Morehead State Eagles Edge Western Illinois Leathernecks 71-66
Thursday, January 22, 2026, 7:30 PM ET · Ellis T. Johnson Arena
Morehead State Eagles 71, Western Illinois Leathernecks 66, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Western Illinois Leathernecks vs Morehead State Eagles?
Morehead State Eagles beat Western Illinois Leathernecks 71-66 at Ellis T. Johnson Arena on January 22, 2026.
Who was favored in Western Illinois Leathernecks vs Morehead State Eagles?
Morehead State Eagles were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -440 (about 81% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Morehead State Eagles secured a narrow victory over the Western Illinois Leathernecks with a final score of 71-66. This game was held at Ellis T. Johnson Arena, showcasing the Eagles' home advantage as they improved their home record to 4-1 this season. Morehead State's recent form has been strong, with a record of 6-4 in their last ten games, including a current winning streak of one game. They have averaged 78.1 points scored while allowing 73.8 points per game during this stretch. In contrast, the Leathernecks have struggled significantly, losing their last eight games and holding a record of 2-8 in their last ten, with an average of 65.0 points scored and 70.3 points allowed.
The Eagles' scoring was led by a series of key plays in the second half, including a crucial tip-in layup by Jon Carroll that brought the score to 65-64 in favor of Morehead State. The game remained close, with Lucas Lorenzen tying the score at 66-66 before the Eagles pulled ahead with successful free throws from George Marshall and Davion Cunningham. The final minutes were characterized by tense exchanges, but the Eagles maintained their lead, ultimately sealing the victory.
In terms of previous meetings, this matchup marked the third encounter between the two teams in recent seasons, with the record now standing at 1-1. Morehead State had previously defeated Western Illinois 51-47 at home on January 17, 2025, but lost the earlier meeting of the 2025 season 67-72 on February 15, 2025.
The betting market, as reported by DraftKings, had Morehead State favored by 8.5 points, with a total set at 138.5. The moneyline odds were -440 for Morehead State and +340 for Western Illinois. This indicates a strong belief in the Eagles' capacity to win, reflecting their home advantage and recent form.
Injury reports did not indicate any significant absences for either team, allowing both squads to field their regular lineups. The conditions at Ellis T. Johnson Arena were conducive to an exciting game, with a lively atmosphere from the home crowd supporting the Eagles.
Viewers should have noted the competitive spirit displayed by both teams, particularly in the second half, where every possession mattered. The Eagles' ability to convert free throws in critical moments proved decisive, while the Leathernecks struggled to maintain momentum after tying the game. Overall, the matchup highlighted the resilience of the Morehead State Eagles as they continue to fight for a better standing in the league.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MORE -8.5 | 138.5 o -112 / u -108 | Western Illinois Leathernecks +340 · Morehead State Eagles -440 |
Leaders
- PointsDavion Cunningham18Morehead State Eagles
- AssistsChase Dawson4Morehead State Eagles
- ReboundsJon Carroll15Morehead State Eagles
- PointsLucas Lorenzen26Western Illinois Leathernecks
- AssistsMakai Kvamme3Western Illinois Leathernecks
- ReboundsIsaiah Griffin8Western Illinois Leathernecks
Recent form
Morehead State Eagles
Last 10: 6-4Streak W178.1 scored · 73.8 allowed per game3-1 at home
- W76-70at Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesJan 17
- L100-105at Tennessee State TigersJan 16
- W71-69vs Southeast Missouri State RedhawksJan 10
- L68-76vs UT Martin SkyhawksJan 9
- W73-72at SIU Edwardsville CougarsJan 3
- L64-77at Lindenwood LionsJan 1
- W115-65vs Alice Lloyd EaglesDec 28
- W64-60at Southern Indiana Screaming EaglesDec 20
- W78-64vs Little Rock TrojansDec 17
- L72-80at Presbyterian Blue HoseDec 6
Western Illinois Leathernecks
Last 10: 2-8Streak L865 scored · 70.3 allowed per game1-5 away
- L79-86at Little Rock TrojansJan 17
- L55-57at Eastern Illinois PanthersJan 14
- L54-59vs Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesJan 10
- L68-90vs Tennessee State TigersJan 9
- L50-73at Southeast Missouri State RedhawksJan 3
- L60-67at UT Martin SkyhawksJan 1
- L61-66vs SIU Edwardsville CougarsDec 22
- L76-92at Lindenwood LionsDec 19
