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Game 10: Heading East

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Leatherneck men hit the road for EIU

The Western Illinois men's basketball team (5-4) look to remain on their current win streak, hitting the road to take on cross-state rival Eastern Illinois (2-8) on Saturday afternoon in Charleston at 2 p.m.
The Leathernecks have won three straight overall to improve to 5-4 while the Panthers are looking for their first win against a Division I foe.
Not only is the game on the line, but so is 'The Old Railsplitter Ax,' the traveling trophy the two teams compete for. Thanks to last year's 71-54 victory, the Leathernecks are currently in possession of The Ax.
 
Who | Western Illinois (5-4) at Eastern Illinois (2-8)
When | Saturday, December 10, 2 p.m.
Where | Charleston, Illinois
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About the Leathernecks
Western Illinois comes in at 5-4 overall, winning three straight games. The Leathernecks are paced by Trenton Massner and Alec Rosner, who average 15.8 and 15.6 points per game, respectively. Quinlan Bennett and Jesiah West are also key cogs to the squad, as Bennett scores 10 points per contest and adds a team-high six rebounds per game and West notches 11.4 points per game and 5.7 rebounds.
Vuk Stevanic adds 9.6 points per game.
WIU is averaging 77.3 points per game while allowing 74.3 points. Western Illinois' average rebounding margin is 35.7-36.4.
 
About the Panthers
Eastern Illinois comes in at 2-8 overall. The Panthers have yet to defeat a Division I foe, topping Saint Mary-of-the-Woods-College and Blackburn College. Eastern Illinois averages 65.8 points per game while allowing 67.6. The Panthers shoot 40.4 percent from the floor while allowing foes to make 41.1 percent of their field goals.
Kinyon Hodges leads the way, scoring 11.2 points per game while Yaakema Rose adds 9.2.  Nick Ellington adds 4.7 rebounds per. Night while Hodges grabs 4.2 per game.
 
Nearing milestones
Both Massner and Rosner are approaching scoring milestones. Thanks to the big night from each on Wednesday against Iowa Wesleyan, Massner is three points away from 1500 in his college career. Rosner is four points from 1000 in his collegiate career.
Rosner has 140 total points in his nine-game career at WIU while Massner has scored 650 as a Leatherneck.
 
Peak performer
On Monday, Massner earned the Summit League's Peak Performer Player of the Week honors. Last week, Massner averaged 24 points per game in WIU's wins over Southern Indiana and UTRGV. It was the third time Massner earned the honor as a Leatherneck.
 
What's next
The Leathernecks wrap the non-conference portion of the schedule making the trip an hour and a half north to take on Eureka College at Vibrant Arena at The Mark in Moline next Friday. Western then opens conference play at Western Hall the next week, taking on North Dakota State and North Dakota on Monday and Wednesday.
 
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