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Leathernecks Travel to Tennessee for Pair of Road Contests

| By: WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

WIU enters the week tied for second in OVC

MACOMB – The Western Illinois men's basketball team looks to get back to its winning ways, hitting the road for a pair of games this week.

On Thursday, Western Illinois visits Tennessee Tech. It is the first two meetings between the two squads this season. On Saturday, the Leathernecks take on Tennessee State in Nashville. The Tigers topped WIU 58-57 on January 20 in Macomb.

WHO | Western Illinois (15-10, 8-4) at Tennessee Tech (9-17, 4-9); Western Illinois at Tennessee State (15-11, 8-5)

WHEN | at Tennessee Tech: Thursday, Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m.; at Tennessee State, Saturday, February 17, 3:30 p.m.

WHERE | at Tennessee Tech: Elben Center, Cookeville, Tennessee; at Tennessee State: Gentry Center, Nashville, Tennessee

SOCIAL MEDIA | Instagram; Twitter; Facebook

FOLLOW ALONG | Tennessee Tech: Watch; Listen; Live Stats; Tennessee State: Watch; Listen; Live Stats

LAST TIME OUT | Western Illinois dropped a pair of close games last week. On Thursday, WIU led the bulk of the game vs. Little Rock, but a late run by the Trojans gave them the win. Western Illinois had a shot at the buzzer to force overtime, but could not get the shot to fall. On Saturday, WIU and UT Martin went back and forth before the Skyhawks held on for a 62-59 win. Once again, the Leathernecks had a chance to force overtime, but could not get a shot to fall.

ABOUT THE LEATHERNECKS | Western Illinois enters the week in a three-way tie for second at 8-4. The top two finishers in the OVC receive a bye to the conference tournament semifinals while the third and fourth place teams get a bye to the quarterfinals. Seeds five through eight play in the first round. In conference games, the Leathernecks rank second in the league, allowing 62.8 points per game. WIU is seventh in the league, scoring 67.0 points per contest in 12 games. Ryan Myers scores 13.3 points per game in OVC contests, leading the Leathernecks. Drew Cisse leads the league in rebounds per game (11.0) and offensive rebounds per game (5.0). Jesiah West is seventh in the conference in assists per game (3.4).

ABOUT THE GOLDEN EAGLES | After some early-season struggles, Tennessee Tech is playing some of its best basketball right now. The Golden Eagles have won two straight, including a 70-50 win over Tennessee State on Tuesday. Jayvis Harvey and David Early lead the offense, each scoring 14 points per game. As a team, TTU scores 68.1 points per game while allowing 73.9. It has been an up and down conference slate for the Golden Eagles. Prior to the two-game win streak, TTU lost six-straight. Before the losing streak, they won two-straight, which was preceded by a four-game losing streak.

ABOUT THE TIGERS | Tennessee State is coming off a Tuesday night, 70-50 loss to Tennessee Tech. Prior to the defeat, TSU had won seven of eight to force a second-place tie in the OVC. TSU is scoring 73.9 points per game while allowing 70.2. Christian Brown leads the team, scoring 13.9 points per game while EJ Bellinger adds 11.9.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME VS. TENNESSEE TECH | Let the 'D' decide: Western Illinois is second in the OVC in points per game allowed (62.8) in conference play while Tennessee Tech is 10th of 11 in points per game scored (64.9).

Attack the glass: WIU leads the conference in rebounds per game in 12 league dates (39.7 rpg) while TTU is last (28.4). Western Illinois leads the league in offensive rebounds per game (14.7) while Tennessee Tech is eighth in defensive rebounds per game (22.6).

Free throws are free: Both teams are near the bottom of the league in free throw percentage. WIU is 11th (63.8 percent) while Tennessee Tech is ninth (71.8). While both don't shoot well from the line, it is difficult to get there against each squad. WIU has allowed the fewest opponent attempted free throws while TTU foes have attempted the next fewest in conference play.

KEYS TO THE GAME VS. TENNESSEE STATE | Shoot the ball: Western Illinois struggled from the field in the first meeting, shooting 38.2 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from three and 56.3 percent from the free throw line. In league play, teams are shooting 41.5 percent vs. TSU, fourth-best in the OVC and 28.2 from three, the best in the league.

Take care of the ball: Western Illinois only had 11 turnovers in the first meeting, but TSU took advantage, scoring 18 points off Leatherneck giveaways.

Road Warriors: Western Illinois is 8-6 on the road this season, 6-1 in the OVC. Tennessee State is 9-2 at home this year, 4-2 in conference play.

HISTORY | The Leathernecks are 1-1 all-time vs. Tennessee Tech. The two schools split their meetings in 1988-89 with Western Illinois winning 72-66 in Cookeville and the Golden Eagles scoring a 65-60 win in Macomb. WIU is 1-4 all-time vs. Tennessee State. The Tigers won in the last-second in Macomb early this season. The two schools met three times between 1957 and 1959 when TSU was Tennessee A&I.
 
WHERE THEY RANK | As a team: Western Illinois is eighth in the country, averaging 5.9 blocks per game. The Leathernecks are tied for fifth with 147 total blocks. WIU is 40th in the country in field goal defense, allowing foes to make 40.1 percent from the field, 17th in three-point defense (29.4) and tied for 29th in points allowed per game (65.0). The Leathernecks are tied for sixth in the country in rebound margin +9. WIU is 30th in the country in defense rebounds per game (27.92), seventh in offensive rebounds per game (14.52), and fifth in rebounds per game (42.44).

Individuals: Drew Cisse is 32nd in blocks per game 2.04. Cisse is third in total rebounds (291), 20th in defensive rebounds per game (7.04), first in offensive rebounds per game (4.6) and fourth in rebounds per game (11.6). Ryan Myers is 10th in three-point percentage (43.57).
 
NEWS AND NOTES | Western Illinois is 8-6 on the road this season, the most road wins since winning eight in 1996-97. Western Illinois has held opponents to 71 or fewer points in their last 19 games. WIU is 13-6 in those games. Western Illinois has not won 10 or more conference games since the 2012-13 season when the Leathernecks won 13. WIU has eight league wins this season and won nine conference games last season.
 
WHAT'S NEXT | After this week's road trip through Tennessee, the Leathernecks play their final four regular season games at Western Hall. Western Illinois hosts Morehead State next Thursday and Southern Indiana on Saturday.
 
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