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MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois erased a 16-point first half deficit but UMKC hit key shots down the stretch and the Leatherneck men's basketball team dropped a 66-61 decision Thursday night (Feb. 17). The Summit League loss marked the ninth straight overall defeat for Western (7-19 overall, 2-13 Summit).
The Leathernecks trailed by as many as 16 before charging back during the first 10 minutes of the second and eventually took their first lead of the game.
Spencer Johnson's three-point play gave UMKC a 39-26 lead with 15:10 left in the game but the Leathernecks charged back. Western's run started with senior guard Matt Lander hitting a jumper. Lander hit a shot in the paint, then Jack Houpt drained his first 3-pointer of the night. Jelani Johnson followed with a three of his own, and Kaimarr Price scored in the lane to cut the deficit to one.
Bakari Lewis turned the ball over, then Johnson capped the 15-0 run draining another 3-pointer as Western took its first lead of the game at 41-39 with 10:39 remaining. Reggie Chamberlain drained a 3-pointer but freshman Mael Amenyedzi hit one of his own to regain the lead.
Chamberlain sank two free throws to tie the game, then Jay Couisnard hit another 3-pointer and finished a dunk on a steal and fast break to go ahead by five.
Lander hit another jumper and made 1-of-2 free throws after UMKC's bench was called for a technical at the 6:37 mark. But Couisnard converted another three-point play to push the lead back to five. Houpt and Price cut the deficit to one, but Couisnard responded by draining a contested 3-pointer. Two more free throws by Chamberlain made it 57-51 before Western staged another run.
Price hit the second of two free throws and Lander drilled another 3-pointer (matching his career-high of 24 points) to make it a 57-55 game with 1:36 remaining.
As the shot clock ticked down Couisnard drove the lane. Western converged on the senior guard in the lane, but he dished out to Chamberlain who drained a 3-pointer from the left corner right before the shot clock expired with 55 seconds left in regulation. Western got to within three points on Houpt's driving layin but UMKC hit all six free throw attempts in the final 28 seconds to secure the win.
"I think we really got beat by one great player tonight in Jay Couisnard. He's a great player, a First Team All-League player, and give them credit for making the big play," said Western head coach Jim Molinari.
Western, who is still alive for a tournament berth in two weeks, could have used a win to help the cause but UMKC (16-10, 9-6) jumped out to an early 9-0 lead and eventually led 25-9 following a Dustin Dibble layup with 7:24 remaining. Lander's jumper started an 8-0 run, and Western closed out the half with a 14-6 edge, nine by Lander.
The senior co-captain hit 9-of-15 field goals in the game and 5-of-6 at the free throw line to score 24 points for the third time this season. While playing 40 minutes for the third time this year, Lander dished out five assists and matched a career-high of three steals.
"We played with a lot of character. Matt Lander just doesn't quit. I can't give him enough credit for how he's done it this year," said Molinari.
Price finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Houpt scored seven points, grabbed five boards and handed out a career-high six assists. Amenyedzi finished one off his season-high, netting eight points.
"I think our crowd helped us, and our students really helped us. I want to thank them, you could really feel their presence and emotion," said Molinari. "I think they deserve a lot of credit for the way we played in the second half... The number one thing you have to do is play with a sense of urgency. I think we played with more urgency in the second half and that was the big difference for us."
Western held a 30-24 edge on the glass, snapping a streak of eight straight games getting out-rebounded. In fact, the 24 opposition rebounds were the lowest total allowed this year. The Leathernecks went 7-of-13 at the line but UMKC finished 20-of-26 for the difference.
Couisnard scored a game-high 31 points, one off his career-high. He hit 10-of-16 field goals, five from 3-point range, and 6-of-9 free throws. Chamberlain added 14 points. The Leatherneck defense did hold Spencer Johnson - who was averaging a double-double this season - to five points and four rebounds.
With only three league games remaining Western remains in contention but now must win out (due to Southern Utah winning at IUPUI Thursday) and get some help in the process. The Leathernecks play host to SUU on Saturday night (Feb. 19), tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
