Who | Western Illinois vs SIUE
When | Monday, December 22, 3:30 P.M.
Where | Western Hall | Macomb, IL

Leathernecks Host SIUE 

Western Illinois continues Ohio Valley Conference play against SIUE, looking to bounce back after opening league action at 0-1. The matchup is expected to be physical and competitive, with both teams placing an emphasis on defensive effort and execution in the half court.

SIUE brings a disciplined approach that challenges opponents to value possessions and stay composed, while the Leathernecks will look to set the tone early with energy and toughness. Protecting home court and sustaining effort for all 40 minutes will be key as Western Illinois works to even its conference record.

Western Illinois at Lindenwood Recap

Western Illinois men's basketball dropped its Ohio Valley Conference opener on the road Thursday night, falling 92-76 to Lindenwood at Robert F. Hyland Arena.

Despite the loss, senior Antwaun Massey delivered a career night to lead the Leathernecks. Massey poured in a career-high 33 points on an efficient 15-of-21 shooting from the field, scoring consistently in the paint and accounting for nearly half of Western Illinois' offense. He added five rebounds, a block and a steal in 30 minutes of action.

Western Illinois (4-8, 0-1 OVC) trailed 42-28 at the halftime break after Lindenwood shot better than 55 percent from the floor in the opening half. The Leathernecks responded with a stronger second-half performance offensively, shooting 54.8 percent after the break, but were unable to close the gap as the Lions maintained control throughout the final 20 minutes.

Massey's Big Game
In the conference opener against Lindenwood, senior Antwaun Massey was one of the few Leathernecks able to find an offensive rhythm, finishing with 33 points on 15-of-21 shooting while adding five rebounds, one block, and one steal. His performance stood out as a bright spot as Western Illinois will look to him as a scoring threat in the matchup with SIUE

Scouting SIUE
Western Illinois takes on SIUE, led by seventh-year head coach Brian Barone. The Cougars are a balanced team that scores efficiently while emphasizing defense and limiting mistakes. They average 77.8 points per game, allow 66.9, and shoot 45.6 percent from the field while holding opponents to 39.5 percent.

SIUE gets contributions across the board, with Ring Malith leading in scoring (16.8 PPG), Myles Thompson on the boards (6.1 RPG), Jack Campion running the offense (4.6 APG) and leading in steals, and Arnas Sakenis anchoring the paint with 2.1 blocks per game. The Cougars emphasize ball security, averaging just 10.8 turnovers per game, and play with strong defensive intensity.

Keys to the Matchup

• Contain SIUE's top scorers: Limit Ring Malith and force other players to create, disrupting the Cougars' balanced offensive attack.

• Protect the ball: Take care of possessions and avoid turnovers against a team that thrives on converting mistakes into points.

• Rebound and finish: Win the battle on the glass and convert second-chance opportunities to stay competitive in a physical, defensive-minded game.

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