Who | Western Illinois vs Tennessee Tech | Western Illinois vs Tennessee State
When | Thursday, February 5, 7:30 P.M. | Saturday, February 7, 3:30 P.M.
Where | Hooper Eblen Center | Gentry Center | Cookeville, TN | Nashville, TN

Leathernecks Travel to Tennessee for Back to Back OVC Contests

Western Illinois hits the road this week for a two-game Ohio Valley Conference swing through Tennessee, beginning Thursday at Tennessee Tech before wrapping up the trip Saturday at Tennessee State. The trip marks a key stretch away from Macomb as the Leathernecks continue to search for their first conference win. 

Western Illinois vs UT Martin Recap

Western Illinois men's basketball fell 84–44 to UT Martin on Saturday afternoon at Western Hall, as the Skyhawks controlled the game from start to finish.

UT Martin jumped out early and never looked back, taking a 38–20 lead into halftime behind efficient shooting and a strong presence in the paint. The Skyhawks shot 43.8 percent in the opening half while limiting Western Illinois to just 7-of-26 shooting.

The second half followed a similar script. UT Martin continued to push the pace, shooting over 60 percent from the field after the break and outscoring the Leathernecks 46–24 over the final 20 minutes. The Skyhawks finished the afternoon at 51.7 percent from the floor, scored 40 points in the paint, and added 19 fast-break points to build their largest lead of the day.

Filip Petkovski led all scorers with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including three triples, while also pulling down eight rebounds. Matas Deniusas added 13 points and seven rebounds, and Andrija Bukumirović chipped in 12 points for UT Martin.

Western Illinois struggled offensively throughout the contest, finishing just 13-of-49 from the field (26.5 percent) and 6-of-24 from three-point range. Lucas Lorenzen paced the Leathernecks with eight points, while Danny Stephens, Goanar Biliew, and Francis Okwuosah each scored six.

Scouting Tennessee Tech
Tennessee Tech comes in playing its best basketball of late, riding a two-game win streak while averaging 74.7 points per game on 44.7 percent shooting. The Golden Eagles are balanced offensively, with Mekhi Cameron (12.0 ppg), Dani Pounds (10.7 ppg) and JaJuan Nicholls (10.0 ppg) leading the way. Nicholls has been especially efficient inside, shooting over 64 percent from the floor.

The Golden Eagles look to score efficiently rather than fast, averaging 12.9 assists per game, but can be turnover-prone at times. Defensively, Tech allows 76.8 points per game and has struggled to consistently defend the three-point line, an area Western Illinois will look to exploit while staying disciplined against Tech's physical play in the paint.

Scouting Tennessee State

Tennessee State plays with pace and physicality, averaging 81.0 points per game while shooting 46.1 percent from the field. The Tigers are led offensively by Travis Harper II (17.7 ppg) and Aaron Nkrumah (17.3 ppg), a high-usage backcourt duo that can score at all three levels. Harper is also a major perimeter threat, shooting nearly 40 percent from three, while Nkrumah attacks downhill and gets to the free-throw line.

The Tigers thrive on pressure, forcing 12.7 turnovers per game and converting those mistakes into easy offense, averaging 16.8 points off turnovers. They're active defensively with 9.7 steals per game and control the glass with a plus-3.3 rebounding margin. Western Illinois will need to value possessions and match Tennessee State's energy to slow a team that feeds off tempo and momentum at home.

Keys to the Matchup's

• Control the Glass: Both Tennessee Tech and Tennessee State generate offense through physical play and second-chance opportunities. Western Illinois must compete on the boards, limit offensive rebounds, and avoid giving extra possessions that can shift momentum.

• Value Every Possession: Turnovers can be costly, especially against a Tennessee State team that thrives on pressure and points off mistakes. Taking care of the basketball and staying composed is critical.

• Capitalize on Open Looks: Neither team is elite defensively, particularly on the perimeter. Western Illinois needs to knock down open shots and convert at the free-throw line to sustain offense and counter home-court energy.

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