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Leathernecks return home for pair of Summit League newcomers this week

February 3, 2008 on 8:05 pm | In Athletics |

MACOMB, Ill. - Two of the Summit League’s three newcomers will visit Macomb this week as Western Illinois, coming off a road win at UMKC, hosts South Dakota State, Thursday, and North Dakota State, Saturday. The Leathernecks’ only meeting with SDSU occurred nearly 60 years ago - a 64-41 win at home during the 1948-49 season. Western Illinois and NDSU have never faced each other. The third new member of the Summit League, IPFW, will visit Western Hall Jan. 24 at the start of a four-game homestand.

Western Illinois Leathernecks (6-8, 1-2) vs. South Dakota State (6-9, 1-3)
Thursday, January 10, 2008 Macomb, Ill.
Tip-off: 7 p.m.
Arena: Waste Management Court at Western Hall
Web: Summit League video Live video
Live Stats: www.wiuathletics.com
Radio: Western Sports Network (Michael Jones-play by play; Arlen Britton-color analyst) Live audio
Series: Western Illinois leads 1-0

Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. North Dakota State (8-7, 2-2)
Saturday, January 12, 2008 Macomb, Ill.
Tip-off: 7 p.m.
Arena: Waste Management Court at Western Hall
Web: Summit League video Live video
Radio: Western Sports Network (Michael Jones-play by play; Arlen Britton-color analyst) Live audio
Live Stats: www.wiuathletics.com
Series: First meeting

Game Notes
Winners of Back-to-Back Home Games and Three of the Last Four Overall
The Leathernecks are coming off of back-to-back home victories, having defeated Kennesaw State and Culver-Stockton in the last two games to improve to 4-2 at home. They have won three of their last four games overall, after splitting games on the most recent league road trip.

Jackson Moving Up Career Scoring Charts
Senior David Jackson became Western Illinois’ 17th member of the 1,000-point club last season, and is working his way up the career scoring charts.
His 172 points this year give him a career total of 1,205, which ranks 14th in school history.
10. 1,348 Garrick Vicks 1993-96
11. 1,228 Todd Hutcheson 1980-84
12. 1,219 Dan Braun 1967-70 13. 1,212 Bill McAfoos 1956-60
14. 1,205 David Jackson 2004-pr.
Jackson needs 144 points to surpass Garrick Vicks (1993-96) as the school’s Division I points leader.

Leathernecks to Face League’s Top Scoring Team
Saturday the Leathernecks will face the league’s top scoring team in North Dakota State, which is averaging 81.2 points per game entering this week’s contests. Western Illinois, meanwhile, holds the league’s third-best scoring defense at 67.8 points per game.
Just one opponent - Missouri - has scored more than 80 points against the Leathernecks this year.

Holding Opponents Under 70
Six of Western’s 14 opponents this year have scored at least 70 points, contributing to six of the Leathernecks’ eight losses. While the Leathernecks are 0-6 when allowing 70 points, they are 6-2 when allowing less than 70 this season.

UMKC Streak Ended
In its last outing, Western Illinois snapped a 16-game losing streak to UMKC with a 69-62 win in Kansas City. It was the Leathernecks’ first win over the Kangaroos since Feb. 28, 1999 and the first in Kansas City since 1995.

Two Post Double-Doubles at UMKC
Both David Jackson and David DuBois posted double-doubles in the win at UMKC. Jackson scored a team-high 16 points while DuBois chipped in 10. Both players grabbed 10 rebounds. For Jackson, it was the first double-double of the season and the third of his career. DuBois earned his first as a Leatherneck.

Rebounding Edge Equals Victory
The Leathernecks have outrebounded six opponents this year, and all six games have resulted in Leatherneck victories. They have recorded four double-digit rebounding advantages, most recently outrebounding UMKC by 11.

Six Wins Come Early This Year
January 5 marks the earliest Western Illinois has reached six victories since the 2001-02 season. That season resulted in the highest win total (12) of the last eight years.

Thomas’ Father Goes 1-2 as Interim Falcons Coach
Coach Thomas’ father, Emmitt, was named interim head coach of the Atlanta Falcons Dec. 12 and coached the team to a 1-2 record over the last three games of the season. Thomas played 13 seasons in the NFL as a standout defensive back with the Kansas City Chiefs (1966-78), and is a finalist for induction into the Hall of Fame Class of 2008. He replaced Bobby Petrino who left for Arkansas - Western Illinois’ first opponent in 2008.

Originaly from Source