Who | Western Illinois vs. CSU Bakersfield & Cal Baptist 
When | Tuesday, November 11, 8:30 P.M. | Friday, November 14, 9:30 P.M.
Where | Icardo Center | Bakersfield California | Fowler Events Center | Riverside, California

Western Illinois at Iowa Recap
Western Illinois hung tough early against a Big Ten opponent Friday night, but the Leathernecks ultimately fell 77–58 to Iowa inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Graduate forward Isaiah Griffin led Western Illinois with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers, while adding five rebounds. Tyran Cook scored 10 points and dished out two assists, and Antwaun Massey and Francis Okwuosah each contributed eight points apiece.

The Leathernecks came out strong, jumping ahead 7–3 in the opening minutes with early buckets from Cook and Griffin. But Iowa quickly found its rhythm, answering with a 10–0 run to seize control and carry a 41–33 lead into halftime

Western Illinois couldn't find the same rhythm after the break, shooting just 27 percent in the second half as Iowa's defense forced turnovers and disrupted the Leathernecks flow. The Hawkeyes stretched their lead into double digits and never looked back. Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz paced Iowa with 24 points and seven assists, while Alvaro Folgueiras added 13 points and five boards.

The Leathernecks were outrebounded 29–26 and committed 14 turnovers, leading to 24 Iowa points.

Lineup Change
Western Illinois made a key change to its lineup at Iowa by inserting graduate forward Isaiah Griffin into the starting group, and the decision paid off in a big way. Griffin delivered a standout performance, finishing with 21 points and five rebounds while going 2-for-3 from the three-point line against the Hawkeyes. He brought energy and confidence on both ends of the floor, attacking the basket, hitting shots from deep, and competing with poise against Big Ten competition.

Scouting CSU Bakersfield 
Cal State Bakersfield has opened the 2025–26 season at 1–1 after a loss at California and a home win over Whittier. The Roadrunners struggled offensively in the opener, shooting 35 percent from the field and getting outrebounded 37–29 in an 87–60 defeat. They bounced back with an 83–61 win over Whittier, controlling the glass with 58 rebounds and showing better balance offensively. CJ Hardy led the way with 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting, while Ron Jessamy added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Rebounding has been a clear strength early, and Western will need to crash the boards and box out effectively to limit second-chance opportunities

Scouting Cal Baptist 
Western Illinois will need to focus on limiting Cal Baptist's efficiency on both ends of the floor. The Lancers have started 2–0 behind strong rebounding and balanced scoring, so controlling the glass will be critical to prevent second-chance points. Western will also need to defend the perimeter, as Cal Baptist's guards, led by Dominique Daniels Jr., are capable of scoring in multiple ways and creating for others.

What's at Stake
The Leathernecks are still searching for their first win of the season and will look to build off of the first two games. Both games present opportunities for Western to find its rhythm offensively while continuing to learn how the team meshes together. 

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