Posts Tagged ‘Western Illinois University’
WIU men’s remarkable season comes to end with semifinal loss to Little Rock in OVC Tournament
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Through the first 12 minutes Friday night, the fourth-seeded Western Illinois University men’s basketball team went toe-to-toe with top-seeded Little Rock in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament semifinals. The eight minutes that followed is where the Leathernecks lost their edge. Tied at 21 following Drew Cisse’s layin with 8:20 remaining in the…
Read MoreMyers buries game-winning shot as Leathernecks advance to OVC Tournament semifinals
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Chad Boudreau chose not to call a timeout. Ryan Myers made it look like a genius move. A free throw by Tennessee State’s Kinyon Hodges with 17 seconds remaining in regulation Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball tournament tied the game at 59 and gave Western…
Read MoreTo no surprise, WIU’s McCowan is Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year
MACOMB, Ill. — Had anyone other than Western Illinois University guard Raegan McCowan been named the Ohio Valley Conference’s women’s basketball Freshman of the Year, it would have been a bigger upset than 16th-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson beating top-seeded Purdue in last year’s NCAA Tournament. McCowan won the OVC Freshman of the Week honor 13 times…
Read MoreDefensive presence of WIU’s Cisse leads to Ohio Valley Conference postseason honors
MACOMB, Ill. — Drew Cisse’s impact on the defensive end of the floor for the Western Illinois University men’s basketball team could not be overstated. He altered shots and cleaned the glass as well as anyone. The 6-foot-11, 230-pound senior center was named the Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team…
Read MoreWIU’s McCowan captures OVC Player of the Week, Freshman of the Week honors
MACOMB, Ill. — Not a week goes by without Western Illinois University freshman Raegan McCowan earning an Ohio Valley Conference women’s basketball honor. This week, she earned two. Coming off a scintillating scoring effort in an overtime loss to Southern Indiana last Saturday, McCowan was named both the OVC Player of the Week and the…
Read MoreLeathernecks fend off Screaming Eagles to stay in position for top-four finish in OVC
MACOMB, Ill. — Western Hall feels like home once again. Fighting for a top-four seed in the Ohio Valley Conference postseason tournament, the Western Illinois University men’s basketball team ended a four-game home losing streak Saturday by beating Southern Indiana 82-76 at Western Hall. Western Illinois (18-11, 11-5 OVC) remains in fourth place in the…
Read MoreWestern Illinois shoots 57 percent from field, tops Lindenwood to stay in second place in OVC
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – With the defense taking the majority of the headlines this season, it was the offense’s turn Thursday as the Western Illinois men’s basketball team topped Lindenwood 79-71 to improve to 14-8 overall and 7-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play, good enough for second place. The Leathernecks also improved to 5-1 on…
Read MoreWestern Illinois men’s basketball game on Feb. 10 to be first in program history televised on ESPNU from Macomb
MACOMB. Ill. — For the fourth time this season, the Western Illinois men’s basketball team will be on a nationally televised broadcast. For the second time this season, the Leathernecks will be on ESPNU. But for the first time this season and a first in program history, the broadcast will originate from Western Hall on…
Read MoreLeathernecks miss 25 of 32 shots in first half, lose first meeting with OVC leader Morehead State
MOREHEAD, KY. — A slow start at the offensive end was too much to overcome for the Western Illinois men as they split their road trip this week, falling on Saturday at Morehead State 64-50. The game between the Leathernecks (13-8, 6-2) and Eagles (16-5, 7-1) was a matchup of the top two teams in…
Read MoreLeathernecks win for 10th time in 11 games, move into first place tie atop Ohio Valley Conference
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Western Illinois men’s basketball team proved it is ready for prime time, picking up a win in front of a nationally televised audience on Thursday, topping Southern Indiana 73-68 in Evansville, Indiana. The win is the 10th in 11 games for the Leathernecks (13-7, 6-1), who move into a first-place tie…
Read MoreLeathernecks move into first place in OVC following fifth straight conference victory
CHARLESTON, Ill. — The Ohio Valley Conference newcomer is now the OVC frontrunner. That’s a position the Western Illinois University men’s basketball team would like to maintain. The Leathernecks moved into sole possession of first place in the OVC on Saturday, making two critical plays in the final 30 seconds of regulation to outlast Eastern…
Read MoreCollege notebook: Former QU assistant coach guiding nation’s No. 1-ranked NCAA D-II team
QUINCY — The new No. 1-ranked men’s basketball team in NCAA Division II is being led by a former Quincy University assistant coach. Minnesota State-Moorhead moved to the top on the National Basketball Coaches Association poll this week with a 14-0 record, displacing reigning D-II national champion Nova Southeastern after the Sharks had their 62-game…
