Thursday, January 23
Omaha, Neb.
7 p.m.
Omaha
vs
Western Illinois
Zach Thornhill and the Mavericks carry a 14-game home win streak into Thursday night's matchup with Western Illinois.
Omaha Opens Home Stand With Western Illinois
Jan 22, 2020 | Men's Basketball
The Basics
The Omaha men's basketball team begins a four-game home stand this Thursday, Jan. 23, welcoming Western Illinois. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Baxter Arena, and Gary Sharp and Kyler Erickson will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
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Quick Hits
• Omaha started 3-0 in Summit League play and was the last undefeated team in the conference until falling at South Dakota on Jan. 11, which snapped the Mavericks' season-long four-game win streak. The Mavericks look to stop a two-game losing skid this week at home.
• According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index, Omaha is 88th for strength of schedule -- the highest of any Summit League team. Oral Roberts is the next highest at 117th.
• Matt Pile is the only Summit League player averaging a double-double.
• Pile ranks 13th nationally for total rebounds (206) and 21st for rebounds per game (10.3).
• Omaha was picked fourth in the Summit League's preseason poll, and Matt Pile and JT Gibson were both second-team Preseason All-Summit picks.
• The Mavericks had a 3.14 semester GPA as a team in the fall semester. It marked their third straight semester with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• The 2019-20 season is the 107th overall in program history and the ninth of the Mavericks' Division I era. All-time, the program is 1,191-1,196.
• JT Gibson, KJ Robinson, Ayo Akinwole and Matt Pile will serve as first-time team captains this season.
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Scouting the Western Illinois Leathernecks
Western Illinois has a record of 5-11 (2-4 Summit League) after an 87-70 loss at home to Oral Roberts last Thursday. Zion Young (18), Kobe Webster (15) and C.J. Duff (13) all scored in double figures, and Webster and Kyle Arrington each had a team-leading seven rebounds.
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Four Leathernecks average double-figure scoring: Webster (15.8), Young (14.4), Ben Pyle (13.1) and Duff (10.1). WIU was picked seventh in the Summit League's preseason poll, and Webster was a first-team Preseason All-Summit selection.
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Head coach Billy Wright is in his sixth season in Macomb with a career record of 53-105.
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All-Time Against Western Illinois
Thursday marks the 23rd meeting between Omaha and Western Illinois, and the Mavericks lead the all-time series, 12-10, including 9-7 in the Division I era. Omaha has won eight of the last nine meetings, including six straight. The Mavericks have a 6-2 advantage in Omaha since 2011-12 and have also won six straight at home against the Leathernecks.
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Omaha and WIU last met Feb. 20, 2019 at Baxter Arena, where the Mavericks won 77-63.
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Last Time Out: Mavericks Fall 91-76 at Denver
Omaha dropped its second straight loss Saturday afternoon, falling 91-76 to Denver at Hamilton Gymnasium as the Pioneers snapped a 10-game losing streak.
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KJ Robinson was the Mavericks' leading scorer with his second straight 20-point performance. The senior finished with 23 on the day with 6-of-10 shooting, including four triples, along with three rebounds, three assists and a steal.
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Matt Pile just missed a double-double with 20 points and a game-high nine rebounds. JT Gibson and Marlon Ruffin added another 10 points apiece, with Ruffin grabbing five boards.
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Denver shot a season-high 54.5% (30-of-55), including 55.0% (11-of-20) from long range. Omaha came in at 36.2% (25-of-69) from the floor and 28.6% (8-of-28) from deep. The Mavericks outrebounded DU 37-35, including 17-8 on the offensive end.
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Up Next
Omaha continues its home stand by welcoming Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday, Jan. 25, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. at Baxter Arena. Gary Sharp and Kyler Erickson will have the radio call on 1290 KOIL, and links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
The Omaha men's basketball team begins a four-game home stand this Thursday, Jan. 23, welcoming Western Illinois. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Baxter Arena, and Gary Sharp and Kyler Erickson will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
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Quick Hits
• Omaha started 3-0 in Summit League play and was the last undefeated team in the conference until falling at South Dakota on Jan. 11, which snapped the Mavericks' season-long four-game win streak. The Mavericks look to stop a two-game losing skid this week at home.
• According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index, Omaha is 88th for strength of schedule -- the highest of any Summit League team. Oral Roberts is the next highest at 117th.
• Matt Pile is the only Summit League player averaging a double-double.
• Pile ranks 13th nationally for total rebounds (206) and 21st for rebounds per game (10.3).
• Omaha was picked fourth in the Summit League's preseason poll, and Matt Pile and JT Gibson were both second-team Preseason All-Summit picks.
• The Mavericks had a 3.14 semester GPA as a team in the fall semester. It marked their third straight semester with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• The 2019-20 season is the 107th overall in program history and the ninth of the Mavericks' Division I era. All-time, the program is 1,191-1,196.
• JT Gibson, KJ Robinson, Ayo Akinwole and Matt Pile will serve as first-time team captains this season.
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Scouting the Western Illinois Leathernecks
Western Illinois has a record of 5-11 (2-4 Summit League) after an 87-70 loss at home to Oral Roberts last Thursday. Zion Young (18), Kobe Webster (15) and C.J. Duff (13) all scored in double figures, and Webster and Kyle Arrington each had a team-leading seven rebounds.
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Four Leathernecks average double-figure scoring: Webster (15.8), Young (14.4), Ben Pyle (13.1) and Duff (10.1). WIU was picked seventh in the Summit League's preseason poll, and Webster was a first-team Preseason All-Summit selection.
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Head coach Billy Wright is in his sixth season in Macomb with a career record of 53-105.
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All-Time Against Western Illinois
Thursday marks the 23rd meeting between Omaha and Western Illinois, and the Mavericks lead the all-time series, 12-10, including 9-7 in the Division I era. Omaha has won eight of the last nine meetings, including six straight. The Mavericks have a 6-2 advantage in Omaha since 2011-12 and have also won six straight at home against the Leathernecks.
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Omaha and WIU last met Feb. 20, 2019 at Baxter Arena, where the Mavericks won 77-63.
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Last Time Out: Mavericks Fall 91-76 at Denver
Omaha dropped its second straight loss Saturday afternoon, falling 91-76 to Denver at Hamilton Gymnasium as the Pioneers snapped a 10-game losing streak.
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KJ Robinson was the Mavericks' leading scorer with his second straight 20-point performance. The senior finished with 23 on the day with 6-of-10 shooting, including four triples, along with three rebounds, three assists and a steal.
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Matt Pile just missed a double-double with 20 points and a game-high nine rebounds. JT Gibson and Marlon Ruffin added another 10 points apiece, with Ruffin grabbing five boards.
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Denver shot a season-high 54.5% (30-of-55), including 55.0% (11-of-20) from long range. Omaha came in at 36.2% (25-of-69) from the floor and 28.6% (8-of-28) from deep. The Mavericks outrebounded DU 37-35, including 17-8 on the offensive end.
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Up Next
Omaha continues its home stand by welcoming Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday, Jan. 25, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. at Baxter Arena. Gary Sharp and Kyler Erickson will have the radio call on 1290 KOIL, and links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
Players Mentioned
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