What | Miami (OH) Invitational
Who | Western Illinois (0-2) vs. Miami (OH) (1-1) & Mount St. Joseph (0-1)
When | Wednesday, Dec. 9 & Thursday, Dec. 10
Where | Oxford, Ohio
TV | ESPN+
Twitter | @WIU_MensHoops
Quick Hits
- WIU is 0-2 in its last two meetings against Miami; 76-73 on Dec. 2, 2017 and 81-72 on Nov. 26, 2016
- This will be the first-ever matchup between Western and Mount St. Joseph
- Tamell Pearson is currently averaging a team-best 17 points and 7.5 rebounds through the Leathernecks' first two games. The 6'10" forward also holds a .571 field goal percentage
- Four WIU forwards - Will Carius, Rod Johnson Jr., Pearson, and Cameron Burrell - are all averaging five or more rebounds per contest
The Last Outing
Playing on their home floor for the first time this season, WIU took on Central Michigan in a competitive contest that ultimately landed in the Chippewas' favor, 79-73. The score remained tight until late in the first half when the Leathernecks went on a 10-2 run to take a 27-19 advantage. Rod Johnson Jr. pulled up from the top of the key to swish a three-pointer as the halftime buzzer sounded, giving his WIU squad a 38-31 lead.
However, once the second half began, Central Michigan found success in the interior - racking up 30 points in the paint during those 20 minutes.
Missed free throws proved costly for the Leathernecks during that period, as they went just over 47% from the charity stripe. Tamell Pearson led all scorers with a career-high 22 points while adding in nine rebounds and two blocks. Johnson Jr. chipped in a line of 15 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Colton Sandage and Will Carius ended with double-digit scoring figures of their own, posting 13 and 11, respectively.
Scouting the Opposition
An upperclassmen-heavy group, Miami currently sits at 1-1 on the season… they most recently suffered a 71-47 loss at Wright State… in his first year of action for the RedHawks, redshirt junior James Beck is averaging 11 points and eight rebounds… Dae Dae Grant racked up a career-high 21 points in the season opener versus North Dakota … Precious Ayah, Javin Etzler, and Mekhi Lairy are all averaging eight or more points as well.
Mount St. Joseph has only played one game on the season, an 81-45 setback versus Trine... The Lions represent the NCAA Division III Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC)... nine first-years make up the 16-man roster... a junior trio of Tanner Clos, Brady Thomas, and Devin Young leads the team as true veterans… Thomas totaled 16 points and five rebounds in the matchup against Trine.
