GAME TWELVE 
MEN'S BASKETBALL: WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS VS LINCOLN CHRISTIAN RED LIONS
Dec. 31, 2017  •  2:00 p.m. (CT)  •  Macomb, Ill.  •  Western Hall 
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MACOMB-Ill.-The Leathernecks are back in action after a 10-day hiatus against Lincoln Christian on Sunday (Dec. 31) at 2 p.m. inside Western Hall. WIU looks to stop a two-game skid before entering league play Jan. 3 at South Dakota.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Leathernecks were topped by Butler on the road on Dec. 21. The Bulldogs found their stroke early, netting 18 3-pointers in the contest, while shooting the ball 58 percent from behind the arc.
 
NOTHING BUT NET: WIU has been extremely effective from the field through nine contests this season, shooting at a 50.1 percent clip. The Leathernecks rank 25th in the NCAA and first in The Summit League in field goal percentage. Western is led by Brandon Gilbeck, who is third in the country in field goal percentage (70.9).
 
ONE OF A KIND: Brandon Gilbeck is only players in the NCAA who averages 12.5 points, eight rebounds and 3 blocks while shooting 70 percent from the field.
 
FRESHMAN PHENOM: Kobe Webster ranks among one of the best freshman in the country and best in The Summit League in many statistical categories. Webster is only one of eight players in the country to average 14.5 points, 4.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds while shooting above 40 percent from 3-point land. If he continues throughout the entire season, he will end as the only Leatherneck in the last 26 years to average these numbers, regardless of class.
 
BOTH ENDS OF THE COURT: Western Illinois are in the top-80 in both field goal percentage (25th, 50.1) and field goal percentage defense (76th, 38.4)
 
GET IT OUT OF HERE: The Leathernecks lead The Summit League in blocks per contest with WIU swatting 4.5 blocks per contest. Individually, Brandon Gilbeck is leading the way with 3.0 blocks per game and is rejecting 12.7 of opponents attempts. Out of 2,167 ranked players in the country, Gilbeck is 16th in the NCAA in defensive block percentage.
 
3-POINT LAND: The Leathernecks look to get back on track from deep as they were derailed by Butler on Dec. 21. WIU only made one of its 15 attempts against the Bulldogs after making at least ten attempts, including a 16 3-point effort against Milwaukee, in four of its previous five games.

KEEP YOUR HANDS ON THE BALL: The Leathernecks look to limit turnovers against Lincoln Christian as WIU has committed 17 or more turnovers in seven of its last eight contests.
 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: After falling dropping the contest at Butler, the Leathernecks look for stop a two-game skid going into conference play. Look for Western to take advantage of the length of its team to be able to get shots in the paint.
 
KEEPING THE WHISTLE QUIET: Out of all 351 teams in D-I, WIU has committed the fewest personal fouls of any team in the land. The Leathernecks have only fouled opponents 155 times through eleven games this season.
 
SCOUTING THE RED LIONS: Lincoln Christian comes into the contest 4-10 with a 3-3 record on the road. This game will count as an exhibition for the Red Lions. Lincoln Christian has dropped three of its last four contest but was victorious against Boyce College. The Red Lions are led by second year head coach Donny Aeilts.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: Western hits the road to open up Summit League play Jan. 3 at South Dakota before heading to Tulsa, Okla. for a bout versus Oral Roberts on Jan. 6  at 7 p.m.
 
Tip-Ins
-This will be the first time these programs have met.
-Lincoln Christian head coach Donny Aeilts is a Western Illinois University alumnus. At Western, he finished his baseball career and degree after attending Lincoln College.
-The Leathernecks have already scored at least 90 points four times this season through eleven games. Last year in 28 games, WIU only netted 90 points on five occasions.
-Jeremiah Usiosefe is in the midst of the hottest stretch of his career. He posted a career night against Milwaukee, scoring 16 points, recording eight rebounds and - dishing out nine assists. Usiosefe set a career-high in points and assists along with 3-point field goals made (4).He knocked down another three 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds versus EIU. He only saw three minutes of action versus Butler