'Necks prepare for weekend tournament

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Posted: 11/14/08

Western Illinois defeated Kennesaw State, 66-54, in the 11th game of the 2007-08 season. David Nurse's 18 points led four Western Illinois starters, who scored double figures in the home victory.

Friday's games are the season-opening games for all teams in attendance at the 100 Club Classic. Kennesaw State faces Western off a 50-point exhibition victory over North Greenville. Kurtis Woods led four Owls in double-digit scoring with 16 points.

The Owls finished the 2007-08 season with a 10-20, 7-9 Athlantic Sun record and return three starters to the 2008-09 roster. Averaging 8.2 points per game, 1.4 rebounds per game and 74 assists last season, Kelvin McConnell is the Owl's top returner. Recording a 41.1 field-goal percentage, McConnell led the Owls in three-point field goals last season.

Round Two: Maine/Northern Illinois

Western will face either Maine or Northern Illinois, 4 p.m., Saturday.

The Black Bears face the Huskies in a 4 p.m. tournament-opening game, Friday.

Maine returns last year's leading scorer, Mark Socoby, a 6-foot-6 guard who averaged 14.6 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game. The Black Bears finished out the 2007-08 season with a 7-23 overall, 3-13 America East record.

The Black Bears defeated Laval, 67-62, in the only exhibition game played this season. Sophomore 6-foot-7 forward Sean McNally led Main with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Northern Illinois defeated Freed-Hardeman, 84-72, and Carthage, 76-62, in preseason play.

The Huskies return five players who saw time last season and 10 athletes who either redshirted or are entirely new under second-year head coach Ricardo Patton. Northern went 6-22 overall and finished sixth in the Mid-American Conference with a 3-12 record in the 2007-08 season. The top returner to the 2008-09 season is 2008 MAC Freshman of the Year Darion 'Jake' Anderson, who led the team in points, assists, and ranked second in rebounds.

New Faces Walking On

As a result of open tryouts on campus, October 18, Western Illinois accepted four walk-on players to the 2008-09 roster. Two players will appear at this weekend's tournament in uniform-junior guard Dennis Murphy and sophomore forward/center Andrew Zahora. Allan Clark and Antwan Watson are freshmen guards out of Chicago. Murphy and Clark were the only walk-on players to see playing time in the exhibition game against Monmouth.