• The Leathernecks return Brandon Gilbeck, the 2017-18 Summit League Defensive Player of the Year
• WIU welcomes four newcomers to the 2018-19 roster (Ben Pyle, Keshon Montague, Perion Little and Zion Young)
• The Leathernecks return their leading scorer (Kobe Webster, 15.9), rebounder (Brandon Gilbeck, 7.1) and shot-blocker (Brandon Gilbeck, 2.6)
• Kobe Webster packed the stat sheet in the second exhibition recording 22 points, four assists and four rebounds. Through the two games, he is 12-14 fom the 3-point line.
• Five Leathernecks ended in double-digit points as Webster (22), Isaac Johnson (17), Zion Young (15), C.J. Duff (11) and Ben Pyle (10) all scored the ball effectively.

Series History
Creighton leads 4-0
Last meeting: Nov. 28, 2015 (Creighton won 97-67)

IN A NUTSHELL: The Leathernecks started strong in 2017-18, winning their first four contests, highlighted by Dalan Ancrum's last-second 3-pointer to lift Western Illinois past SIUE. WIU put together arguably its best performance against Milwaukee at home where it knocked down 16 3-pointers. After dropping its first three Summit League contests, the team garnered it's first league win in an overtime thriller against Fort Wayne. Last season, head coach Billy Wright won 12 games, the most in his tenure at Western Illinois. After losing its first two contests to South Dakota State by a total of 48 combined points, the Leathernecks lost by just six points in the first round of the Summit League Tournament. WIU led at half, and were only down by two with 38 ticks remaining but SDSU won 66-60. 

FRESH FACES: The Leathernecks roster will feature four new faces this season: Zion Young (Chicago, Ill.), Ben Pyle (McPhersen, Kansas), Keshon Montague (Brampton, Ontario) and Perion Little (Kenosha, Wisconsin). Montague are both transfers while Pyle and Montague are true freshman. 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Leathernecks will be on the road more than they ever have this season. The 16 times that the Purple and Gold play on an opponents floor is the program record for road games in a season. The Leathernecks will have to improve on their road record from last year to be successful in 2018-19, as WIU went 1-10 away from Macomb a season ago.

SCOUTING THE BLUE JAYS: Creighton comes into the contest after winning its exhibition game against Winona State, 101-57. Last season, the Blue Jays finished 21-12 and 10-8 in the Big East. They got bounced in the first round of the Big East tournament against Providence 72-68 and lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament versus Kansas State, 69-59. The Blue Jays roster features four freshman. 
 

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