GAME NOTES: Having lost three of their last four games, the Cleveland State Vikings seek a much-needed win as they host the Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks in a non-conference battle at Wolstein Center.

Western Illinois brings a 2-4 record into this matchup with Cleveland State. The Leathernecks have lost two of their last three, including a lopsided 73-49 defeat at the hands of Akron on Thursday.

Cleveland State finally got back in the win column with a victory over Marshall at the end of November, but the Vikings were dropped yet again on Wednesday, this time in a tight 59-54 defeat against Toledo. The Vikings are looking to get back to .500 with a win against WIU.

Cleveland State leads the all-time series against Western Illinois, 18-7. The last meeting between the sides was back in the 2012-13 season during a BracketBuster challenge in Macomb, where the Vikings took down the Leathernecks, 60-54.

Talk about a slow start for Western Illinois against Akron in the team's latest loss. The Leathernecks shot just 23.8 percent from the floor and trailed the Zips, 39-18, heading into the intermission after the first half. WIU ended up shooting 35.4 percent from the field in the game, but thanks to the slow start the Leathernecks were already out of contention. Garret Covington netted 12 points to lead the team in scoring, while Remy Roberts- Burnett contributed 10 points in the losing effort. WIU allowed Akron to shoot 53.9 percent from the floor in the first half to gain the advantage.

Covington, last season's leading scorer for Western Illinois, is right back at the top of the scoring charts once again in 2014-15, netting a team-high 16.3 ppg on 41.3 percent shooting. Jamie Batish is the next closest to double figures with 8.3 ppg. Jalen Chapman tops the team with 5.6 rpg, and Jabari Sandifer has tallied a 4.3 apg mark that also leads the squad. Western Illinois enters this matchup scoring 64.0 ppg, while allowing 68.2 ppg to opponents.

Like Western Illinois, Cleveland State also experienced a severely poor start in its latest outing against Toledo. The Vikings shot just 20.7 percent from the floor in the first half, and trailed the Rockets by a 28-15 score at the half. Cleveland State finished the day shooting 35.6 percent from the floor, which included a 10-of-28 mark from beyond the 3-point arc. Trey Lewis was the only Viking to net a double-digit scoring total in the contest, as the guard poured in 21 points on 8-of-21 shooting from the floor. Charlie Lee contributed nine points, six rebounds and four assists off the bench.

Lewis has done a stellar job this season taking over the reins of the offense and moving into the lead scorer's role after Bryn Forbes transferred out to Michigan State. Lewis enters this game netting 17.6 ppg with a 3.9 apg average, which leads the team among players who have contributed in seven contests. Lee, last year's starter at point guard, missed the first six games of the season due to suspension. Anton Grady and Marlin Mason each chip in 11.4 ppg for the Vikings, who are averaging 65.1 ppg this season. The team is giving up 61.4 ppg to opponents on a 41.7 shooting percentage.

Western Illinois will hit the road and should find it pretty difficult to keep pace with the Vikings, who can get scoring from a number of different areas on the squad. If Cleveland State can shut down Covington, or at least contain him, the Leathernecks don't stand much of a chance.