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Sarah Ritter

Leathernecks open postseason vs. St. Thomas

WIU takes on Tommies Sunday night in Sioux Falls

The Western Illinois men's basketball team begins the postseason push on Sunday, taking on St. Thomas in the opening round of the Summit League Tournament.
The Leathernecks and Tommies meet at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center on Sunday evening, tipping at 6 p.m.
Western Illinois is the four seed while St. Thomas is the five. The winner advances to Monday night's semifinal, playing at 6 p.m.

WHO | St. Thomas (18-13, 9-9) vs. Western Illinois (16-13, 9-9)

WHERE | Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

WHEN | Sunday, 6 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA | Twitter; Facebook

FOLLOW ALONG | Watch | Live Stats

Last time out:
Western Illinois split its final two games of the regular season, topping North Dakota 82-69 while falling to North Dakota State, 71-69.

In the North Dakota game, Trenton Massner led the way, scoring 34 points while adding seven assists and six rebounds. Alec Rosner added 16 points while Quinlan Bennett and Vuk Stevanic each scored 10. Jesiah West added 13 rebounds.

In the game against North Dakota State, Western Illinois trailed by as many 16 before grabbing a four-point lead late. The teams went back and forth before the Bison hit a shot at the buzzer to get the win.

Massner scored a team-high 24 points while Stevanic and Bennett each added 14 and West scored 10.
 
Previous matchups vs. UST
Western Illinois and St. Thomas split the two meetings this season with WIU winning 60-56 in Macomb on January 21 and St. Thomas winning 82-69 in St. Paul on February 18.

In the Leatherneck win, all five starts scored in double digits with Massner's 18 leading the way. Rosner added 12 while Bennett, West and Stevanic all finished with 10.

Andrew Rohde led St. Thomas with 19 points while Brooks Allen scored 13.

In the UST victory, Bennett led Western Illinois with 20 points, 12 rebounds. Massner added 15, Rosner scored 12 and West had 11.

Rohde led the Tommies with 26 points while Parker Bjorklund added 16.
 
About the Leathernecks:

Western Illinois comes in averaging 73.5 points per game, third in the league, while allowing 72.6. The Leathernecks are shooting 45.4 percent from the field while opponents are shooting 46.2. Western Illinois is shooting 32.1 from three while foes make 32.2 on treys. The Leathernecks average 34.6 rebounds per contest and allow the same. Western commits 10.9 turnovers per contest while forcing 11.8.
 
About the Tommies:

St. Thomas scores 74.7 points per game while allowing 70.5. The Tommies are shooting 45.2 percent from the field while opponents make 45.7 from the field. UST shoots 35.3 percent from three while their opponents make 34.1 from three. St. Thomas averages 31.4 rebounds per game while opponents grab 34.2 boards. St. Thomas averages 9.9 turnovers a game while forcing 12.0.
 
Players to watch:

Western Illinois

Trenton Massner: Massner was named First Team All-Summit League for this season. Massner was second in the league in points per game, averaging 21.6 points per Summit League contest. Massner was second in field goals (138). Massner was also 15th in the league in rebounds per game (5.6), 12th in field goal percentage (42.9), fourth in three-point percentage (34.7), second in three-pointers per game (3.3), first in assists per game (5.1), third in steals (1.5) and second in minutes per game (38.8).

Jesiah West: Named First Team All-Defensive. Third in the league in blocks per game (1.6), 16th in steals and second in rebounds per game (8.6). Recorded two double-doubles in conference games.

Vuk Stevanic: Third on the team in points per game in league play (10.9).

Alec Rosner: First in the league in minutes per game (39.4), second on the team in points per game in conference play (12.6), seventh in the league in three-pointers per game (2.7), eighth in free-throw percentage (84.2), 16th in assists per game (2.1).

Quinlan Bennett: Averaging 8.7 points per game in league play and 5.2 rebounds per conference game. Top perimeter defender.
 
St. Thomas

Andrew Rohde: Led team in points per game (18.4) in league play. First-Team All Summit League; 3.9 assists per game.

Parker Bjorklund; Second on team in scoring (15.4 points per game); Team leader in rebounds per game (5.4)

Riley Miller: Team's third leading scorer (10.7)

Brooks Allen: averages nine points per game.
 
Fast facts:

The four seed is the highest Western Illinois has finished in the Summit League since the 2012-13 season. This is St. Thomas' first time playing in the Summit League Tournament. The Tommies are not eligible for the NCAA Tournament is they do win the tournament. The back-to-back 16-win seasons for Western Illinois is the highest two-season win total since the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons…The nine wins for Western Illinois in conference play are the most for the program since the 2012-13 season.
 
What's next:

The winner advances to Monday's semifinal, playing at 6 p.m.
 
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