Read MoreWIU tabs EIU offensive coordinator Joe Davis to be next head football coach
MACOMB, Ill. — Joe Davis’ task is to bring gridiron success from east to west. The Eastern Illinois University offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, fresh off an eight-win season in Charleston, Ill., was named Sunday as the new head football coach at Western Illinois University. “Joe clearly met the expectations that we have for our…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: WIU’s Gravina discusses success on hardwood, Christmas holiday
MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois University women’s basketball team is rolling. The Leathernecks have won seven consecutive games heading into Sunday’s matchup at Missouri-Kansas City. An experienced corps of players who understand their role and the emergence of a high-scoring freshman have been the right combination for success. WIU coach JD Gravina joined Muddy…
Read MoreGravina reaches coaching milestone as Leathernecks continue strong start to season
MACOMB, Ill. — JD Gravina’s career victory total is at 300 and counting. A strong start to the season by the Western Illinois University women’s basketball team helped the former Quincy University coach reach his milestone moment. Tuesday night’s 86-72 victory over Chicago State at Western Hall featured Anna Deets scoring seven of the Leathernecks’…
Read MoreWIU fires Hendrickson as head football coach, new leader will take team into OVC next season
MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois University football program’s move to the Ohio Valley Conference will come with a new leader at the helm. Sunday, one day after the Leathernecks finished an 0-11 season with a 48-6 loss to South Dakota at Hanson Field, WIU athletic director Paul Bubb announced the school will not retain…
Read More2023-24 Muddy River Sports college basketball preview section
QUINCY — Check out a 30-page preview of the area college basketball scene with an in-depth look at the men’s and women’s programs from Quincy University, John Wood Community College, Western Illinois University and Culver-Stockton College.
Read MoreWIU’s Massner will get chance to Heat up during NBA Summer League
MACOMB, Ill. — Trenton Massner’s history-making efforts as a senior on the Western Illinois University men’s basketball team were noticed far beyond the Summit League borders. Coaches with the Miami Heat liked what they saw. Massner, the 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Wapello, Iowa, inked a free-agent deal with the Heat after going undrafted in last…
Read MoreWIU will leave Summit League, accepts invitation to join Ohio Valley Conference
MACOMB, Ill. — The move makes sense. Western Illinois University athletic director Paul Bubb announced Friday the school had accepted an invitation to join the Ohio Valley Conference and will begin competing in its new league this fall. WIU president Guiyou Huang signed the agreement Friday morning. The decision puts WIU in a league that…
Read MoreBoudreau, WIU prove compatible, making his promotion to men’s basketball coach easy move
MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois University found its perfect match, so there was no reason to waste any time making it official. Six days after naming Chad Boudreau as the interim men’s basketball coach in the wake of Rob Jeter’s sudden departure to take over at Southern Utah, WIU athletic director Paul Bubb removed the…
Read MoreBoudreau named WIU interim basketball coach with Jeter leaving for Southern Utah
MACOMB, Ill. — Chad Boudreau is getting the chance to prove he deserves an NCAA Division I head coaching position with a live audition. After news broke Friday that Western Illinois University coach Rob Jeter was finalizing a deal to take over at Southern Utah, Leathernecks athletic director Paul Bubb named Boudreau as the interim…
Read MoreSeizing opportunity gives WIU product chance to help Chiefs win another Lombardi Trophy
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An opportunity is all Khalen Saunders ever needed. Western Illinois University provided one. So have the Kansas City Chiefs. Because of those, Saunders is living out a dream yet again this week as he prepares to play in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. It is the 6-foot,…
Read MoreWIU to host ADFPF powerlifting national championship
MACOMB, Ill. — Macomb will be the host of the American Drug Free Powerlifting Federation (ADFPF) Single Event National Championships beginning at 9 a.m. March 4 in Brophy Hall on the campus of Western Illinois University. Macomb won the bid to host the 2020 meet but COVID-19 events forced the cancelation of the championship. Winning…
Read MoreMassner sets WIU single-game scoring record with 46 points in Summit League victory
MACOMB, Ill. — Trenton Massner felt he was due for a game like this. “I haven’t been making a shot all year,” Massner said. “It’s like if I was making my shot all year, I’d have four or five of those.” This was the one that put him in the record book. Massner scored a…
Read MoreJWCC Prairie State Profile: Macomb’s Ladd finds perfect college fit in own backyard
