By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

MACOMB, Ill. — Chad Boudreau is still searching for something to end Western Illinois’ losing streak.

The Leathernecks lost their seventh consecutive game on Thursday, falling to Eastern Illinois 71-59 on Thursday night at Western Hall.

Western Illinois (8-14 overall, 2-9 Ohio Valley Conference) fell into last place in the OVC to start the second half of the conference schedule.

A team that had high expectations coming off a 21-win year last season is now scrambling just to get into the conference tournament.

“So frustrating,” Boudreau, the Leathernecks’ head coach, said. “I appreciate that, even with as many games as we have lost, we’re still coming out with good energy. And then, and you’ve seen it a million times, we can’t get a shot to fall and all of the sudden we’re down.”

“We’ve got to figure something out,” said forward Massal Diouf, who was one of three Leathernecks to score 14 points. “It’s frustrating. We’ve got to figure it out.”

Boudreau has tried all kinds of starting lineups — the grouping of Diouf, Trey Deveaux, Julius Rollins, Ryan Myers and Sean Smith was one that he used as the top lineup in summer intrasquad scrimmages — without much success. The Leathernecks scored just nine points in the opening 11 ½ minutes, although Eastern Illinois (7-15, 3-8) wasn’t much better. The Panthers were only up 25-19 with 2 ½ minutes left before closing on a 7-0 run.

The Leathernecks trailed 34-20 early in the second half before switching to a zone defense that allowed them to creep back into the game. They got to within 42-37, 45-39 and 52-45, and every time the Panthers had an answer.

Eastern Illinois got baskets on two possessions in which they had three shots, because the Leathernecks couldn’t get rebounds.

“We had opportunities where maybe we can get it to within three points, we miss a shot, and then they make a shot,” Boudreau said. “And their offensive rebounding just killed us. You’re going to give up some rebound chances in a zone, but they were getting the ball better than we were.”

“Obviously, we had our moments tonight, and I think we’re coming out with good energy,” Diouf said. “We’re sticking together as a team. It’s just … we’ve got to figure out how to string 40 minutes together.”

Diouf, making his second consecutive start, was 5 of 8 from the field.

“Having confidence from my coaches and my teammates really helps,” he said.

“Massal was good tonight, and he was good in his last start,” Boudreau said. “He’s getting into a rhythm.”

Deveaux and Myers were the other two players with 14 points.

Eastern Illinois had five players score in double figures, led by Artese Stapleton’s 16 points.

The Leathernecks play host to SIU-Edwardsville on Saturday afternoon, a quick turnaround that is normal in the OVC schedule.

“It’s good, and it isn’t,” Diouf said. “It sort of forces you to flush these games. You’ve got to get rid of them quickly and get on to the next one. But sometimes it’s good to sit for a while on a game like this.”