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Men's Basketball Friday, January 14, 2011

Leathernecks Lose at Home to South Dakota State

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MACOMB, Ill. - South Dakota State hit three 3-pointers late in the first half, keying an 11-0 run, and handed Western Illinois an 81-50 Summit League loss Thursday night (Jan. 13). The Leathernecks dropped their fourth straight in conference play, 6-10 overall and 1-5 in the Summit.

Western kept the game close during the first 18 minutes, leading on five occasions and never trailing by more than seven points. Following Nate Wolters three-point play, Matt Lander and Kaimarr Price accounted for the next seven points cutting the deficit to 31-29. Over the final two minutes Chad White, Clint Sargent and Griffan Callahan hit 3-pointers making it 42-29 heading into the break.

For the second straight game Western gave up 42 first half points, matching a season-high. SDSU (12-5, 4-2) went 7-of-11 from 3-point range in the first half and shot 51.7 percent overall from the field. Western was 4-of-7 from long distance and 48 percent field goal shooting.

At the 16 minute mark Price picked up his fourth personal foul, then fouled out with 12 minutes remaining. The junior forward just missed on another double-double, finishing with nine points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes.

After Price fouled out, Western could not get any closer than 52-38 following Lander's field goal. SDSU went on a 20-6 run over the final eight minutes to remain in third place in the league.

"Give South Dakota State credit, they played great and we have no margin for error at this point. We let it slip away at the end of the first half," said Leatherneck head coach Jim Molinari. "We are having issues guarding teams right now, we just have to keep working hard on that... we've got to keep going and fight through this."

Lander led Western scoring 12 points. The senior guard dished out five assists with one turnover in 34 minutes. Price accounted for nine of the team's 30 rebounds.

Jack Houpt added eight points and Brandon Smith scored seven points in a nine-minute stretch of the second half. Jelani Johnson matched a career-high with three steals. He added six points and two assists.

Western shot 40 percent for the game, including a 6-of-14 effort from 3-point range. SDSU finished 52 percent from the field, converting 13-of-21 from beyond the arc, while committing only six turnovers.

Wolters flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. One of four Jackrabbits in double-figures, Callahan netted a game-high 20 points, hitting four 3-pointers.

Western will play host to North Dakota State on Saturday night (Jan. 15). Tipoff at Western Hall is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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