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Rachael Keating

Men's Basketball Set to Play Home Opener

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

After beating Nebraska on Tuesday, the Leathernecks welcome Culver-Stockton to Western Hall.

Who | Western Illinois (1-0) at vs Culver-Stockton College (5-0)
When | Friday (Nov. 12), 6 p.m.
Where | Western Hall – Macomb, Ill.
Social media | Instagram + Twitter + Facebook + #TRADITIONofTOUGH

Matchup history: The Leathernecks and Wildcats have played 17 times in program history, with the 'Necks leading the all-time series 15-2. Their last matchup, played on Dec. 9, 2009, finished as a 73-36 victory for Western.

Players to watch: A graduate transfer from Monmouth College, Will Carius earned Second Team All-Summit League honors during his first year at Western Illinois last season. The Bettendorf, Iowa, native averaged 14.7 points per game while shooting 42.1% from the field, 39.8% from deep and 76.1% from the free throw line. Ahead of the 2021-22 season, Carius was named to Preseason Second Team All-Summit League.
 
In his first official appearance for the Leathernecks, Trenton Massner finished as the team's leading scorer and made several key shots down the stretch against Nebraska. He finished with 21 points on 8-16 shooting and eight rebounds, hitting four shots from behind the arc. One of his deep balls, a pull up jumper with 20 seconds left, cut the deficit to just one point and laid the foundation for an eventual game winner.
 
Luka Barisic also made his first official appearance for Western on Tuesday, starting and playing 20 minutes. He finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, and hit the game-winning three pointer with 6.7 seconds remaining to give the Leathernecks a 75-74 lead. Against a Culver-Stockton roster whose tallest players are listed at 6'7, Barisic will have a significant size advantage in the game.

Scouting the opponent: The Wildcats are currently 5-0 and coming off an 18-point victory over Lincoln Christian University. Jalen Blaize is their leading scorer at just under 19 points per game, and Alonzo Ortiz-Traylor is the top rebounder at 6.8 per game.

What's next: After Friday's game the Leathernecks will stay in Macomb, as their next matchup is a home game against Iowa Wesleyan. Tip-off against the Tigers is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday (Nov. 6). 
 
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