Who | Western Illinois vs Southern Indiana | Western Illinois vs Morehead State
When | Thursday, February 19, 7:30 P.M. | Saturday, February 21, 3:30 P.M.
Where | Western Hall | Macomb, IL

Leathernecks Face Off Against Southern Indiana & Morehead State

The Western Illinois men's basketball team hosts Southern Indiana and Morehead State this week, looking to continue building for the future. With the OVC Tournament out of reach, the Leathernecks are focused on giving valuable experience to younger players, sharpening team chemistry, and putting together consistent performances on both ends of the floor.

Western Illinois vs Little Rock Recap

 Western Illinois dropped a 77-58 decision to Little Rock on Thursday night (Feb. 12) inside Western Hall. The Leathernecks move to 5-22 overall and 1-15 in Ohio Valley Conference play, while the Trojans improve to 10-16 (7-8 OVC).

Little Rock shot an efficient 44.9 percent from the floor and 42.1 percent from three-point range, using a 35-24 first-half advantage to seize control early. The Trojans stretched the margin in the second half, knocking down 7-of-9 free throws after the break to secure the 19-point win.

Scouting Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana (5-21, 2-14) averages 68.5 points per game while allowing 73.8 and shoots 38.4% from the field as a team. They attempt a high volume of threes (660) but connect at just 31.1% and struggle at the free throw line (64.3%). They are also being outrebounded by 3.3 boards per game and average 12.4 turnovers.

Ismail Habib leads the offense at 15.6 points per game, shooting 38.9% overall and 32.8% from three on a team-high 174 attempts. Cardell Bailey adds 13.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while Amaree Brown contributes 13.6 points and shoots 74.1% from the line.

Inside, Tolu Samuels averages 8.3 rebounds and has 22 blocks, while Ola Ajiboye shoots 47.3% from the field and leads the team with 35 blocks. Limiting perimeter rhythm, winning the rebounding battle, and forcing turnovers are key areas of emphasis.

Scouting Morehead State

Morehead State (15-12, 11-5) averages 76.2 points per game and shoots 46.5% from the field, one of the more efficient offensive teams in the league. They hold a +2.3 rebounding margin and shoot 73.4% from the free throw line. While they don't rely heavily on the three (6.1 makes per game), they are balanced offensively and average 13.9 assists per game.

George Marshall leads the team at 12.7 points per game and shoots 82.6% from the line. Davion Cunningham adds 12.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, while Jon Carroll is their most efficient interior scorer at 56.5% from the field and averages 10.8 points and 7.7 rebounds. Carroll anchors the paint and gives them a strong presence on the glass.

Chase Dawson (8.8 ppg) and Josiah LeGree (8.4 ppg) provide perimeter balance, while Anouar Mellouk contributes 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds. Morehead State's depth and efficiency inside the arc are strengths, and their ability to score at multiple positions makes them difficult to key on defensively.

Keys to the Matchup's

• Limit Perimeter Threats: Contest three-point shooters like Ismail Habib and Cardell Bailey (Southern Indiana) while also respecting Morehead State's efficient outside scorers such as Chase Dawson and Josiah LeGree.

• Control the Paint and Rebounds: Protect the rim and win the rebounding battle against Tolu Samuels and Ola Ajiboye (Southern Indiana) as well as Jon Carroll (Morehead State) to prevent second-chance points.

• Force Turnovers and Stay Disciplined: Pressure Southern Indiana's ball-handlers to exploit their 0.8 assist-to-turnover ratio, while maintaining defensive discipline against Morehead State's balanced scoring and limiting trips to the free throw line (73.4% team FT).

FOLLOW THE LEATHERNECKS 

For all the latest information on Leatherneck Men's Basketball, please visit GoLeathernecks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Leathernecks on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.