By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

MACOMB, Ill. — The schedule heading into this weekend seemed to favor Western Illinois in the Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball race.

The Leathernecks were going to get to play six of their last eight games at home, starting with Thursday’s game against Little Rock and Saturday’s nationally-televised game against UT-Martin at Western Hall.

One problem, though — the Leathernecks are struggling to win at home.

Saturday’s 62-59 loss to the Skyhawks was the fourth for Western Illinois at home this season, the third in conference play.

And instead of maintaining their pursuit of OVC leader Morehead State, the Leathernecks have fallen into a four-way tie for second place with Tennessee State, UT-Martin, and Little Rock, three games out of the lead.

“We’ve got to get to where we protect our house,” Western Illinois coach Chad Boudreau said. “Western Hall is our home court, and we don’t protect our home court. It’s frustrating. It seems like we play tight down the stretches of games all year. Teams are able to play back into games, and it’s frustrating. It’s on me. I’ve got to figure out how to switch that.”

It’s the way the Leathernecks have lost the games that has especially frustrated Boudreau and the players. They lost to South Dakota in a nonconference game and Tennessee State on last-second shots. They let an eight-point lead with six minutes left get away in Thursday’s 63-60 loss to Little Rock. And they were up 56-52 with five minutes to play in this game and scored three points the rest of the way.

“We had a chance to bury (UT-Martin), and we didn’t bury them,” Boudreau said. “We had a chance to bury Little Rock, and didn’t bury them. Tennessee State, we didn’t bury them. South Dakota, didn’t bury them. And then they make plays to win the games.”

“It’s hard,” guard Quinlan Bennett said. “You try to protect your home court. In the end, they’re nail-biters too. Every home game is a nail-biter. We’ve just got to get over the hump, stay together.”

“We get in a slump where we just don’t get baskets,” forward Jesiah West said. “We’ve got to find a way to get a basket, and then get stops. They’re scoring, we’re not scoring, that’s how you don’t win.”

The Leathernecks (15-10 overall, 8-4 OVC) have lost just one road game in conference play.

“We’re a different team on the road,” Boudreau said. “We have a different vibe. There’s no pressure on the road. At home, there’s pressure. Pressure makes pipes break, and at home we break in the last three or four minutes of games. Luckily we’ve held it together and won some games we shouldn’t have early.”

“When you’re on the road, it’s like you’re hunting,” Bennett said. “You want to win those road games, they’re really special.”

The Leathernecks had a chance to take control of this game late, when they were up 56-52. James Dent Jr., missed a 3-pointer from the left corner. UT-Martin’s Jordan Sears grabbed the rebound and raced to the other end of the court, where he was fouled by J.J. Kalakon as he scored on a layup. Sears made the free throw, and Western Illinois’ lead was cut to one.

“We talk about making home-run plays, and we thought that was a home-run play,” Bennett said. “We didn’t need a three there, but it was a good shot. Then they get the and-one and it’s a one-point game. Yeah, it was definitely a turning point.”

Sears’ play started an 8-0 run for the Skyhawks (15-10, 8-4) that gave them a 60-56 lead. The Leathernecks cut that to 60-59 and had a chance to take the lead, but were called for a shot clock violation after West’s shot didn’t hit the rim. Sears hit two free throws with eight seconds left, then Myers had to rush a 3-pointer at the buzzer that missed.

West led Western Illinois with 19 points. Kalakon had 12 and Bennett had 11.

Sears led the Skyhawks with 16 points.

Western Illinois heads out on a two-game road trip next week to Tennessee Tech and Tennessee State before concluding the season with four consecutive home games.

“Honestly, it’s just a “us” thing,” West said. “We’ve got to lock in, we’ve got to dial in, with the conference tournament coming up. It’s just little things that are hurting us. We’ve just got to get better.”

“We’ve got to stay together, trust in one another, and execute,” Bennett said. “That’s really it — just execute.

“I don’t know, we’ll figure it out.”

Photo: Western Illinois’ Jesiah West goes to the basket against UT-Martin’s Jacob Crews in Saturday’s game. (Photo courtesy of WIU Athletic Communications)