Who | Western Illinois vs. St. Ambrose
When | Sunday, November 30, 3:00 P.M.
Where | Western Hall | Macomb, IL

Leathernecks Host St. Ambrose 

Western Illinois continues its homestand on Sunday as the Leathernecks welcome St. Ambrose to Western Hall. With an away matchup at Drake looming on Tuesday, this game becomes an important opportunity to regain rhythm and confidence after back-to-back losses and head into the week with momentum.

Western Illinois vs. North Dakota Recap
Western Illinois men's basketball fell 78–69 to North Dakota on Sunday night inside Western Hall.

The Leathernecks opened with one of their most efficient first halves of the season, shooting 48 percent from the field and knocking down six threes to build a 35–29 halftime lead. WIU also held a 19–12 edge on the glass, forced eight turnovers, and ran good sets on offense before the break. 

North Dakota responded with a dominant second half, shooting 60 percent and outscoring WIU 49–34 after the break. The Fighting Hawks used a 12–2 run to swing the game and finished 27-for-55 from the floor with 17 made free throws.

Lucas Lorenzen led the Leathernecks with 18 points and three threes. Karyiek Dixon added 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Francis Okwuosah scored 11, while Goanar Biliewand Makai Kvamme each added nine. Kvamme also contributed four assists and three steals.

Western Illinois finished 24-for-53 from the field with 10 made threes and 27 bench points, but 17 turnovers and UND's late surge proved to be the difference.

Starting Lineup Changes
Western Illinois also made notable adjustments to its starting lineup in the matchup against Coe. Nick Hittle earned his first start of the season, joining freshman guard Makai Kvamme, who made his second career start. Goanar Biliew and Karyiek Dixon also slid into the opening group, while Francis Okwuosah remained the steady anchor as the only Leatherneck to start every game this year. As WIU continues to search for its most cohesive and effective starting unit, Sunday's contest offers another chance to evaluate combinations moving forward.

Scouting St. Ambrose
St. Ambrose enters Sunday's matchup at 3–5, coming off a narrow 65–62 loss to Calumet (IN) in its most recent outing. The Fighting Bees are led by junior forward Guillermo Narbona, who paces the team with 17.6 points per game and provides a consistent scoring presence inside and out. As a group, St. Ambrose averages 79.9 points per game and shoots 34.3 percent from three. The Leathernecks will look to leverage its physicality on both ends of the floor, using its size and strength to disrupt St. Ambrose's rhythm.

Key's to the Matchup

• Disrupt the Bees' offensive rhythm: Pressure the ball, force contested shots, and limit the impact of leading scorer Guillermo Narbona.

• Address WIU's own concerns: Minimize turnovers, maintain strong defensive rotations, and stay disciplined on the perimeter.

• Attack St. Ambrose's defensive inconsistencies: Focus on scoring inside the paint and generating second-chance opportunities off the glass.

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