EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Interstat) — A struggling Western Illinois team seeks to snap a lengthy skid when it visits SIU Edwardsville in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball matchup Thursday night at the Vadalabene Center. The Leathernecks (5-24) enter on a six-game losing streak, most recently a 59-81 home loss to Morehead State on Saturday. Western Illinois has lost 14 of its last 15 games, with its only win in that stretch a 79-70 victory over Eastern Illinois on Feb. 10. SIU Edwardsville (17-12) has also hit a rough patch, dropping three consecutive games after a four-game winning streak in late January and early February. The Cougars fell 53-80 at Tennessee State in their last outing. A key matchup will feature Western Illinois forward Goanar Biliew against SIU Edwardsville’s Darrion Baker. Biliew is coming off a team-high 14-point performance in 33 minutes against Morehead State. Baker has been a consistent scorer for the Cougars, averaging 15 points over his last three games, including a 17-point effort at Tennessee State. The Cougars won the season’s first meeting, 66-61, in Macomb on Dec. 22. SIU Edwardsville has used a stronger defense and more balanced scoring to build a significantly better record than the Leathernecks this season. For Western Illinois, halting its defensive woes will be critical; the team has allowed 77 or more points in five of its last six losses. SIU Edwardsville will look to leverage its home court advantage to solidify its conference standing and build momentum before hosting Eastern Illinois on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Thursday.