- W69-66at North Dakota Fighting HawksDec 13
- W78-47vs Hannibal LaGrange TrojansDec 6
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee State | 23-10 | - | 15-5 |
| Morehead State | 20-13 | - | 15-5 |
| Southeast Missouri State | 20-13 | 1 | 14-6 |
| UT Martin | 22-11 | 2 | 13-7 |
| SIU Edwardsville | 19-13 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Lindenwood | 18-15 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Little Rock | 12-20 | 6 | 9-11 |
| Tennessee Tech | 13-18 | 6 | 8-12 |
| Eastern Illinois | 13-20 | 7 | 8-12 |
| Southern Indiana | 7-23 | 11 | 4-16 |
| Western Illinois | 5-26 | 14 | 1-19 |
Box score
| Stat | Western Illinois Leathernecks | Morehead State Eagles |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 25-61 | 29-66 |
| Field goal % | 41 | 44 |
| Three-pointers | 10-24 | 3-16 |
| Three-point % | 42 | 19 |
| Free throws | 6-13 | 10-20 |
| Free throw % | 46 | 50 |
| Rebounds | 31 | 50 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 21 |
| Defensive rebounds | 21 | 29 |
| Assists | 12 | 14 |
| Steals | 5 | 4 |
| Blocks | 2 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 7 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 14 | 9 |
| Fast-break points | 10 | 10 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 48 |
| Fouls | 16 | 11 |
| Largest lead | 4 | 10 |
| Lead changes | 11 | 11 |
| Time in front | 23 | 56 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half30-34Tyonne Farrell makes driving layup
- 1st Half32-34Makai Kvamme makes layup
- 1st Half32-36Anouar Mellouk makes driving layup
- 1st Half32-39Davion Cunningham makes 24-foot three point jumper (Anouar Mellouk assists)
- 2nd Half35-39Lucas Lorenzen makes 23-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half38-39Lucas Lorenzen makes 27-foot three point jumper (Karyiek Dixon assists)
- 2nd Half38-41Tamaury Releford makes layup (Tyonne Farrell assists)
- 2nd Half41-41Lucas Lorenzen makes 27-foot three point jumper (Isaiah Griffin assists)
- 2nd Half41-43Chase Dawson makes 18-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half43-43Lucas Lorenzen makes 3-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half43-45George Marshall makes layup (Chase Dawson assists)
- 2nd Half45-45Karyiek Dixon makes 7-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half47-45Karyiek Dixon makes 10-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half47-47Tamaury Releford makes layup (Davion Cunningham assists)
- 2nd Half49-47Karyiek Dixon makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half49-49Anouar Mellouk makes driving layup
- 2nd Half49-51Davion Cunningham makes 17-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half51-51Ifiok Peter makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half53-51Ifiok Peter makes 2-foot dunk (Tyran Cook assists)
- 2nd Half53-53Tamaury Releford makes layup
- 2nd Half53-54Chase Dawson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-55Chase Dawson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-55Francis Okwuosah makes 23-foot three point jumper (Tyran Cook assists)
- 2nd Half59-55Francis Okwuosah makes 23-foot three point jumper (Lucas Lorenzen assists)
- 2nd Half59-57George Marshall makes layup
- 2nd Half59-60Davion Cunningham makes 24-foot three point jumper (Chase Dawson assists)
- 2nd Half60-60Isaiah Griffin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-62Davion Cunningham makes 14-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half62-62Francis Okwuosah makes 11-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half62-63Josiah LeGree makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-63Lucas Lorenzen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-63Lucas Lorenzen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-65Jon Carroll makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half64-66Jon Carroll makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half66-66Lucas Lorenzen makes driving layup
- 2nd Half66-67George Marshall makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-68George Marshall makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-69Chase Dawson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-70Davion Cunningham makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-71Davion Cunningham makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Morehead State Eagles, below favours Western Illinois Leathernecks.
Venue
- Ellis T. Johnson ArenaMorehead, KY
- Attendance1234
- OfficialsCraig Murley, Jeremy Trussell, RJ Johnson
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