Who | Western Illinois Vs Tennessee State | Western Illinois Vs Tennessee Tech
When | Thursday, January 8, 7:30 P.M. | Saturday, January 10, 3:30 P.M.
Where | Macomb, IL

Leathernecks Host Tennessee State & Tennessee Tech

Western Illinois returns to Western Hall this week to open the new year at home, hosting Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech in a two-game Ohio Valley Conference homestand. The stretch marks the Leathernecks' first appearance in Macomb in 2026 and an important opportunity to turn the page as conference play continues.

Still in search of its first OVC win of the season, Western enters the week looking to take advantage of familiar surroundings and the energy of a home crowd. With two league games on its home floor, the Leathernecks aim to get back in the win column.

Western Illinois Vs SEMO Recap

Western Illinois fell 73–50 to Southeast Missouri on Saturday afternoon at the Show Me Center, dropping to 4–11 overall and 0–4 in Ohio Valley Conference play.

The Leathernecks kept the game close early, trailing 34–27 at halftime after shooting 37.5 percent from the field in the opening half. Western Illinois limited Southeast Missouri's perimeter opportunities early, holding the Redhawks to six three-point attempts before the break, but struggled to generate consistent offense.

Southeast Missouri took control in the second half, shooting 61.5 percent from the field and outscoring the Leathernecks 39–23 over the final 20 minutes. The Redhawks capitalized on turnovers and transition opportunities, finishing with 27 points off turnovers and 44 points in the paint to pull away.

Lucas Lorenzen led Western Illinois with 16 points, connecting on three three-pointers and going 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. Isaiah Griffin added 10 points, while Karyiek Dixon contributed nine points and five rebounds. The Leathernecks shot 32.6 percent from the field and 18.8 percent from beyond the arc for the game.

Scouting Tennessee State
Tennessee State enters the matchup at 9-5 overall and 3-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play under first-year head coach Nolan Smith. The Tigers bring a balanced offensive approach, averaging 80.5 points per game, while using their athleticism and pressure defense to create extra possessions.

Offensively, TSU shoots 44.6 percent from the field and places an emphasis on attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line, where it converts at a 75.0 percent clip. Travis Harper II leads the scoring attack at 17.1 points per game, while Dante Harris helps facilitate the offense, averaging 3.9 assists per contest.

Defensively, Tennessee State is active and disruptive. The Tigers average 10.8 steals per game, led by Aaron Nkrumah's 3.4 steals per contest, and force 14.0 turnovers per game. TSU also controls the glass well, pulling down 39.5 rebounds per game behind Jalen Pitre, who leads the team at 5.7 rebounds per game.

Scouting Tennessee Tech
Tennessee Tech enters the week at 6-9 overall and 1-3 in Ohio Valley Conference play, looking to snap a three-game losing streak. The Golden Eagles play at a steady offensive pace, averaging 78.0 points per game while shooting an efficient 45.9 percent from the field. Their offense features balanced scoring and solid ball movement, averaging 14.7 assists per contest.

Mekhi Cameron and Dani Pounds lead the way offensively, averaging 11.6 and 11.5 points per game, respectively. Brandon Muntu (10.3 ppg) and JaJuan Nicholls (9.8 ppg) add scoring depth, with Nicholls providing a strong interior presence and efficiency around the rim. Tennessee Tech also shoots 74.0 percent from the free-throw line, an area where it can capitalize late in games.

On the glass, the Golden Eagles average 37.4 rebounds per game and hold a plus-1.8 rebounding margin, emphasizing physical play and second-chance opportunities. Defensively, Tennessee Tech averages 3.3 blocks per game and looks to contest shots in the paint, though opponents have found success from beyond the arc, shooting 36.2 percent from three-point range.

Keys to the Matchup

• Set the tone defensively at home: Limit Tennessee State's transition opportunities and ball pressure while staying disciplined against Tennessee Tech's balanced half-court offense, especially around the rim.

• Value possessions: Tennessee State thrives on forcing turnovers and creating steals, while Tennessee Tech plays efficiently when it can move the ball. Strong decision-making and clean execution will be critical for Western Illinois.

• Win the rebounding battle: Both opponents emphasize physical play on the glass. Controlling rebounds and generating second-chance opportunities will be key as the Leathernecks push for their first OVC win.

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