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Maas
Sarah Twidwell

Leathernecks to Honor Four Seniors Against Oral Roberts

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Otis Dortch, Brandon Gilbeck, Jordan Hughes and Ryan Maas will all be recognized before their final home game on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Oral Roberts (10-19, 6-8) at Western Illinois (8-18, 3-10)                                    
Date/Tipoff: Feb. 23, 2019 | 7 p.m.
Location: Macomb, Ill.
Site: Western Hall
Radio: Danny Frey on the Leatherneck Sports Network (WRMS 94.3 & WJEQ 102.7)
TV: ESPN3 (Brendan Reidy, Michael Harms and Collin Miller)
 
Last Time Out: The Western Illinois men's basketball team surrendered eight second half 3-pointers to the Omaha Mavericks (17-9, 11-2) in a 77-63 road loss on Wednesday night (Feb. 20).
 
A Gilbeck put-back tied the game 5-5 heading into the under-16 media timeout. The Mavericks led by as many as nine points in the first half, but Gilbeck spun for a layup in the paint to draw Western within one possession trailing 27-25 with 2:25 left. A step-back left wing trifecta by Kobe Webster handed the Leathernecks a 30-29 with only 55 seconds ticking in the first half. Omaha scored the final four points before heading to the locker room with a 33-30 advantage over the visitors from Macomb.
 
That stretch turned into a 13-2 run capped by a Matt Pile dunk that forced Wright to call a timeout at the 16:49 mark down 42-32. A corner triple immediately after the timeout from C.J. Duff drew Western Illinois within seven but Omaha proceeded to have a frenzy from beyond the arc to pull away in the second half.
 
Webster paced the Leathernecks in scoring again with 17 points while dishing out three assists. Duff had 13 points with three helpers as well while Isaac Johnson added 13 and six rebounds. Gilbeck recorded his fifth double-double of the season after a 10 point and 10 rebound performance.
 
Series History against Oral Roberts: The Golden Eagles lead the all-time series 32-9, but the Leathernecks have won three of the last five meetings including the last matchup in Macomb on Feb. 3, 2018, 82-56. Earlier this year, Oral Roberts went on a 23-0 run en route to an 82-62 win over Western in Tulsa on Jan. 5.
 
Scouting the Golden Eagles: Oral Roberts has lost back-to-back games by the score of 85-73 to North Dakota State (Feb. 14) and North Dakota (Feb. 16). Against the Fighting Hawks, freshman forward Kevin Obanor racked up another double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Four other Golden Eagle players scored in double figures at North Dakota, DeShang Weaver (15), Aidan Saunders (13), Emir Ahmedic (10) and Kerwin Smith (10).

The team's leading scorer Emmanuel Nzekwesi has missed four straight games. Obanor is right behind him with 14.8 points per game and 7.4 rebounds a contest. Weaver and Sam Kearns both average over 10 points per game while shooting well from beyond the arc. Paul Mills is 21-40 in his second season at the helm after being an assistant at Baylor since 2003.
 
Saturday's Festivities: University Housing and Dining Services is sponsoring Senior Night this Saturday with several festivities planned for the men's and women's basketball games. 

The day includes: in-game contest giveaways, a birthday party for Colonel Rock III and Colonel Rock IV with free cupcakes and stickers, a prize sponsored by the Inter-Hall Council for the first 250 students to attend each game, and a $50 bookstore giveaway for res hall students who earned a 3.0 grade point average last semester. 
 
Senior Night: Prior to the game, the Western Illinois men's basketball program will honor its four seniors: Otis Dortch, Brandon Gilbeck, Jordan Hughes and Ryan Maas.  
 
Gilbeck Doing Gilbeck Things: Brandon Gilbeck recorded the first triple-double in Summit League history since Demetrius Johnson of IPFW in 2007. The senior center put together a stat line of 12 points, 16 rebounds and 10 blocks at Purdue Fort Wayne on Thursday (Feb. 7). The 10 blocked shots tied JaKeenan Gant of Louisiana for the most blocks amongst NCAA Division I players this season and are tied for fifth most in Summit League history.
 
The 7-footer leads the nation with 97 blocks and recently broke his own previous Western Illinois program blocked shots record (85).
 
For Threeeee!: Western Illinois ranks 24th in the nation with a 38.5 percent team 3-point field goal shooting percentage. C.J. Duff leads the way shooting an impressive 44.5 percent (53-for-119) from deep.
 
20-Something: Kobe Webster has eclipsed the 20-point scoring plateau nine times this season. The sophomore guard has also scored in double figures during every game this year except on Nov. 24 at Nebraska when he was limited to three points.
 
Take Them, They're Free: The Leathernecks rank 59th among NCAA Division I teams in free throw percentage by connecting on 74.1 percent of their shots from the charity stripe this season. 
 
Rip It Down!: In addition to being the top shot blocker in the nation, Brandon Gilbeck is tied for 80th in the nation with 211 total rebounds and is alone in 62nd for rebounds per game (8.5). 
 
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