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Leathernecks open Summit play vs. Bison and Fighting Hawks

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Western looking to extend five-game winning streak

MACOMB – The Leathernecks open Summit League play at home, hosting North Dakota State and North Dakota inside Western Hall. The Leathernecks meet the Bison at 6 p.m. on Monday, then host the Fighting Hawks on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Western Illinois is currently on a five-game winning streak.
 
Who |North Dakota State (3-9) vs. Western Illinois (7-4)
When | 6 p.m., Monday, December 19
Where | Western Hall, Macomb, Illinois
Social media | Twitter; Facebook
Live | Live stats; Radio; Stream
 
Who |North Dakota (6-7) vs. Western Illinois (7-4)
When | 6 p.m., Wednesday, December 21
Where | Western Hall, Macomb, Illinois
Social media | Twitter; Facebook
Live | Live stats; Radio; Stream
 
About the Leathernecks
Western comes in at 7-4 overall, winners of five straight games. The Leathernecks are coming off a win over Eureka College on Friday in Moline. Western Illinois has not lost since a November 26 defeated against Youngstown State in Macomb. The Leathernecks are 4-1 in games played inside Western Hall.
 
Western Illinois comes in scoring 77.6 points per game while allowing foes to score 72.2 per contest. The Leathernecks are shooting 47.4 percent from the floor, including 31.9 from three and 70.8 from the line. WIU opponents are hitting 44.1 from the field, 31.7 from three and 69.4 from the line. Western averages 36.0 rebounds per game while allowing 35.7 per night.
 
Alec Rosner leads the Leathernecks in scoring, averaging 15.7 per game. Trenton Massner adds 15.2 per game while Jesiah West, Quinlan Bennett and Vuk Stevanic also average in double figures, adding 11.5, 10.4 and 10.0, respectively. West leads the team in rebounding with 6.1 per game while Bennett adds 5.5. West blocks 1.8 shots per night while Massner adds 5.7 assists per game.
 
About the Bison
The Bison come in at 3-9 overall, but winners of two of their last three. North Dakota State won its last time out, topping Waldorf 99-54. Prior to that, NDSU fell to Montana 82-75 but defeated Portland 67-62. The Portland win snapped a four-game losing streak and is NDSU's lone victory over Division I competition.
 
The Bison come in scoring 71.8 points per game while surrendering 76.5 per contest. NDSU is shooting 42.1 percent from the floor, 32 percent from three and 69.6 percent from the line. The Bison allow foes to make 45.8 from the floor, 33.3 from three and 75.3 from the line. NDSU averages 36.8 rebounds per game while allowing 35.8. First-half struggles have hurt North Dakota State this season as the Bison are getting outscored 35.7-30.4 in the first 20 minutes.
 
Grant Nelson and Boden Skunberg lead the offense. Nelson scored 13.9 points per outing while Skunberg chips in 13.4. Andrew Morgan adds 10.6 and Tajavis Miller chips in 10.4. Nelson adds 7.1 rebounds per night while Morgan averages 6.0.
 
About the Fighting Hawks
North Dakota opens the Summit League schedule playing at St. Thomas on Monday before traveling to Macomb to take on the Leathernecks. The Fighting Hawks went 6-7 in the nonconference and enter league play coming off a victory over North Central (Minnesota) that snapped a four-game losing streak.
 
UND averages 71.2 points per game while allowing 71.3. The Fighting Hawks are shooting 45.8 percent from the field, 36.5 from three and 64.8 from the line. UND opponents are shooting 44.8 from the field, 33.6 from three and 67.6 from the line. North Dakota averages 34.8 rebounds per game while opponents grab 34.1 boards.
 
Freshman B.J. Omot leads the team in scoring, averaging 11.2 points per game. Matt Norman adds 8.4 while Elijah Brooks chips in with 7.7. Tsotne Tsartsidze adds a team-high 4.2 rebounds per game while scoring 7.4.
 
History
NDSU leads the all-time series 24-9. The two teams split the series last year with Western Illinois winning 90-79 in overtime in Fargo and the Bison claiming an 84-81 double overtime win in Macomb.
 
North Dakota leads the all-time series 7-6. Western Illinois has won three straight vs. the Fighting Hawks, sweeping the series last year with a 70-68 win in Macomb and 73-68 victory in Grand Forks.
 
What's next
After taking a break for the Christmas holiday, the Leathernecks hit the road. Western Illinois is in South Dakota, playing South Dakota State on Dec. 29 at 7 p.m., then visiting South Dakota on Dec. 31 at 1 p.m.
 
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