MACOMB, Ill. — Navigating his way home from wrestling practice Thursday morning wasn’t too treacherous, but Ethan Ladd realized more snow and blizzard-like conditions were coming. “I’m not a big winter guy,” the Macomb senior said. “I’m not going to lie. I hate snow.” But what if the Western Illinois University football team ended up…
Read MoreThe Rundown: Solid debut for Hannibal girls, Pittsfield boys win opener, WIU women earn first victory
QUINCY — Kicking off Thanksgiving week with a flurry of activity as the Illinois boys basketball season got underway Monday night and the Missouri teams joined in the fun. Oh, college basketball season is in full swing, too. Here are some of Monday’s highlights … • The Hannibal girls basketball team won Shawn Gaines’ debut…
Read MoreThe Rundown: JWCC men lose, C-SC sweeps hoops games, WIU shut out at home
QUINCY — The transition to winter sports is gradually happening. Here’s a look at some of the action that took place Saturday: • The John Wood Community College men’s basketball team stumbled out of the gate and never fully recovered, losing 98-83 to 14th-ranked Kirkwood in the final game of the Town and Country Inn…
Read MoreLeathernecks open season with second-half rally, down-to-the-wire victory over Redbirds
NORMAL, Ill. — Down, but never out. That’s a mantra that could carry the Western Illinois University men’s basketball team a long way. It lifted the Leathernecks to a season-opening victory Monday night. Trailing by as many as 13 points early in the second half, WIU went on a 16-2 run to get back in…
Read MoreLeathernecks’ Massner earns preseason first-team All-Summit League recognition
MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois University senior guard Trenton Massner was one of six men’s basketball players named to the preseason All-Summit League first team, while the Leathernecks were picked to finish seventh in the 10-team preseason poll. Massner, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Wapello, Iowa, is the Leathernecks’ top returning scorer at 16.4 points…
Read MoreLeathernecks unable to sustain momentum after strong start to second half
MACOMB, Ill. — After a scoreless first quarter, the Northern Iowa football team put things together, earning its first victory of the season, topping Western Illinois University 52-17 at Hanson Field on Saturday afternoon. The loss drops the Leathernecks to 0-4 overall and 0-1 in Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Leathernecks and Panthers went toe-to-toe…
Read MoreWIU’s ball-hawking start against Minnesota fades in lopsided loss to Big Ten opponent
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — If Western Illinois University defensive coordinator Todd Drury could script the start to every game, he’d pencil in the result of the opening series Saturday against Minnesota. Force a fumble, recover it and put the Leathernecks’ offense in prime position. That’s how it went against the Golden Gophers. After a 2-yard reception…
Read MoreWIU’s Houston sticks with Cowboys, while C-SC’s Rupcich gets cut by Titans
QUINCY — One undrafted free agent defied the odds. Another’s pursuit of an NFL career isn’t over. The ever-evolving NFL rosters could create unique opportunities for both. Former Western Illinois University wide receiver Dennis Houston made the Dallas Cowboys’ 53-man roster after final cuts were announced Tuesday. Meanwhile, former Culver-Stockton College All-American offensive tackle Andrew…
Read MoreCommitment to rebuilding WIU football program from within gives ‘Necks solid foundation
MACOMB, Ill. — The five returning players that sat to each side of Western Illinois University football coach Myers Hendrickson at media day felt like they had a stake in the rebuilding of the Leathernecks. In a time when the NCAA’s transfer portal makes it easy to find a way out, those players wanted to…
Read MoreQU women’s volleyball team finishes strong in exhibition victory over WIU
MACOMB, Ill. — The Quincy University women’s volleyball team doesn’t officially open its season until Friday at the Henderson State Tournament in Arkadelphia, Ark., but the Hawks already have set the stage for success. QU dominated Western Illinois University in the final two sets of Saturday’s exhibition match at Western Hall, winning 25-17, 22-25, 25-16,…
Read MoreWIU names Sheriff as interim baseball coach
MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois University Director of Athletics Paul Bubb announced Monday that Tayler Sheriff will serve as the interim head coach of the baseball program for the 2023 season. “After speaking with returning members of the baseball team, I truly believe this is the best opportunity for this program at this time,” Bubb said.…
Read MoreCollege notebook: Surprenant resigns at WIU, Spraker goes to Blue Jays spring training, Hawks’ Lewis in top 10 at nationals
The news came as a surprise on many fronts when it was released late last Friday afternoon that Danielle Surprenant was resigning as the Western Illinois University athletic director. “We thank Danielle for her service to the University and for her leadership in Leatherneck athletics,” WIU President Guiyou Huang said in a press release. “We…
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