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WIU men look to avenge loss to UTRGV

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks host Vaqueros on Saturday

MACOMB -- Western Illinois looks to exact some revenge on Saturday afternoon, hosting Texas Rio Grande Valley at 2:30 p.m. The game is the second half of a men's/women's doubleheader with the Leatherneck women taking the floor at noon to face Eureka College.
 
Western Illinois and Texas Rio Grande Valley met on November 21 in Edinburgh, Texas with the Vaqueros claiming a 78-77 win. The Leathernecks trailed by as many as 11 with 12 minutes to play before mounting a furious rally that was capped by a Jesiah West go-ahead dunk with six seconds remaining.
 
However, UTRGV was able to get a basket to beat the buzzer and Western Illinois, earning the win in the first game of the home-and-home series.
 
Last time out
Western Illinois ended a four-game losing streak, topping Southern Indiana 86-78. All five Leatherneck starters scored in double figures, with Trenton Massner's season-high 23 points leading the way.
 
Jesiah West and Vuk Stevanic also had season highs in scoring, adding 16 and 17 points, respectively. Western Illinois made a season-high 25 free throws, holding off the Screaming Eagles.
 
About the Leathernecks
The Leathernecks are averaging 74.6 points per game this season while allowing 74.9. Western Illinois is converting on 45.4 percent for its field goals while allowing teams to shoot 45.2. Western Illinois is getting outrebounded by an average margin of 36.7-35.3 per game.
 
Alec Rosner leads Western Illinois, averaging 15 points per game while Trenton Massner scores 13.3, Quinlan Bennett adds 10.9 and Jesiah West chips in 10.9. Bennett leads the way on the glass with 6.3 rebounds per game while West pulls down 5.3 and Massner adds four.
 
About the Vaqueros
In the previous meeting, Justin Johnson had a big night for UTRGV, scoring 34 points. Johnson was able to get to the line 14 times, making 10. Big man Dima Zdor added 18 points while Will Johnston added 10.
 
Johnson has been big for the Vaqueros all season, leading the squad in scoring. Johnson averages 19 points per game while Zdor adds 11.6 and Johnston chips in with 11.4.
 
The Vaquero victory over Western has sparked UTGRV, as the squad has won three of its last four games, including an 89-82 win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Wednesday.
 
What's next
After Saturday's contest, Western Illinois wraps its four-game homestand on Wednesday, Dec. 7, taking on Iowa Wesleyan at 6 p.m. After playing the Tigers, Western plays in-state rival Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Dec. 10 in Charleston.
 
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