By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois missed a chance to win the Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball regular-season championship last season because the Leathernecks struggled at times at home.

The Leathernecks finished a game out of the three-team tie at the top of the standings because four of their five conference losses were at Western Hall.

Western Illinois opened OVC play at home Tuesday night, and took care of the home court, winning 71-68 over Tennessee Tech.

The Leathernecks (7-5 overall) got 21 points from Ryan Myers, and a rebound and two key free throws from Tay Knox in the final minute, big plays from two players who were with the team last season.

“We wanted to show the fans we could win at home, to keep them coming out,” Knox said. “And just start a winning streak, because we’re trying to win the conference.”

“It was so big,” said Myers, whose two free throws with 1.2 seconds left provided the fan margin. “I’m just so glad that we did it for the fans, and we were able to get conference play off to the right start. So hopefully we can just have some momentum going into the rest of conference play.”

“I feel more comfortable with this team at home than with last year’s team, at least early,” Western Illinois coach Chad Boudreau said. “And so we just need to kind of collect (wins), and take it one game at a time, because I think the league is wide open.”

Myers and Knox combined for the crucial plays of the game in the final seconds.

Myers went to the free-throw line with 10.2 seconds left and Western Illinois up 66-65. He made the first free throw, but missed the second. Knox cut across the lane to grab the rebound and was fouled. Knox, a 62.5 percent free-throw shooter, hit both free throws for a 69-65 lead.

“We’ve been practicing this little X-out play,” Knox said. “Kayden (Carter) came across the lane and got my man and I was able to get up and get the rebound.”

“He’s always there for me,” Myers said. “He’s always there to pick me up when I’m down, when I miss a free throw or something.

“That’s my guy. I love him to death. And then he turned around and hit two big (free throws). He was big-time.”

Tennessee Tech’s Ray Glasgow hit a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left, then, after a clock review, Myers was fouled before any time could run off. He hit both free throws, then Tennessee Tech’s Rodney Johnson Jr. missed a 30-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The final minutes resembled the scenarios that Boudreau often plays out in practices.

“You’ve seen us do things, where we simulate the score is 68-68, 72-72, 75-75,” Boudreau said. “And so we get used to playing close games.”

He laughed.

“Of course, maybe that’s why we don’t blow anyone out,” Boudreau said. “But tight games are good for attendance, I guess.”

Boudreau put together an experienced roster in the offseason, and it shows in the close games, he said.

“These guys have all been in bigger moments,” Boudreau said. “In the timeouts, you can see the leadership, all of those guys, they’re all really confident. They don’t look rattled. They’re not in a situation they haven’t been in before. And so late in the games, I feel really good with them.

Boudreau was cranky, and so were the Leathernecks, after last Saturday’s 89-66 loss at South Dakota.

“It’s a step in the right direction, because the South Dakota game was a step in the wrong direction,” Boudreau said. “We took a big step back. And so to turn it around is a good, good thing.”

“I was very frustrated, because we know that we could be better,” Myers said. “The coaches give us the blueprints to be way better than what we showed. So tonight, I’m just happy that we were able to get the win and come together.”

“Saturday, we didn’t come out with any energy,” Knox said. “So as you probably could tell tonight, on the floor, we just came out with just a lot of energy. We were just trying to be the first to every ball, get every loose ball, every rebound. Just try to be active.”

Marko Maletic added 14 points for the Leathernecks. Sean Smith had 12.

Glasgow led Tennessee Tech with 20 points.

Western Illinois begins a three-game road stretch in OVC play at Lindenwood on Saturday.

“It’s so important to keep going,” Myers said. “Because we’re trying to let the conference know that we’re one of those teams (who can contend for a title). We’re one of those teams. We’re that team actually. So it’s just a big game for us to keep things going.”

Photo: Western Illinois guard Ryan Myers looks up court during Tuesday’s game against Tennessee Tech. (WIU Athletic Communications)