Leatherneck Men's Basketball Wraps Up Week at Omaha Saturday Night

Western Illinois and the Mavericks are slated to tipoff at 7 p.m.

MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois men's basketball team (6-10, 3-2) earned back-to-back Summit League victories at home this past week, and after falling at Denver on Wednesday, the Leathernecks will look to get back on track at Omaha on Saturday (Jan. 14)... The league tilt is slated to tipoff at 7 p.m.

OPENING TIP

- Western is 3-2 in Summit League play... After winning at league-favorite Fort Wayne, falling at IUPUI, and then defeating SDSU and ORU last week, the Leathernecks lost at Denver.
- WIU's victories over SDSU and ORU last week were the first for head coach Billy Wright and the Leathernecks' entire roster.
- Garret Covington was tabbed The Summit League's Player of the Week after he averaged 28 points, six 3-pointers, five assists and 4.5 rebounds per game, and did not turn the ball over once. He shot 66.7 percent (18-27) from the field, 63.2 percent (12-19) from long range and 88.9 percent (8-9) from the free throw line, and played 38 minutes in each contest.
- Brandon Gilbeck, who ranks first in the league and top 25 nationally with 2.6 blocks per game, recorded the first two double-doubles of his career last week... He recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds vs. SDSU and 10 points and a career-high 13 rebounds vs. ORU.
- Gilbeck has improved during WIU's league slate... He averaged 4.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game during non-league play and is averaging 9.0 points and a team-best 8.2 rebounds per game.
- Mike Miklusak has been productive all season long, averaging 15.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game... He has scored in double figures in all but one contest he's played... He has four double-doubles on the season... His 8.8 rebounds per game leads The Summit League.

LEATHERNECKS VS. MAVERICKS SERIES HISTORY: The two programs have played one another 16 times... Western Illinois leads the all-time series 10-6... Since Omaha joined The Summit League, WIU leads the series 5-3... Western has won seven of the last 10 meetings, but Omaha has won three of the last five... During the last three seasons the Leathernecks and Mavericks each earned victories on their home court.

A LOOK AT THE OMAHA MAVERICKS: The Omaha Mavericks enter Saturday's game with a 9-9 overall record and are 2-3 in Summit League play... The Mavericks opened league play with three consecutive losses... First a 86-69 loss at South Dakota, then a 82-70 defeat at North Dakota State, followed by a 80-78 loss at home against Fort Wayne... The Mavs followed up those losses with two straight victories... UNO topped South Dakota State on the road 101-93 before picking up another road win at IUPUI on Wednesday, 79-71... Marcus Tyus, who along with Garret Covington was named The Summit League Player of the Week last week, leads Omaha in scoring (15.0 PPG)... Tre'Shawn Thurman averages a team-high 8.2 rebounds per game... Tra-Deon Hollins leads the Mavs in assists per game (6.4) and steals per game (3.2)... Omaha is coached by Derrin Hansen who is in his 12th year at the helm and has a 188-161 record while coach of the Mavericks.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: The Summit League office announced that Western Illinois senior guard Garret Covington was named the league's 'Player of the Week' on Monday (Jan. 9). The honor is the fourth of his career and first of this season. The Edwardsville, Ill. native helped guide the Fighting Leathernecks to a perfect 2-0 record on the week with wins over South Dakota State and Oral Roberts. WIU's victories over SDSU and ORU were the first for the Leathernecks' entire roster. Covington averaged 28 points, six 3-pointers, five assists and 4.5 rebounds per game, and did not turn the ball over once. He shot 66.7 percent (18-27) from the field, 63.2 percent (12-19) from long range and 88.9 percent (8-9) from the free throw line, and played 38 minutes in each contest.

AGAINST OTHER MID-MAJORS: Through Western Illinois' first six games against other mid-major programs the Leathernecks went 0-6, while the Leathernecks have went 4-2 against other mid-majors during the last five contests... Below is a look at some of the differences:

First 6 Games vs. Mi-Majors:
- 0-6 record
- 63.7 points scored per game
- 40.3% from the field
- 34.8% from long range
- 7.7 three-pointers per game
- 12.3 assists per game
- 16.3 turnovers per game
- Two players scoring 9-plus points per game

Last 5 Games vs. Mid-Majors:
- 4-2 record
- 79.5 points scored per game
- 46.7% from the field
- 42.6% from long range
- 12.0 three-pointers per game
- 15.5 assists per game
- 10.0 turnovers per game
- Five players scoring 9-plus points per game

#WIUGAMEDAY INFORMATION

Western Illinois Leathernecks (6-10, 3-2)
vs.
Omaha Mavericks (9-9, 3-3)

WHEN AND WHERE:
Saturday, January 14 | 7 p.m.
Omaha, Neb. | Baxter Arena (7,898)

WIU GAME NOTES AND STATS:
NOTES | STATS

UNO GAME NOTES AND STATS:
NOTES | STATS

OPPONENT WEBSITE:
OMavs.com

COVERAGE

VIDEO STREAM:
Mavs All-Access

RADIO:
Flagship: 94.3 FM WRMS
Affiliates: 102.7 FM WJEQ
106.7 FM WPWQ
107.5 FM KWBZ

AUDIO STREAM:
WRMSFM.com

LIVE STATS:
OMavs.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

TWITTER:
@WIUMensHoops
@WIUAthletics

FACEBOOK:
Western Illinois Men's Basketball
Western Illinois Athletics

INSTAGRAM:
Western Illinois Athletics

PRESEASON INFORMATION5

2016-17 Quick Facts (.PDF)
2016-17 Preseason Record Book (.PDF)
2016-17 Schedule Release
2016-17 Media Day (Video)

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#31 Garret Covington: G; 6' 5"; Senior; Edwardsville

#52 Brandon Gilbeck: C; 6' 11"; Sophomore; River Valley

#30 Mike Miklusak: F; 6' 6"; Senior; Lake Central

Players Mentioned

#31 Garret Covington
: 6' 5"; Senior; Edwardsville
: G

#52 Brandon Gilbeck
: 6' 11"; Sophomore; River Valley
: C

#30 Mike Miklusak
: 6' 6"; Senior; Lake Central
: F

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Players Mentioned

#31 Garret Covington

#52 Brandon Gilbeck

#30 Mike Miklusak

Players Mentioned

#31 Garret Covington

#52 Brandon Gilbeck

#30 Mike Miklusak