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Sarah Ritter

Leathernecks head north to take on Tommies

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

WIU begins road trip to end regular season

MACOMB -- After dropping the final two home games of the regular season, the Western Illinois men's basketball team hits the road for the final three games of the season.

The Leathernecks begin the trip with one game this week, visiting St. Thomas.

WIU and St. Thomas are currently tied for fourth in the Summit League with matching 8-7 records. The Leathernecks defeated the Tommies inside Western Hall, 60-56 on January 21. The two teams currently lead Kansas City by .5 games and trail third-place North Dakota State by .5 games.
 
WHO | Western Illinois (15-11, 8-7) at St. Thomas (17-11, 8-7)
WHERE | Schoenecker Arena, St. Paul, Minnesota
WHEN | 7 p.m., Saturday
SOCIAL MEDIA | Twitter; Facebook
FOLLOW ALONG | Watch | Live stats
 
Last time out:
Western Illinois dropped a pair of games inside Western Hall, losing to Kansas City, 76-64 and Oral Roberts 82-73. Slow starts doomed WIU in both games as the Leathernecks trailed the Roos the bulk of the first half before taking a one-point lead at the break. Kansas City dominated the second half to pull away. Against the Golden Eagles, WIU trailed by as many as 24 before cutting the deficit to six in the second half.
 
About the Leathernecks:
Western Illinois has lost three of its last four to drop into a tie for fourth in the Summit League. Western Illinois has won two of its last three on the road.

The Leathernecks are led by Trenton Massner, who averages 18.7 points per game. Massner is nine points away from tallying his 1000th point as a Leatherneck. Alec Rosner is next for WIU, averaging 14.1 points per game. Rosner scored a season-high 29 points against Oral Roberts last Saturday. Massner is scoring 21.1 in Summit League games. Vuk Stevanic has scored at least 10 points in 10 of WIU's last 13 games.

Western Illinois is scoring 73.5 points per game this season while allowing 72.3. The Leathernecks are shooting 45.6 percent from the field while allowing foes to hit 46.3 from the field. WIU is making 32.5 from three while allowing opponents to make 31.9.
 
 
About the Tommies:
Overall, St. Thomas is averaging 74.8 points per game whole giving up 70.1. The Tommies are making 45.6 percent from the field while foes hit 45.8.UST shoots 36.0 from three with opponents making 34.6. St. Thomas is getting outrebounded 33.5-31.2 per game.

Andrew Rohde leads the team, scoring 15.8 per game. Parker Bjorkland adds 14.7 while Riley Miller tallies 13.1. Bjorkland leads the way on the glass, averaging 4.8. per game.
 
History:
In the previous meeting, Western Illinois topped St. Thomas 60-56. The Leathernecks trailed the Tommies 28-23 at half before rallying to win.

Trenton Massner led the way with 18 points while Jesiah West had 10 points and 13 boards. All five Western Illinois starters scored in double figures with Alec Rosner scoring 12 and Quinlan Bennett and Vuk Stevanic each tallying 10.

Andrew Rohde led UST with 19 points. After shooting 45.8 percent from the field in the first half, Western Illinois held the Tommies to 34.5 shooting in the second half.

Western Illinois is 3-1 all-time vs. St. Thomas but has never won in St. Paul.
 
Fast Facts/In the Summit:
In Summit League games, St. Thomas is the third-highest scoring team, averaging 72.8 points per game. Western Illinois is sixth, averaging 70.5 per night. The Leathernecks allow 72.5 per league game, ranking sixth while UST is fifth, allowing 71.1

Western Illinois is shooting 44.3 from the field, sixth in the conference with St. Thomas is eighth with 43.6. WIU is ninth in opponent field goal percentage at 48 percent while UST is eighth at 47.6. The Leathernecks are seventh in three-point percentage at 32.8 while the Tommies are eighth at 32.6. WIU is the second-best three-point defense with opponents making 32.1. UST is fifth at 35.4.

Western Illinois' Trenton Massner is third in the league in scoring, averaging 21.1 per game while UST's Andrew Rohde is eighth at 17.1. Jesiah West is second in the league, averaging 7.1 rebounds per contest and in blocks, swatting 1.6 shots per game. Massner's 6.0 rpg is ninth. Parker Bjorkland is third in shooting percentage, making 52.7 percent of his shots. Massner leads the league in assists per game, handing out 4.9. Rosner leads the league in minutes per game (39.3) while Massner is third (38.6).
 
What's Next:
After the single game this week, Western Illinois closes out the regular season on the road in North Dakota.
The Leathernecks visit North Dakota on Thursday, playing an 11 a.m. game. WIU then takes on North Dakota State on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
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