By JOHN BOHNENKAMP Rob Jeter was smiling as he got ready to deliver the punchline. The Western Illinois University men’s basketball coach was holding the box score from the Leathernecks’ 92-80 win over North Dakota on Monday night, having finished … Continue reading Breaking Down Massner’s Big Night
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — The last one, the 16th field goal of Trenton Massner’s record-setting night, was his favorite. Going to his left, the step-back 3-pointer. Two North Dakota defenders were racing at him, but it didn’t matter. … Continue reading WIU 92, NORTH DAKOTA 80: Massner Goes Off For 46 On Record-Setting Night
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP There was nothing between St. Thomas forward Ahjany Lee and the basket. Lee had gotten behind Western Illinois’ defense on a fast break and once he got the pass from teammate Andrew Rohde, it looked like a … Continue reading THE MONDAY TIPOFF: West Becomes The ‘Big Dog’ For Leathernecks
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — It’s an eight-day stretch that can determine the direction of the rest of Western Illinois’ men’s basketball season. The Leathernecks got off to a good start on Saturday. Saturday’s 60-56 win over St. Thomas … Continue reading WIU 60, ST. THOMAS 56: Defense Provides The Spark To Start Leathernecks’ Big Week
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP Remember when Iowa’s season was over last week after back-to-back road losses to Nebraska and Penn State? Well, the Hawkeyes rallied from 21 points down in the first half to beat Indiana at home, then scored a … Continue reading Resumé Watch: Hawkeyes Cover Some Blemishes With Two Wins
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — Alec Rosner did in the first half, and late in the second half. Trenton Massner did it at the start of the second half. Every 3-pointer they made emptied a little bit of the … Continue reading WIU 91, DENVER 74: Rosner, Massner Make Big Shots As Leathernecks Snap Streak
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — The best way to start the conference season is to beat the program that has given you — and everyone else in the conference, it seemed — fits over the last few years. Western … Continue reading WIU 79, NORTH DAKOTA STATE 60: Leathernecks Open League Play By Toppling A Nemesis
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP There are video boards, and then there are video boards the size of the one at the west end of Vibrant Arena. If anything gave Friday’s basketball doubleheader in Moline, Ill., a big-time feel for Western Illinois … Continue reading THE MONDAY TIPOFF: Vibrant Lights Lit Up Leathernecks’ Doubleheader
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MOLINE, Ill. — Western Illinois’ women’s basketball team had problems getting away from St. Xavier in Friday’s 84-69 win at Vibrant Arena. That was something coach JD Gravina expected when he was watching video of the Cougars. … Continue reading WIU 84, ST. XAVIER 69: Leathernecks Add To Streak Heading Into Conference Play
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MOLINE, Ill. — Rob Jeter wanted two things out of Western Illinois’ 79-50 win over Eureka in Friday’s men’s basketball game at Vibrant Arena. Get healthy. And avoid anything that Jeter, the Leathernecks’ coach, considered “weird stuff.” … Continue reading WIU 79, EUREKA 50: Leathernecks Avoid The ‘Weird Stuff’
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