GAME NINE 

Who | Western Illinois vs. Eastern Illinois
When | Monday, December 16 at 7 p.m. CT
Where | Western Hall - Macomb, Ill.  
TV | Leatherneck All-Access 
Radio | WRMS (Danny Frey)
Social Media | Twitter + Facebook #TRADITIONofTOUGH

The Old Railsplitter Ax | Traveling trophies are not as common in basketball, but Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois have slowly revitalized the act through their annual meetings on the hardwood. 

The 'Old Railsplitter Ax' was first presented in 1977, and lasted three seasons before slowing fading into an afterthought. History has seen it relegated to a wall in the EIU Student Union and later discovered in a storage closet. Head coaches Billy Wright and Jay Spoonhour reintroduced and revamped the ax in 2016, and the Panthers are in current possession of the 'Old Railsplitter' after claiming the last three contests.

Series History | The Leathernecks will take on two Illinois cardinal direction schools this season in the Northern Huskies and the Eastern Panthers. Western dropped a tight 86-81 decision to the former, and hope to rebound against the latter, who hold an 82-78 edge in the all-time series.

Last Five Meetings vs. EIU
Dec. 8, 2018 | L, 67-74 | H
Nov. 17, 2018 | L, 66-68 | A
Dec. 19, 2017 | L, 77-78 | A
Nov. 15, 2017 | W, 56-54 | H
Nov. 21, 2015 | W, 83-63 | A

Last Time Out | The Leathernecks took Evansville down to the wire -- even sitting on top in the final minutes -- before the Purple Aces claimed the 90-86 decision.

C.J. Duff's old-fashioned 3-point play evened the score at 70-all with 7:36 to go, and the Leathernecks held on for the next five minutes. Western never trailed during the stretch and remained in the driver's seat until a made 3-pointer, UE's final go-ahead basket, with 1:07 left.

Close Calls | Six games have been decided by seven points or less this season, and Western is 1-5 in the decisions.

Stetson | L, 75-77
(led 31-26 at halftime)

UT Martin | L, 91-98
(up 15 with 13:12 remaining)

Northern Illinois | L, 81-86
(trailed by two with 9:13 left)

at Ball State | W, 62-69
(maintained advantage for 37:21)

at Kansa City | L, 67-68
(down by 18, led by one with eight seconds left)

at Evansville | L, 86-90
(up by two with five minutes left)

The Road to Zion | Zion Young has emerged as a power player on the Leathernecks' 2019-20 roster. After starting just seven games a season ago, he has been a regular fixture in the starting five this year. 

Young has scored in double-figures a team-high six times.

2018-19 Stats | 6.6 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 17.1 MPG
2019-20 | 14.6 PPG, 5.1 RP, 30.4 MPG

Tip-Ins

• The Leathernecks begin their three-game homestand with Eastern Illinois; game three (South Dakota) kicks off Summit League action
• Consistency – Western has sent the same starting lineup to the floor in seven out of eight games this season; C.J. Duff missed just one game after recovering from oral surgery