Who | Western Illinois vs. Coastal Carolina & North Dakota
When | Friday, November 21, 6:00 P.M. | Sunday, November 23, 6:00 P.M.
Where | Western Hall | Macomb, IL
Western Illinois vs. Coe College Recap
Western Illinois Men's Basketball earned its first victory of the season Monday night inside Western Hall, surging in the second half to defeat Coe College 74–63.
The Leathernecks trailed 36–34 at the break but responded in the second half, outscoring the Kohawks 40–27 while taking control on both ends of the floor. WIU shot 49 percent from the field, piled up 40 points in the paint, and forced 16 turnovers that turned into 21 points the other way.
Lucas Lorenzen led the Leathernecks with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals across 35 minutes. Goanar Biliew delivered an energy boost off the bench, finishing with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including a pair of emphatic finishes at the rim.
Francis Okwuosah added 11 points and nine rebounds while knocking down three shots from beyond the arc. Isaiah Griffin had nine points and seven boards, and the WIU bench contributed 29 total points to help lift the offense.
Spark off the Bench
Western Illinois got a much-needed spark from its second unit in the matchup against Coe, led by Goanar Biliew. Biliew finished with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including two emphatic finishes at the rim. He also added two steals and two blocks, making a significant impact on the defensive end for the Leathernecks.
Scouting Coastal Carolina
Coastal Carolina enters the matchup at 2-2, averaging 82.8 points per game while holding opponents to 65.0. Joshua Beadle leads the team with 19.0 points per game, and Jerry Ngopot grabs 6.5 rebounds per contest. Rasheed Jones leads the team in assists with 3.5 per game, while AJ Dancler and Peat Nadjrick anchor the defense with 1.75 steals and 1.75 blocks per game, respectively. The Leathernecks will need to contest perimeter shots, protect the glass, and limit turnovers to keep pace with the Chanticleers' balanced attack.
Scouting North Dakota
North Dakota comes in averaging 80.2 points per game while allowing 77.5, showing an uptempo, high-offense style. Their leading scorer is Greyson Uelmen, who averages 13.5 points per game, while Anthony Smith III runs the offense with 4.5 assists per contest. Defensively, they are disruptive, averaging 12.2 steals per game, and take care of the ball well, committing just 9.7 turnovers per game. To win, the Leathernecks will need to protect the ball, limit opportunities for Uelmen, and stay sharp against North Dakota's active hands to avoid turnovers and fast-break points.
What's at Stake
Securing a win against Coastal Carolina would be a big boost for the Leathernecks, giving them back-to-back home victories, carrying momentum into Sunday's matchup with North Dakota, and providing critical experience before conference play begins.
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