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George Hartmann

Men’s Basketball Hosts UST and UMKC

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

The weekend includes a makeup game from earlier in the season.

The Opponents | St. Thomas / Kansas City
When | Saturday (Jan. 29) / Monday (Jan. 31)
Where | Western Hall – Macomb, Ill.
Social media | Instagram + Twitter + Facebook + #TRADITIONofTOUGH

Matchup history: Thursday's game marks the second time this season and the third time in program history that Western Illinois and St. Thomas have faced one another. The first matchup, a Leatherneck victory, came back in 1948, and the two sides played again on Jan. 1, which ended as a St. Thomas victory. Though it was a loss, four Leathernecks scored in double figures and WIU won the battle for the offensive glass nine to six. Kansas City and WIU have played 44 times in Western Illinois' D-I history, with the Leathernecks holding a 17-27 record. The last time these teams faced off was in November of 2019, which ended as a one-point road loss for Western. Monday's game was originally scheduled to be played on Jan. 6 but was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.

Scouting the opponent: The Tommies are currently 8-11 (2-5) and in the midst of a four-game losing streak, most recently falling on the road at North Dakota State. Fueled by strong shooting from deep, the team is averaging 77.4 points per game while making 44.8% from the field and 38.8% from deep. Riley Miller and Anders Nelson haven't skipped a bit in their transition from D-III to D-I, with both players averaging over 16 points per game. Kansas City is 11-8 on the season and has won each of the last three games – including a weekend sweep of the North Dakota Schools. As a team the Roos, are holding opponents to 63.6 points per game, while shooting 46.5% from the field and dishing out a combined 14.5 assists. Led by Evan Gilyard II (13.8), the team boasts five players who average ten or more points per game.

Players to watch: Tamell Pearson has found a groove across the past five games, scoring in double figures in each game and averaging 13.2 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting an impressive 65% from the field 82.3% from the line. Pearson went for 13 points, five rebounds and a block in that Jan. 1 matchup with the Tommies, and this will be the first time in his career that he's faced Kansas City. The 6-10 Pearson's size could play a factor against St. Thomas, who only have three players listed at 6-7 or taller and one at 6-9 or above.

Having started every game this season as the team's point guard, Colton Sandage will have an important role to play in stopping the high-volume attack of St. Thomas. In recent games, the junior from Bloomington, Ill., has stepped it up defensively, recording at least one steal in each of the team's last four games – including a season-high five against North Dakota State on Jan. 15. Sandage has the potential to get going from deep as well, as he scored 33 points against Ball State on Dec. 1 on 7-9 shooting from deep, eventually earning Summit League Player of the Week honors for his performance.

What's next: Western Illinois will hit the road for its next two games, facing Oral Roberts next Thursday (Feb. 3) and Kansas City on Saturday (Feb. 5). Tip-off for both games is scheduled for 7 p.m. 
 
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