AT OAK HILLS CHRISTIAN: Oak Hills Christian is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association... The Wolfpack is 0-7 on the season after most recently going 0-2 in the Northwestern Classic in Orange City, Iowa.
LAST TIME OUT: Western Illinois men's basketball opened its 2016-17 campaign with an 82-55, hard-fought loss at Kansas State Friday evening (Nov. 11). The Leathernecks cut their deficit to eight points midway through the second half, but the Wildcats closed the final eight minutes of play on a 25-6 run on their way to the victory. Garret Covington led Western with 17 points. He knocked down three 3-pointers and went 4-of-5 from the free throw line, while also grabbing three rebounds and passing out two assists. The only other Leatherneck to score in double figures was Dalan Ancrum who finished with 12 points including two triples. He also grabbed three rebounds. Jabari Sandifer finished with nine points and six rebounds, Brandon Gilbeck pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and two blocks.
LEATHERNECKS INK JOHNSON: Western Illinois men's basketball head coach Billy Wright announced the addition of Isaac Johnson to the Fighting Leatherneck family. Johnson, who is in the midst of his senior year at Minneapolis North High School, will officially join the WIU men's basketball program for the 2017-18 season. Johnson, a 6-foot-5 guard, finished his junior season averaging 14.9 points per game and helping lead the Minneapolis North to 24 wins. He also recorded 18 points in the state championship game, helping guide the Polar Bears to a state title. "Isaac is an athletic wing who brings the ability to score and defend multiple positions," said Wright. "He is a physical guard who has a winning spirit. He has won a high school state championship, played against some of the best prospects in the country on the EYBL circuit, and will come in ready. Isaac is an all-in guy and we are pleased to add him to our basketball family."
NATIONAL EXPOSURE: The Leathernecks have 13 remaining games, eight at home and five on the road, that are scheduled to air live nationally... Of the five contests, four slated to air on ESPN3 and one on the Big Ten Network... The eight home games that will be available for a national audience will air on ESPN3.
COVINGTON TABBED PRESEASON FIRST TEAM: Western Illinois men's basketball guard Garret Covington was tabbed Preseason All-Summit League First Team as The Summit League announced its annual preseason poll of league coaches, sports information directors and media members. The senior has earned second team all-league honors in each of his first three seasons. Covington, who led the Leathernecks in nearly every category last season, scored 17.9 points, grabbed 4.1 rebounds and dished out 2.0 assists per game. He also went 77-of-182 from long range (.423) and made 88-of-111 free throw attempts. The Edwardsville, Ill. native's 17.9 points per game ranked fourth in The Summit League, and his 77 triples ranked second. Heading into his senior season, Covington has 1,339 career points, which ranks 13th all-time in program history. He also ranks second in 3-pointers (210), ninth in field goals (424), and 15th in free throws made (218).
THE 2016-17 SCHEDULE: Western Illinois men's basketball team is slated to play 13 regular season games inside Western Hall and 14 games away from Macomb. The top eight Summit League teams will then battle for a spot in the NCAA Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D. during the 2017 Summit League Championships in March. Head Coach Billy Wright's thoughts on WIU's schedule: "We have put together a non-conference schedule that I believe challenges our team and offers a good competitive balance. We play two games against schools within the 'Power 5' conferences, one of which will be televised live on a major network. Any time we are able to play games that are nationally televised, it provides tremendous exposure for our players, our basketball program and our university. We wanted to get as many home games as possible for our fans and our students. In addition, we wanted to schedule games that would ultimately prepare us for Summit League play. With 13 regular season home games, as well as one home exhibition game, our fans and our students will have plenty of opportunities to show their support."
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THE RETURNERS: Western returns 11 players that were on the roster a season ago, including three seniors, one junior and seven sophomores... The three seniors are: guard Garret Covington (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville), guard Jabari Sandifer (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) and forward Mike Miklusak (Dyer, Ind./Lake Central)... The junior returning is: forward Dalan Ancrum (Round Rock, Texas/Westwood)... The sophomores returning are: Ryan Maas (Pekin, Ill./Pekin), Delo Bruster (Overland Park, Kan./Quality Education Academy), Jalen Morgan (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike), James Claar (Bolingbrook, Ill./Plainfield East), Noah Wells (Champaign, Ill./Champaign Central), Jordan Hughes (Schaumburg, Ill./James B. Conant), and Brandon Gilbeck (Spring Green, Wis./River Valley).
THE NEWCOMERS: The Leathernecks have four newcomers for the 2016-17 season, two junior transfers and two freshmen... The junior newcomers are: center Chris Snyder (Cameron Park, Calif./Ponderosa), who played his freshman season at Regis (Colo.) and his sophomore season at Casper, and guard Lynrick Moxey (Exuma, Bahamas/Tampa Bay), who played his first two seasons at Lamar Community College (Colo.).
AT HOME: Western is 44-23 (.657) inside Western Hall since the beginning of the 2011-12 season... The Leathernecks went 10-4 (.714) during their 2011-12 campaign, 12-2 (.857) during the 2012-13 league slate, 7-5 in 2013-14 (.583), 8-6 (.571) in 2014-15, and 7-6 (.500) in 2015-16 on LeRoy A. Ufkes Court inside Western Hall.
ON THE ROAD: WIU is 17-54 (.243) on the road since the beginning of the 2011-12 season, and 3-34 (.081) in the last two seasons... The Leathernecks went 6-10 (.375) in 2011-12, they were above .500 in 2012-13 with a 7-6 (.538) road mark, struggled again during the 2013-14 season with a 1-13 (.071) record on the road, went 0-13 (.000) in 2014-15, and finished the 2015-16 season 3-11 on the road... So far this season WIU is 0-1 on the road. |
