Who | Western Illinois vs. North Dakota
When | Saturday, December 13, 1:00 P.M.
Where | Sioux Center | Grand Forks, ND

Leathernecks Hit the Road to Face Fighting Hawks 

Western Illinois meets a familiar opponent on Saturday as the Leathernecks travel to face North Dakota for the second time this season. The two teams matched up earlier in the year, when the Fighting Hawks pulled out a 78–69 win. Despite the loss, 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. That performance not only set the tone early but also shows that Western is fully capable of defeating the Fighting Hawks once they put a complete game together.

Western Illinois vs. Hannibal-La Grange Recap

Western Illinois picked up a convincing 78-47 win over Hannibal-La Grange last time out inside Western Hall. The Leathernecks controlled the game on both ends, using a dominant rebounding effort and steady scoring balance to pull away.

Western Illinois led 32-22 at halftime before breaking the game open with a 46-point second half. The Leathernecks finished with 48 rebounds, including 19 on the offensive glass, and turned that effort into 14 second-chance points. WIU also outscored the Trojans 44-14 in the paint.

Karyiek Dixon delivered an efficient performance with 17 points on 6-of-6 shooting and added 11 rebounds for a double-double. Antwaun Massey scored 11 points and grabbed six boards, while Isaiah Griffin and Tyran Cook each reached double figures with 10 points apiece. Lucas Lorenzen added nine points and six rebounds, and Francis Okwuosah chipped in nine points.
 

Shuffling Starting Lineup
Throughout the season, Western Illinois has continued to adjust and reshuffle its starting lineup in search of the right combination. Recently, that effort has started to show promise. Karyiek Dixon, who earned his second consecutive start, delivered a breakout performance in the Leathernecks' last outing. Dixon posted an ultra-efficient 17 points on 6-of-6 shooting and pulled down 11 rebounds to secure a double-double, giving WIU a strong interior presence on both ends of the floor.

With Dixon's impact and the group's improving chemistry, Western Illinois is hopeful that they have found a starting unit capable of setting the tone early and carrying momentum throughout games.

Scouting North Dakota
North Dakota enters the matchup under seventh-year head coach Paul Sather, who has led the program to a 76–70 record during his tenure and owns 358 career wins across 21 seasons. The Fighting Hawks come in averaging 73.2 points per game but also allow 79.1, creating a fast-paced style with plenty of possessions on both ends.

Offensively, UND shoots 43 percent from the field and 30.4 percent from three, leaning heavily on leading scorer Greyson Uelmen, who averages 13.5 points per game. While they aren't an elite shooting team, they compensate with activity and pressure, ranking strong defensively in steals at 10.6 per game. Eli King has been a key factor in that area, leading the team in both rebounds (4.9 RPG) and steals (2.8 SPG), giving UND a versatile presence around the ball.

Defensively, North Dakota has struggled with opponents' efficiency, allowing teams to shoot 49.8 percent from the floor and 34.7 percent from deep. Still, they disrupt passing lanes and generate transition opportunities with their pressure. Anthony Smith III orchestrates the offense at 3.2 assists per game, while Micah Curtis anchors the paint with 1.7 blocks per contest.

Rebounding consistency and defensive discipline will be two major focuses for Western Illinois, as North Dakota's aggressive style can create momentum swings quickly.

Key's to the Matchup

• Win the rebounding battle: North Dakota thrives on creating extra possessions through activity and steals. Controlling the glass, especially limiting second-chance points, will be critical for WIU to dictate pace and maintain offensive rhythm.

• Protect the ball and handle pressure: UND averages over 10 steals per game and relies heavily on defensive disruption. Minimizing turnovers and making clean, decisive passes will prevent the Fighting Hawks from getting easy transition buckets.

• Sustain a full 40-minute effort: Western showed in the first meeting that it can outplay North Dakota for long stretches, especially with its strong first half earlier this season. Putting together a complete game on both ends will give the Leathernecks a strong chance to close out the rematch.

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