BOX SCORE (html)

BOX SCORE (pdf)

BROOKINGS, S.D. - Western Illinois had four players score in double-figures, but South Dakota State had a near perfect night at the free throw line as the Leathernecks dropped an 82-61 decision Saturday night (Feb. 12). The loss dropped Western to 7-18 overall and 2-12 in the Summit League.

For the second straight game Kaimarr Price started the scoring. Matt Lander hit a 3-pointer and Western quickly jumped out to a 5-0 lead. The Jackrabbits went on a 13-1 run to take the lead as Griffin Callahan made four free throws and Clint Sargent scored five straight points.

Lander hit another 3-pointer then Jack Houpt converted a three-point play to make it 15-12 seven minutes into the game. SDSU used two more big runs to take control, scoring nine straight then later a 10-0 run to eventually take a 39-17 lead.

The Leathernecks responded with a 10-1 run of their own. Houpt accounted for five points, Arsenio Mims scored three and Lander added a pair of free throws. Price's three-point play rounded out the scoring in the half, trailing 46-30.

Western made 8-of-25 from the field, half coming from long distance at 4-of-8, and was 10-of-12 at the line. Houpt's 12 points in the first half were the most in a game for the sophomore forward since netting 15 in the home win over North Dakota State. Mims had season-highs in points and rebounds (3 each) in the first half as well.

However, SDSU shot 52 percent from the field in the opening half, was 6-of-11 from long distance and was a perfect 14-of-14 at the line.

Jelani Johnson hit a 3-pointer quickly out of the gate and followed with another jumper as the Leathernecks cut it to 48-35. Then the fouls started piling up on Western.

Western was again whistled for six fouls in the first four minutes and Jordan Dykstra was the main free throw shooter, hitting 10-of-10 in the second half. In fact, SDSU made its first six attempts before Dale Moss finally missed as the team finished 26-of-27 for the game.

On that 13-0 run for the Jackrabbits (17-9, 9-6), eight came at the free throw line, and Western would suffer its eighth straight defeat.

"Sometimes you get careless and foul like that. We started off getting a few baskets but we cannot forget who we are and what we do, playing defense. The only way we'll win is if we play defense," said head coach Jim Molinari. "I thought Kaimarr Price fought hard tonight, and Jack and Jelani were more aggressive tonight. But I feel for Matt Lander, he's out there competing every night and you hate to see him go through this his senior year."

Lander finished with a team-high 16 points. Houpt finished with 15 points, Johnson scored all 10 of his in the second half and Price just missed on a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds while dishing out a career-high five assists.

Western shot better from 3-point range (43 percent) than overall from the field (.352) and was 14-of-20 at the line.

Dykstra would lead all scorers with 20, half coming at the line. Griffin Callahan had 13 points as five Jackrabbits scored in double-figures. The Leathernecks did keep Nate Wolters, the Summit League's second-leading scorer at 18.8 ppg, to half his scoring average (nine points).

The Leathernecks return to Western hall on Thursday night (Feb. 17), playing host to UMKC. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. With four Summit League games remaining (and one non-conference to close out the regular season), Western needs to take advantage of the schedule to qualify as one of the top eight teams for the tournament next month.

"We have five games left, it is not over for us yet," said Molinari. "There will be better days ahead for Western. We will keep working on getting better, and we will never go through a situation like this again."