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Leathernecks Travel to St. Thomas

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Western Illinois men's basketball will play the Tommies for the first time in either team's Division-I era.

Who | Western Illinois (10-4, 1-1) at St. Thomas (7-7, 1-1)
When | Saturday (Jan. 1), 2 p.m.
Where | Schoenecker Arena – St. Paul, Minn.
Social media | Instagram + Twitter + Facebook + #TRADITIONofTOUGH

Matchup history: Saturday's matchup is only the second time in program history that these two programs have played each other, with the lone matchup finishing as a 59-45 Leatherneck home victory on Dec. 8, 1948. Saturday's game marks the first time in either team's Division-I era that they have played, as the Leathernecks became a D-I school ahead of the 1981-82 season, and St. Thomas is currently in their first season at the Division-I level after previously playing in the NCAA's Division-III.

Scouting the opponent: The Tommies are 7-7 and coming off a split-result in last week's Summit League matchups against Omaha (W, 80-73) and Denver (L, 74-75). UST held a 15-point lead at halftime against Denver, but lost on a buzzer-beating alley oop at the end of regulation. Three different players are averaging 13+ points per game, with Riley Miller (18.2), Anders Nelson (16.8) and Parker Bjorklund (13.4) driving the Tommy offense. St. Thomas is a team that has dominated opponents from deep, currently holding a team average of 40% from three-point range. UST did play North Central University on Wednesday (Dec. 29), winning that game 97-45.

Players to watch: A junior from Wapello, Iowa, Trenton Massner has averaged 23.4 points per game across his last four contests, including a 31-point outburst against Denver on Dec. 20. He was named Summit League Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Dec. 27, and his matchup against the St. Thomas backcourt of Riley Miller and Anders Nelson (who are the top-two scorers for St. Thomas) will be something to watch in Saturday's game.
 
Against a St. Thomas squad who has just one player taller than 6-7, Tamell Pearson and Luka Barisic will have an important role to play. The starting front court in every game this season for Western Illinois, the pair of 6-10 forwards have a combined average of 20.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game while shooting 45% from the field and 55% on two-point field goals. Pearson has grabbed 8.5 rebounds per game across his last four performances which is important for a Leatherneck team who was one of the top rebounding teams in the country early in the season.

What's next: Western Illinois men's basketball will head back to Macomb for its next game, taking on the Kansas City Roos next Thursday (Jan. 6). Tip-off at Western Hall is scheduled for 6 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at LeatherneckTickets.com.
 
 
 
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