Who | Western Illinois vs Morehead State
When | Thursday, January  22, 6:30 P.M.
Where | Johnson Arena | Morehead, KY

Leathernecks Continue Road Trip Against Morehead State

Western Illinois continues its Ohio Valley Conference road swing on Thursday with game three of the trip, traveling to Morehead State in search of its first league win of the season. The Leathernecks enter the matchup still looking to break through in conference play after dropping the first two outings of this road trip, both coming by narrow margins that tested them deep into the second half.

Western Illinois vs Little Rock Recap

Western Illinois men's basketball fell on the road Saturday afternoon, dropping an 86–79 decision to Little Rock at the Jack Stephens Center.

The Leathernecks kept pace early, trailing just 50–41 at halftime after shooting 45.7 percent from the field in the opening half. Western Illinois continued to battle in the second half and pulled within striking distance on multiple occasions, but Little Rock's efficiency from three point range and perfect performance at the free throw line proved to be the difference.

Isaiah Griffin led all scorers with 28 points, finishing 9 of 21 from the field and knocking down three three pointers. Lucas Lorenzen added 20 points on 8 of 16 shooting, while Karyiek Dixon recorded a double double with 11 points and a game high 13 rebounds to anchor the interior.

The Leathernecks shot 43.9 percent from the floor and scored 40 points in the paint, matching Little Rock's physicality inside. Western Illinois also won the rebounding battle 42–32 and scored 12 second chance points, keeping the game competitive throughout the afternoon. Ifiok Peter provided a spark off the bench with 12 points on 5 of 7 shooting.

Scouting Morehead State
Morehead State is led by head coach Jonathan Mattox in his second season and features a balanced, efficient offensive attack. The Eagles average 77.4 points per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field, pairing inside production with consistent perimeter scoring at 33.8 percent from three.

Ball movement is a strength for Morehead State, as the Eagles average 14.8 assists per game and take care of the basketball with just 12.4 turnovers per contest. At the free throw line, MSU shoots 71.9 percent, giving them reliability in late-game situations.

George Marshall leads the team offensively at 13.1 points per game, while Jon Carroll controls the glass with a team-best 7.5 rebounds per game. Josiah LeGree serves as the primary facilitator, averaging 3.9 assists per game.

Keys to the Matchup

• Control the Glass: Morehead State averages 36.7 rebounds per game behind Jon Carroll, so Western Illinois must continue to rebound at a high level to limit second-chance points and create extra possessions.

• Defend the Perimeter: The Eagles shoot 33.8 percent from three and score 77.4 points per game, making closeouts and on-ball discipline critical to slowing their offensive rhythm.

• Value the Basketball: Morehead State averages just 12.4 turnovers per game and moves the ball well with 14.8 assists per contest, so Western Illinois will need to force tough decisions while taking advantage of its own offensive opportunities.

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