Men's Basketball Heads to Nebraska

Friday, November 23, 2018 | By: WIU Athletic Communications

The Leathernecks square off against a nationally recognized Big Ten opponent on the road.

Western Illinois (2-3) at Nebraska (4-1)
Date/Tipoff:	Nov. 24, 2018 \| 1 p.m.
Location:	Lincoln, Neb.
Site:	Pinnacle Bank Arena
Radio:	Danny Frey (WRMS)

Series History: Nebraska leads the all-time series 5-0.

Last Time Out: The Western Illinois (2-3) men's basketball team shot 55 percent from the field but surrendered a late lead in a 92-90 shootout loss to UT Martin (2-2) on Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 21).

Western Illinois created separation and C.J. Duff jumper halfway through the second half built a double-digit lead at 68-57. The Leathernecks led by as many as 12 points and had an 82-72 lead after two free throws from Brandon Gilbeck with 4:11 remaining. UT Martin chipped the deficit to one possession, 87-84 on a triple by Preston Parks with 1:01 to go. Zion Young split at the free throw line and Parks cashed in with three straight free throws after he was fouled behind the arc by Duff as the game narrowed, 88-87.

Following a Western timeout, Young got a layup to fall on a fierce drive to the basket for a 90-87 lead with 22 seconds left, but Parks immediately answered with a straightaway three-ball to tie it up at 90. The purple and gold had the ball with 15.3 seconds remaining and a chance to win. Duff drove inside and on a loose ball in the corner, Young fouled Delfincko Bogan setting a one-and-one situation at the charity stripe with 0.8 left on the clock. Bogan buried both free throws and a desperation heave from Duff was short in a 92-90 loss.

Kobe Webster led the way with 21 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Jeremiah Usiosefe made his season debut with 19 points and six rebounds. Duff added 12 points while Young and Gilbeck both scored 10 to round out five scorers in double figures.

Rejected: We're four games into the 2018-19 season and Brandon Gilbeck leads the nation in blocks per game (5.5) and ranks second in total blocked shots with 21.The senior recorded a career-high nine at Eastern Illinois on Nov. 17 to highlight a stellar outing where he also posted a career-high 19 rebounds.

The EIU game marked Gilbeck's first time leading the team in rebounds this season. He became the first Leathernecks to post 15 or more since Tate Stensgaardpulled down 15 against Eastern on Dec. 12, 2015.

Coach Mo: Jim Molinari is currently in his fifth season as an assistant coach for Nebraska. From 2008-2014, Molinari was the head coach of Western Illinois and over six seasons, he compiled an overall record of 79-104. Under his leadership, the Leathernecks qualified for back-to-back CBI tournaments during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons including a 22-win, Summit League regular season title season in 2012-13. Western Illinois head coach Billy Wright was an All-Missouri Valley Conference player for Molinari at Bradley from 1992-96 and was on Molinari's staff as an assistant from 2008-2013.

Scouting the Huskers: Nebraska (4-1) will try to rebound after its first loss of the season against Texas Tech, 70-52 in the Hall of Fame Classic on Tuesday, Nov. 20. The Huskers are coming off a 22-11 season in 2017-18 that included a trip to the NIT. Nebraska is ranked 24th in the Coaches Poll and is receiving votes in the AP Top 25 Poll.

Three players average in the mid-teens for the Huskers including the leading scorer, James Palmer Jr. with 16.8 points per game. Isaac Copeland Jr. averages 16.4 points per game and 6.4 rebounds a contest. Glynn Watson Jr. has drained a team high 15 three-point field goals for 14.8 points per game. Former Colorado State and North Dakota State head coach, Tim Miles enters his seventh season at the helm with a 101-98 overall mark.

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The Leathernecks square off against a nationally recognized Big Ten opponent on the road.

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