WIU Ends Homestand Versus Milwaukee

Leathernecks look to reach 7-2 for the second time in 38 seasons

GAME NINE
MEN'S BASKETBALL: WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS VS MILWAUKEE PANTHERS
Dec. 9, 2017 • 7:00 p.m. (CT) • Macomb, Ill. • Western Hall
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MACOMB, Ill.- The Leathernecks are back on the court on Saturday evening (Dec. 9) at 7 p.m. against Milwaukee. The Leathernecks look to move to 7-2 for the second time in 38 seasons.

LAST TIME OUT: Behind Brandon Gilbeck's impressive night of 17 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks, Western Illinois beat American University 69-59 on Wednesday night (Dec. 6). Gilbeck swatted six Eagle shots in the first half and the Leathernecks' defense held the Eagles to 32.1 percent from the floor at the break. With Western up by 10 points, American went on a 14-2 run to go up by two points, its largest lead of the entire game. The Leathernecks finished the game on a 15-0 run, winning the contest 69-56. Western made all 10 free throws to end the game and it finished 11-14 on the evening.

SHOOTER'S ROLL: Shots have been falling for the Leathernecks all season. WIU is atop The Summit League shooting 50.9 percent from the field, which also is ranked 18th in the NCAA. Brandon Gilbeck has knocked down 73.4 percent of his shots, which ranks as the best in The Summit League and fifth in the nation. Against American, he went 7-8 from the field.

PUTTIN' IT THROUGH: Dalan Ancrum is third in the League in points at 18.3 points per game, only behind Fort Wayne's Bryson Scott (21.7) and South Dakota State's 'Preseason Player of the Year' Mike Daum (20.1). Ancrum's season has featured four plus 20-point performances (vs. St. Mary's, Eastern Illinois and Miami (Ohio)), including one 34-point game at SIUE.

LOCK DOWN D: Western Illinois has been tremendous on the defensive end of the floor this year. The Leathernecks have held six opponents to 70 points or less this season. The Purple and Gold is 20th in the nation and first in The Summit League by giving up 61.6 points per contest this season. WIU ranks in the middle of the pack at 14.50 per game, which ranks 152nd nationally, but it relies on pack-line defense to not allow opponents open shots. Western is incredibly good at field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot only 38.2 percent.

MR. POPULAR: When facing Division I opponents, the Leathernecks trot out Dalan Ancrum, Kobe Webster, C.J. Duff, Jeremiah Usiosefe and Brandon Gilbeck 34.0% of the time. The second-most used lineup is Dalan Ancrum, Delo Bruster, C.J. Duff, Jeremiah Usiosefe and Jalen Morgan, which is used 9.9 percent of game. The Leathernecks also rank 348th out of 351 teams in bench minutes, with non-starters only playing in 19.9% percent of team minutes.

MINUTE MAN: Dalan Ancrum, Kobe Webster and C.J. Duff have each logged a 40 minute game this year. Ancrum is averaging 34.5 minutes per game. Duff is coming off a 40-minute performance against American. Against Miami (Ohio), Ancrum was on the floor for all 50 minutes of the double-overtime game and Webster seeing 43 of 50 minutes of action. In Division I games, Ancrum has been on the floor for 88.8 percent of Western's minutes. His time on the floor ranks 54th in the nation out of roughly 2,200 players in percentage of minutes.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Look for the Western defense to force the Panthers to shoot 3-point field goals. With Brandon Gilbeck averaging over 3.5 blocks per contest, WIU will try to force Milwaukee to shoot beyond the arc, where it is shooting only 30.3 percent.

GET IT OUT OF HERE: Brandon Gilbeck's 30 blocked shots this season have been impressive. Not only is he averaging 3.75 blocks per contest, when he is on the floor Gilbeck blocks 16.2 percent of opponents attempts. This ranks fifth in the nation among roughly 2,200 ranked players in the NCAA this season.

EVERYTHING MUST BE EARNED: Out of all 351 teams in D-I, WIU has committed the second-fewest personal fouls of any team in the land. The Leathernecks have only fouled opponents 107 times through eight games.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS: Milwaukee comes into tonight's contest with a 6-3 including a victory at Iowa State, 74-56. The Panthers look to win back-to-back games tonight after beating Jacksonville University 62-52 on the road. Milwaukee is led by three double-digit scores including Brock Stull, who leads the team in scoring netting 12.3 points per contest. Brett Prahl (10.6) and Bryce Nze (10.4) are the two others averaging over 10 points per game. The Panthers are led by first-year head coach Pat Baldwin.

SERIES HISTORY: This will be the second meeting between the two programs, with WIU leading 1-0. Last season, the Leathernecks won 75-59 in Milwaukee. Brandon Gilbeck led the team with 15 points while Mike Miklusak and Garret Covington each put in 14 a piece.

LOOKING AHEAD: After tonight's game, the Leathernecks have 10 days off, returning to action at Eastern Illinois on Dec. 19.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Dalan Ancrum: G/F; 6' 6"; Senior; Westwood

#11 Delo Bruster: G; 5' 11"; Junior; Shawnee Mission South/Quality Education Academy

#40 C.J. Duff: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore; Carmel

#52 Brandon Gilbeck: C; 7' 0"; Junior; River Valley

#22 Jalen Morgan: F; 6' 8"; Junior; Pike

#32 Jeremiah Usiosefe: G; 6' 5"; Sophomore; The Hill Academy

#10 Kobe Webster: G; 6' 0"; Freshman; Park Tudor

Players Mentioned

#15 Dalan Ancrum
: 6' 6"; Senior; Westwood
: G/F

#11 Delo Bruster
: 5' 11"; Junior; Shawnee Mission South/Quality Education Academy
: G

#40 C.J. Duff
: 6' 1"; Sophomore; Carmel
: G

#52 Brandon Gilbeck
: 7' 0"; Junior; River Valley
: C

#22 Jalen Morgan
: 6' 8"; Junior; Pike
: F

#32 Jeremiah Usiosefe
: 6' 5"; Sophomore; The Hill Academy
: G

#10 Kobe Webster
: 6' 0"; Freshman; Park Tudor
: G