NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — A struggling Western Illinois team seeks to end a lengthy skid when it visits Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee State on Saturday at Howard Gentry Complex.

The Leathernecks (4-19) enter on a nine-game losing streak, most recently suffering a lopsided 84-44 home defeat to Tennessee-Martin on Jan. 31. Their last victory came on Jan. 3. Western Illinois’ last outing was its lowest-scoring performance of the season.

Tennessee State (14-8), meanwhile, looks to rebound after a 90-85 home loss to Tennessee Tech on Monday snapped a two-game winning streak. The Tigers have been strong at home this season, boasting a 9-3 record in Nashville.

This matchup is a quick rematch of a Jan. 8 meeting in Macomb, Illinois, where Tennessee State dominated, 90-68. The Tigers shot 54% from the field in that contest and forced 17 Leathernecks turnovers.

A key player to watch for Western Illinois is guard Isaiah Griffin. He leads the team in scoring during conference play and is coming off a 28-point performance at Arkansas-Little Rock on Jan. 17. In the first meeting against Tennessee State, Griffin was held to 11 points.

Tennessee State counters with guard Dante Harris, a dynamic playmaker who scored 16 points and dished five assists in Monday’s loss. Harris had 15 points and seven assists in the January win over Western Illinois. His backcourt matchup with Griffin will be critical.

Western Illinois has shown an ability to keep games close during its streak, with five of the nine losses coming by single digits, including a 57-55 defeat at Eastern Illinois on Jan. 13. However, defensive consistency has been an issue, as the Leathernecks have allowed an average of 81.2 points per game during the losing stretch.

Tennessee State’s offense, averaging 78.6 points per game, will test that defense. Forward Travis Harper (19 points vs. Tennessee Tech) and guard Aaron Nkrumah (21 points vs. Tennessee Tech) provide additional scoring punch alongside Harris.

The game tips off at 4:30 p.m. EST Saturday as part of the Ohio Valley Conference schedule. Following this contest, Western Illinois hosts Eastern Illinois on Feb. 10, while Tennessee State travels to face Southern Indiana on Feb. 12.