By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — It was a game that needed someone to make a stop.

Western Illinois’ men’s basketball team has been doing a lot of that lately.

The Leathernecks’ defense made the plays in the closing minutes, and Western Illinois opened its inaugural season in Ohio Valley Conference play with a 78-70 win over SIU-Edwardsville on Sunday.

Western Illinois (8-6 overall, 1-0 OVC), which has won five consecutive games and six of its last seven, a streak built on the Leathernecks’ defense. WIU has held opponents in that stretch to 70 points or less in every game, and opponents are averaging just 49.7 points per game against the Leathernecks in the current run, 67.3 points in all games.

The game had 26 lead changes and 10 ties. But the Leathernecks took the lead to stay with 9:13 to play on Ryan Myers’ 3-pointer, then held the Cougars (8-7, 1-1) to just two points in the final 1:08.

“It was back-and-forth, who’s-going-to-have-the-ball-in-the-last-couple-of-minutes game,” Western Illinois coach Chad Boudreau said. “We just were trying to create some separation. We got that separation.”

“We were just sticking to everything Coach was telling us,” said Myers, who led the Leathernecks with 21 points. “We know we have a big, athletic, physical team. We wanted to wear them down as much as we could.”

The Leathernecks had a 34-22 rebounding edge, had 32 points inside compared to just 18 for the Cougars, and matched SIUE with 16 points off turnovers after having just four in the first half.

“It was just, ‘Play our game,’” said forward Jesiah West, who had 15 points and 10 rebounds. “Just be us.”

The Leathernecks shot 54.7 percent from the field, but committed 14 turnovers, 10 in the first half.

“We put more stress on our defense (with the turnovers),” Boudreau said. “It’s something I’ve harped on since the beginning of the year. We need more possession games, we need to take care of the ball, but put less stress on our defense, because our defense is our bread and butter right now.”

SIUE got to within 72-70 with 21 seconds left, but four free throws by Myers and two by James Dent Jr., clinched the win.

“Winning is important to me, so I must make those free throws,” Myers said. “Just no pressure on me.”

West was especially strong inside, going 7-of-9 from the field while recording five offensive rebounds.

“I’ve got impose my will, every game now,” West said. “Usually, that’s me. Coming into this game, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. And I did.”

Quinlan Bennett added 12 points for the Leathernecks. Dent had 10.

Shamar Wright had 21 points for SIUE.

Photo: WIU’s Jesiah West talks with an official after teammate Drew Cisse was assessed a technical foul in the second half.