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MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois men's basketball held a halftime lead but could not recover from an early second half run by Savannah State, dropping its season-finale 51-47 Tuesday night (March 1) in Western Hall. 

The Leathernecks took a 26-21 lead into the locker room thanks in part to three 3-pointers, holding the Tigers to 26.7 percent field goal shooting and committing only four turnovers. 

However, Savannah State (11-18 overall) used a 19-7 run over the first 11 minutes to take control. Kaimarr Price found a wide open Jack Houpt under the basket, then Houpt converted a three-point play to make it 40-38 at the eight minute mark. 

Jovonni Shuler hit a jumper then Joshua Montgomery hit a pair of free throws to extend the lead back to six. Price made back-to-back field goals, and when Emeka Okafor, Jr. converted a three-point play with 1:52 remaining the Leathernecks trailed by one (46-45).

Western missed a chance to take the lead late in the game when Matt Lander missed from 16-feet, and the Tigers would go ahead by three on Shuler's jumper. Another missed 3-pointer then immediate foul put Shuler on the line. He made the first free throw for a four-point lead. Jelani Johnson made a lay-up cutting the deficit to 49-47. The Leathernecks had to foul right away with 0.3 seconds and Shuler made both ends of a 1-and-1 for the final margin. 

Western shot 34 percent for the game compared to Savannah State's 34.5 overall as both teams made three 3-pointers. 

Lander scored eight of his points in the first half as Western took its biggest lead on the senior guard's 3-pointer with 1:19 remaining, 26-21. It marked the first time this season Western led at the half but did not win the game. 

The loss was the 13th straight to end the campaign for Western (7-23 overall), as seniors Lander and Arsenio Mims were honored in a pregame ceremony. 

"Well, game followed the same pattern. We fought defensively and got out to a lead but we did not have enough to finish. We could not get the ball to the basket. We just do not have enough ball handling," said head coach Jim Molinari, in reference to the five players that suffered injuries throughout the season that proved to be season-ending. "I just want to thank Arsenio and Matt. I thought they really gave us everything they had - Arsenio in terms of leadership and Matt in terms of on the court. Those guys never quit." 

Price led Western with 12 points and seven rebounds. Mims grabbed a season-high six rebounds as Western held a 38-35 edge on the glass. 

Lander ended his Western career with 10 points, giving him 742 in his two-year career. He made three free throws to give him a Summit League-leading 164 this season, tying him for third place among the Western season 'Top 10' leaders. 

Shuler led the Tigers with 21 points while Montgomery added 13. Jyles Smith cleared away 12 rebounds and blocked five shots.

Western was coming off a 13-win season last year and had aspirations to make another jump in the win column for 2010-11. However, the Leathernecks went just 2-19 following the third season-ending injury dating back to early December. 

"First of all, we thought this would be a bridge year not a rebuilding year. What I take away from this (year) is I still think we can make a big step next year. We figured what you need and who can do what," said Molinari. "I am more driven now to get us to do what we have to do. We have to have some guys get stronger, we have to keep recruiting and keep making improvements."