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Leatherneck Men's Basketball Hosts UT-Martin

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Western will play the first game of a back-to-back on Saturday (Dec. 4).

Who | Western Illinois (6-2) vs UT-Martin (3-5)
When | Saturday (Dec. 4), 1 p.m.
Where | Western Hall – Macomb, Ill.
Social media | Instagram + Twitter + Facebook + #TRADITIONofTOUGH

Matchup history: The Leathernecks and Skyhawks have played four times in program history, and Saturday's game will mark the fourth-consecutive year these teams have matched up. Last season, Western went on the road and came out victorious, winning 81-63. Will Carius led the team in scoring with 18 points in the game and Tamell Pearson scored 11 to go with six rebounds in 24 minutes of action.

Players to watch: Colton Sandage is coming off a career night, pouring in 33 points against Ball State on Wednesday. The junior from Bloomington, Ill., shot 11-16 from the field, 7-9 from deep and 4-5 from the line as the Leathernecks won their sixth game of the year. After Wednesday's outburst, Sandage is now the team leader in points scored (127), points per game (15.9) and three-pointers made (24) while boosting his percentage from behind-the-arc to over 40%.
 
Despite scoring nine points in the team's last game against Ball State, Will Carius is always someone to watch when he's on the floor. Named to Second Team All-Summit League in this year's preseason poll, Carius is currently averaging over 15 points per game and leads the team in free throw shooting at 78.3%. Though it may not show up in the box scores, Carius' experience shows itself on the defensive end, as he is one of the top defenders on this Leatherneck squad.
 
George Dixon has proven to be a key member of the Leatherneck rotation this season, as he's currently playing 18.4 minutes per game. In his first season with Western, he's grabbing five rebounds per game, ranking third on the team in total rebounds and second in offensive rebounding. A senior from Milwaukee, Wis., Dixon has played double-digit minutes in seven of the team's first eight games, and has played 20+ minutes on four occasions this season.
 
Scouting the opponent: UT-Martin is currently 3-5 on the young season and coming off a 73-61 loss at the hands of Middle Tennessee. The Skyhawks shoot a good percentage from the field (45.5%) and grab over 39 rebounds per game, but the offense averages nearly seven points per game less than Western's. KJ Simon is one player to watch, as he's pacing the team in scoring (15.9), steals (1.3) and blocks (1.3).
 
What's next: The Leathernecks will turn it around very quickly after Saturday's game, heading on the road for a matchup against Central Michigan on Sunday (Dec. 5). Tip-off in Mount Pleasant, Mich., is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3.
 
 
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