Western Illinois University Leathernecks Men’s Basketball will host Southern Indiana on Thursday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Morehead State on Saturday, February 21 at 3:30 p.m., both games taking place at Western Hall in Macomb, Illinois.
The Leathernecks are focusing on developing younger players and building team chemistry as they prepare for the remainder of the season. With their chances of qualifying for the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Tournament now out of reach, the team is prioritizing experience and consistent performance.
In their most recent outing, Western Illinois lost to Little Rock with a score of 77-58. The defeat brings their record to 5-22 overall and 1-15 in OVC play. Little Rock controlled the game early with a strong first half and maintained their lead through efficient shooting from both the field and three-point range.
Southern Indiana enters Thursday’s matchup with a record of 5-21 overall and 2-14 in conference play. The team averages 68.5 points per game but allows an average of 73.8 points by opponents. Their field goal percentage stands at 38.4%, while they make just over 31% of their three-point attempts. Southern Indiana also faces challenges at the free throw line, converting only 64.3% of attempts.
Key contributors for Southern Indiana include Ismail Habib (15.6 points per game), Cardell Bailey (13.4 points, 5.3 rebounds), and Amaree Brown (13.6 points). Tolu Samuels leads the team in rebounding with an average of 8.3 boards per game, while Ola Ajiboye has recorded a team-high in blocked shots.
Morehead State arrives with a stronger record at 15-12 overall and 11-5 in OVC competition. They average over 76 points per game and shoot efficiently from the field at nearly 47%. The Eagles have a positive rebounding margin (+2.3) and are effective from the free throw line (73.4%).
George Marshall leads Morehead State offensively with an average of 12.7 points per game, supported by Davion Cunningham (12.1 points) and Jon Carroll (10.8 points, team-best shooting percentage inside). The roster features depth across multiple positions, making them balanced both inside and outside.
Western Illinois will look to limit perimeter threats from shooters like Ismail Habib (Southern Indiana) as well as Chase Dawson and Josiah LeGree (Morehead State). Winning battles under the rim against rebounders such as Tolu Samuels (Southern Indiana) or Jon Carroll (Morehead State) is also considered important for success in these matchups.
Western Illinois University Leathernecks Men’s Basketball participates in NCAA Division I athletics as part of the Ohio Valley Conference, playing home games in Macomb, Illinois (official website). The program has shown resilience through various changes over time while maintaining institutional commitment (official website).
For further information about Western Illinois University Leathernecks Men’s Basketball or updates about upcoming games, visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow their official social media channels.
