Morehead State Eagles vs Western Illinois Leathernecks Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Western Illinois vs Morehead State NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Morehead.

Western Illinois vs Morehead State Prediction

Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Leathernecks and Eagles. The game is starting at 7:30 ET on ESPN+, and it's hosted by the Eagles at Ellis T. Johnson Arena in Morehead, KY. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 132 points, and Morehead State is favored by -6 to win at home against Western Illinois.

Western Illinois vs. Morehead State Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Western Illinois Leathernecks at Morehead State Eagles
Where: Morehead at Ellis T. Johnson Arena
Date: Thursday, January 16th
Betting Odds MHST -6, WILL +210 | MHST -258 O/U 132

Leathernecks Preview: Does Western Illinois Have A Chance at Ellis T. Johnson Arena?

Western Illinois dropped to 5-9 on the season after a 72-52 home loss to Tennessee State on Saturday. The Leathernecks, favored by 2.5 points, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 124 fell short of the 146.5 O/U line.

Western Illinois found themselves in a deep hole early, trailing 39-19 at halftime. While they managed to score 33 points in the second half, they couldn’t make up ground as they allowed Tennessee State to match their 33 points after the break.

Leathernecks Offense Breakdown

Western Illinois struggled offensively in their last game, managing just 52 points on 32.7% shooting from the field. They hit 33.3% from beyond the arc, connecting on 6 of 18 attempts, and their effective field goal percentage was 38.8%.

Julius Rollins led the way with 18 points, shooting 60% overall and hitting 4 of 5 from three-point range. Ronald Jessamy added 16 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 63.6%, while Josh Ogundele contributed 12 points and 8 boards, hitting 71.4% of his shots.

Leathernecks Team Defense

Western Illinois held their opponent to 72 points on 32% shooting from the field, allowing just 16 made field goals on 49 attempts. The Leathernecks were effective inside, limiting two-point shots to 10/31 (32%).

From beyond the arc, Western Illinois gave up 6 threes on 18 attempts (33%). They sent their opponent to the free-throw line 21 times, where they converted 14 (66%). The Leathernecks also gave up 10 offensive rebounds.

Eagles Preview: Will the Eagles Make it Happen at Home?

Morehead State Eagles Recent Game/Games

Morehead State evened their record at 7-7 with a 67-56 road win over Southeast Missouri State on Saturday. The Eagles entered the game as +3 point underdogs but managed to cover the spread with the win.

After leading 27-26 at halftime, Morehead State pulled away by scoring 40 points in the 2nd half while holding the Redhawks to 30. The total points for the game were 123, falling short of the 137.5 O/U line.

Eagles Offense Breakdown

Rob Martin and Anouar Mellouk were key contributors for Morehead State, with Martin scoring 21 points and dishing out 8 assists, while hitting 4 of 5 from deep. Mellouk added 18 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 8 of 9 from the field.

As a team, Morehead State shot 48.1% from the field, with an effective field goal percentage of 51.9%. They hit 5 of 14 from three-point range (35.7%) and 10 of 15 from the free-throw line (66.7%), while grabbing 12 offensive rebounds and finishing with 10 assists.

Eagles Team Defense

Morehead State's defense was strong, giving up just 56 points while holding their opponent to 41% shooting from the field. They allowed 17 two-point baskets on 35 attempts, a 48% conversion rate.

From beyond the arc, Morehead State limited their opponent to 5 made threes on 18 attempts, a 27% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 11 times, where they made 7 free throws, shooting 63%.

Leathernecks vs Eagles Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across their ten previous road games, Western Illinois has an ATS mark of 4-6. Their straight up record in these matchups was 4-6 while averaging 64 points per game.
Across the Eagles last ten home games, the team averaged 63 points per game while allowing 74. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 7-3, while going 4-6 straight-up.
As the betting underdog, the Leathernecks have an ATS mark of just 3-7 in their last ten games. Western Illinois posted a straight up mark of 3-7 in these matchups.
Across their last three matchups as the betting favorite, the Eagles have an overall record of 2-1 while going 1-2 against the spread.