MACOMB – The Western Illinois men's basketball team begins a crucial stretch of games, playing six of their next seven games on the road. That stretch begins on Thursday when the Leathernecks travel to Martin, Tennessee, to take on UT Martin.
The Leathernecks have won seven in a row, coming in at 10-6 overall, 3-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Skyhawks are 9-7 overall, and 2-1 in the OVC.
Western Illinois follows the trip to Martin with another road contest, this one on Saturday afternoon, when they take on Eastern Illinois (8-8, 2-1). The Martin game tips off at 7:30 p.m. The EIU game begins at 3:30 p.m.
WHO | Western Illinois (10-6, 3-0) at UT Martin (9-7, 2-1); at Eastern Illinois (8-8, 2-1)
WHEN | Thursday, 7:30 p.m. (at Martin); Saturday, 3:30 p.m. (at Eastern Illinois)
WHERE | Kathy and Tom Elam Center, Martin, Tennessee (Thursday); Lantz Arena, Charleston, Illinois (Saturday)
FOLLOW ALONG | Watch; Listen; Live Stats (Thursday); Watch; Listen; Live Stats (Saturday)
SOCIAL MEDIA | Instagram; Twitter; Facebook
LAST TIME OUT | Western Illinois extended its win streak to seven games, sweeping its OVC foes last week. On Thursday, the Leathernecks topped SEMO, 68-61. WIU followed that victory with a 68-57 win over Lindenwood on Saturday.
Against SEMO, JJ Kalakon scored a career-high 16 points. He also added eight boards. Ryan Myers scored 16 points in the win.
Against Lindenwood, Jesiah West and James Dent Jr. each scored 14 points. Kalakon added 13. West recorded his fourth double-double of the season, grabbing 11 boards. For the fourth time this season, Drew Cisse had at least 17 rebounds, grabbing 17 boards.
ABOUT THE LEATHERNECKS | Western Illinois has won seven straight, the longest for the program since an 11-gamer in 2012-13. WIU is also 3-0 for the first time in league play since 2012-13.
James Dent Jr. leads the team in points per game, averaging 14.1. Ryan Myers also scores in double figures, averaging 12.5 per night.
ABOUT THE SKYHAWKS | UT Martin comes in as one of the highest-scoring teams in the OVC, averaging 84.4 points per game.
Jordan Sears leads the Skyhawks, averaging 20.3 points per game. Jacob Crews adds 16.9 and Issa Muhammad adds 11.7.
KEY TO THE GAME | Offense vs. Defense: WIU is one of the top-scoring defenses in the league, while UT Martin is one of the top-scoring offenses.
WIU has not allowed more than 71 points in its last 10 games. UT Martin has scored 71 or more in nine of its last 10.
Battle of the Boards: Both teams are two of the top rebounding teams in the OVC. WIU averages over 44 rebounds per game and the Skyhawks are over 42 per night.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS | EIU has won two straight OVC games and is 5-1 on their home floor this season.
Jordan Booker leads the EIU offense, scoring 13.4 points per game. Kooper Jacob adds 10.8 and Nakyel Shelton tallies 10.6.
KEY TO THE GAME | Win the glass: Both teams have excellent rebound margins (WIU +9, EIU +5). A strength for the Panthers is keeping opponents off the offensive glass (7.3 per game) while a major Leatherneck strength is winning on the offensive glass (15.44)
HISTORY | The Leathernecks are 2-3 all-time vs. UT Martin. Western Illinois has won the last two meetings, taking an 81-64 victory in 2021 and an 81-63 win in 2020.
Western Illinois is 80-84 all-time vs. Eastern Illinois. The Leathernecks have won two straight in the series, prevailing 79-75 last season and 71-54 in 2021.
NATIONAL RANKS | WIU is 10th in the NCAA in rebound margin per game (+10.9), 17th in defensive rebounds per game (29.5), 7th in offensive rebounds per game (15.44), 2nd in rebounds per game (44.94), 6th in blocks per game (6.1) and tied for 3rd in blocks (98).
Drew Cisse is 7th in the country in blocks (38), 12th in blocks per game (2.38), 1st in total rebounds (196), 8th in defensive rebounds per game (7.62), 2nd in offensive rebounds per game (4.62), 4th in rebounds per game (12.2).
WHAT'S NEXT | Western returns home for its lone home game of the current six of seven on the road. The Leathernecks host Tennessee State next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
