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MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois converted 21-of-24 free throws, including four by Jack Houpt in the final 17 seconds, as the Leathernecks pulled away for a 67-62 Summit League win over North Dakota State on Saturday night (Jan. 15).

The win ends a four-game conference losing streak - and five consecutive losses to North Dakota State - improving to 7-10 overall and 2-5 in the Summit.

Ahead by one at the half, Western eventually fell behind by six after Freddie Coleman made a lay-up with nine minutes remaining. Matt Lander hit a jumper to cut the deficit to four, then after Coleman missed a 3-pointer, Jelani Johnson responded with a '3' of his own. Lander drained both of his free throws to put Western ahead at the seven minute mark.

The game would eventually become tied three more times down the stretch, the final when Marshall Bjorklund hit a baseline shot with 1:21 remaining but missed his free throw when he was fouled on the play.

Lander drove the lane with 1:03 left, but NDSU (9-8, 3-4) responded with Michael Tveidt getting fouled. He made the first free throw but missed the second, keeping Western with a one-point lead.

TrayVonn Wright knocked the ball away from Johnson and passed ahead to Tveidt, but he missed the breakaway layup and Houpt came away with the rebound with 17 seconds left. The sophomore forward hit both attempts at the line.

Drew Lundberg missed a jumper, and once again Houpt came away with the defensive rebound then was quickly fouled. His final two free throws made it a two possession game, and accounted for the final margin.

Two days after a 31-point home loss, and not having starting guard Tommie Tyler in the lineup due to an injury, head coach Jim Molinari was proud of the way his team bounced back.

"We found our identity tonight. We started the game that way and finished it that way... This is what Western Illinois basketball should look like. We are a possession oriented team, and a strong half-court defensive team," said Molinari.

Johnson's 3-pointer with 8:46 left in the first half gave the Leathernecks their largest lead of the first half, 16-11. NDSU went ahead by three on Wright's layup in the final two minutes, but Lander's 3-pointer with eight seconds left gave Western a 26-25 edge at the half.

Western shot 37.5 percent from the field in the first half, and held the Bison to 31 percent.

It was the second half shooting, namely from the free throw line that proved to be the difference.

Lander made a career-high 13 free throws in 14 attempts, matching the Summit League individual season-high. Houpt was 4-for-4, and Kaimarr Price made 3-of-4 as Western converted 17-of-18 during the final 20 minutes.

"Matt Lander did a tremendous job of wanting the ball and taking it to the hoop," said Molinari. "Matt cares so much and he is fighting for his senior year. I don't think you can mention that enough, we are fighting. This win puts us back in the game."

Lander scored a game-high 22 points with four assists while playing all 40 minutes. The senior guard played the final 11:44 with four fouls. Price and Emeka Okafor, Jr. also played the final nine minutes with four fouls each.

Houpt added 15 points and six rebounds. Johnson scored a career-high 14 points, and was one off his rebound career-high grabbing seven boards in 39 minutes.

The Leathernecks shot 43 percent for the game, and out-rebounded the Bison 35-31 to end a streak of five straight games having lost the rebounding battle. Western also made 8-of-15 beyond the arc.

Tveidt led the Bison with 14 points. Lundberg added 11 points while Wright finished with 10.

Western travels to Southern Utah this Thursday (Jan. 20). Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. central.