MACOMB – Western Illinois returns home after a four-game road trip, hosting a pair of games this week.
On Thursday, the Leathernecks take on Little Rock for the first time this season. The game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start. On Saturday, WIU hosts UT Martin at 11 a.m. Western Illinois won the previous meeting between the two schools.
Thursday's game is Staff and Faculty Appreciation Night while Saturday's contest is preceded by the Hotcakes for Heroes Breakfast. The Saturday game will also be televised nationally on ESPNU.
WHO | Arkansas Little Rock (13-11, 7-4) at Western Illinois (15-8, 8-2); UT Martin (14-10, 7-4) at Western Illinois
WHEN | Thursday, February 8, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, February 10, 11 a.m.
WHERE |Western Hall, Macomb, Illinois
SOCIAL MEDIA | Instagram; Twitter; Facebook
FOLLOW ALONG | vs. Little Rock: Listen; Watch; Live Stats; vs. UT Martin: Listen; Watch; Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT | Western Illinois went to Missouri and picked up a pair of wins, topping Lindenwood 79-71 and Southeast Missouri 76-55.
ABOUT THE LEATHERNECKS | Western Illinois has won 12 of its last 14. The Leathernecks have held 17 straight opponents to 71 or fewer points. WIU is 13-4 in those games. Western Illinois is 8-2 in conference play heading into the week, situated in second place. The Leathernecks are scoring 70.4 points per game and allowing 65.2. In OVC play, WIU outscores foes 68.5-62.8. Ryan Myers leads the Leathernecks, scoring 13.8 points per game. Drew Cisse leads the cause on the boards, grabbing 11.8 rebounds per night.
ABOUT THE TROJANS | Little Rock is coming off a 77-57 win over UT Martin on Tuesday night. The Trojans have won five of their last six games. In league games, Little Rock is the highest-scoring offense in the OVC, averaging 77 points in 11 OVC games. Jamir Chaplin leads the way, averaging 16 points per game. KK Robinson adds 15.8.
ABOUT THE SKYHAWKS | The Skyhawks are coming off a 77-57 loss to Little Rock on Tuesday. The defeat snapped a four-game winning streak. In 11 conference games, UTM averages 75.8 points per game. Jordan Sears leads the way with 19 points while Jacob Crews adds 17.6. Issa Muhhamad adds 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds.
KEYS TO THE GAME VS. LITTLE ROCK | Offense vs. Defense: Little Rock is the second-highest-scoring offense in the league, averaging just over 77 points per game. WIU is the second-best scoring defense in the OVC, allowing 62.8 per game. Little Rock has the highest field goal percentage of OVC schools in league play, shooting 49.1 per game.
Trey day: Western Illinois is at the bottom of the OVC in three-point attempts per game in conference play (15), but leads the league in percentage (39.3). Little Rock is second in the conference in three-point percentage, making 35.9 percent.
Protect the Rock: Western Illinois and Little Rock are near the bottom of the league in turnovers per game. The two are tied for ninth with 13.3 per game.
KEYS TO THE GAME VS. UT MARTIN | Battle on the Boards: As always, how WIU does on the glass determines the outcome. The Leathernecks are the top offensive rebounding team in the OVC while Tennessee Martin is the top defensive rebounding team. In the first meeting, WIU outrebounded UTM 48-31. The Leathernecks had 19 offensive rebounds and 19 second-chance points.
Watch the Crew: Jacob Crews had a big night for UT Martin in the first meeting, scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Play D: Western Illinois held UTM to their OVC-low in points, surrendering 64. In league play, the Skyhawks have been the conference's top offense, scoring 77.1 points per game.
HISTORY | WIU is 1-2 all-time vs. Little Rock. The two have not met since December 29, 1981. Western Illinois topped the Skyhawks 73-64 in Martin on Jan. 11. The schools are 3-3 all-time vs. each other.
WHERE THEY RANK | Myers is 4th in the country in three-point percentage (46.15). Drew Cisse leads the country in offensive rebounds per game (4.74). He is third in rebounds per game (11.8).
As a team, the Leathernecks are seventh in the country, averaging 5.9 block shots per game. Western Illinois is 34th in the country in field goal defense (40.4). The Leathernecks are fifth in rebounds per game (42.7), seventh in rebound margin per game (+10), and seventh in offensive rebounds per game (14.5). The Leathernecks are 15th in three-point percentage defense (29.1).
NEWS AND NOTES | Ryan Myers has scored in double figures in 12 of his last 13 games. WIU is 10-2 in those double-figure games. Western Illinois' eight road wins are the most for the program since the 1996-97 season. Drew Cisse recorded his fifth double-double of the season at SEMO on Saturday. JJ Kalakon was 0-2 from three in nonconference games but is 14-29 from three in OVC contests. Jesiah West is the lone Leatherneck to have started all 23 games this season.
WHAT'S NEXT | Western Illinois makes its final road trip of the regular season, heading to Tennessee for a pair of games. On Thursday, the Leathernecks are at Tennessee Tech, and are at Tennessee Satte on Saturday.
