EASTERN ILLINOIS (4-4)
vs. WESTERN ILLINOIS (4-5)
Dec. 12, 2009 • 7:00 p.m. (CST)
Western Hall • Macomb, Ill.
Radio: Hit Mix 88.9 FM
- Mike Bradd & Jack Ashmore
GAME 9
Eastern Illinois will resume its longest running rivalry this Saturday as the Panthers travel across state to battle Western Illinois. The Panthers are currently on a two-game losing skid following a loss at Austin Peay last Saturday and a home defeat to Western Michigan on Wednesday. EIU is currently 4-4 on the season and has not been under the .500 mark this year. Western Illinois enters the contest at 4-5 overall after picking up a mid-week victory over NAIA member Culver-Stockton. This will be WIU's sixth game this season at Western Hall where they currently own a 3-2 record in 2009.
EIU-WESTERN ILLINOIS SERIES
This will be the 153rd meeting between Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois on the basketball hardwood with both teams having each previously won 76 games. Each team has won on its own home court for the past seven years with EIU knocking off WIU in Western Hall, 81-72, in 2001-02 to snap that streak. The two schools first met in 1927-28 and have played at least once for the past 74 seasons dating back to 1934-35.
SCOUTING WESTERN ILLINOIS
The Leathernecks are off to a 4-5 start under second year head coach Jim Molinari including an 0-2 start in Summit League competition. Ceola Clark (12.8) and Matt Lander (11.9) are Western Illinois top scorers this season as the team averages 60.7 points per game. James Granstra has been a defensive force with 23 blocks per game to rank 15th in the nation.
PLAYING AT WESTERN HALL
When EIU travels to Western Hall on Saturday night only two players on its active roster will have ever played in Macomb.
Ousmane Cisse had 4 points and 5 rebounds in 2007 while
Tyler Laser scored 3 points to go along with 1 rebound.
