Nov. 23, 2006

Macomb, IL - The Utah Valley State men's basketball team begins a stretch of its schedule where they play six of its next seven games on the road, beginning Saturday at Mid-Continent Conference foe Western Illinois.

Tip off is set for 6 p.m. and the game can be heard live on 1400 KSTAR. This is the third meeting between the two schools. Last year Utah Valley beat WIU 82-69 in Orem. The year before Western Illinois beat the Wolverines 58-49 in Macomb.

Utah Valley is 3-1 and coming off a 65-47 victory of Great Falls on Saturday while Western Illinois is 2-2 and lost 97-95 in five overtimes to IPFW on Tuesday.

The Leathernecks are led by the play of David Jackson who is scoring 20.5 points a game and grabbing a team-best 5.5 rebounds. Sammy Hunter averages 15.5 points while Jerryck Owens-Murrey is netting 11.5 points a game. As a team WIU is averaging 75.5 point.

"Western is playing very well," Utah Valley State coach Dick Hunsaker said. "They have a seasoned veteran group and they are always prepared."

Ryan Toolson leads the Wolverines in scoring at 13.5 points a game while Jordan Brady is scoring 12.3 points and grabbing a team-best 6.8 rebounds. Brady had a career high 16 points and 12 rebounds in the win over Great Falls.

Utah Valley is back in action on November 29 when they play at SUU at 7 p.m. UV's next home game is December 9 against Utah State.