WKU Basketball: Top 5 Threes— A 1,000 Streak Special

With a made three-pointer at Rice, WKU will make special basketball history.

With a made three-pointer at Rice, WKU will make special basketball history.

The Hilltoppers are a single game away from making at least one made three-pointer in a game in 1,000 consecutive games. It all started on March 15, 1987 and will continue on even now into 2019. WKU’s streak is fourth-longest in the nation, behind UNLV (who leads the country with 1,060), Vanderbilt and Duke.

In order to celebrate this special occasion, we’re gonna take a special look back and relive a few of our favorite threes WKU has ever made.

(I’d like to preface this by saying that I’m including shots that have a video to add with it. It’s sad that some of WKU’s biggest and most historic moments aren’t uploaded on the internet and I’d love to see that change. We also don’t own the rights to any of the videos shared.)

#5: Trency Jackson at UALR 2014

It may have been just a regular season game on the road towards the end of the Sun Belt era, but this game-winning shot from Trency Jackson is still one of the most exciting last-second shots WKU has had in recent memory.

With only 3.7 seconds left in the game, WKU had to go the length of the court and needed at least a two to tie the game at 78–78 to send it into overtime in Little Rock.

But Jackson called game instead and the rest is history.

#4: Justin Johnson vs. EKU 2015

I guess you could say Justin Johnson’s first career made three-pointer was pretty memorable.

Beating an old arch-rival on a last-second shot is always a nice way to make a statement to remind them why WKU is in the C-USA and they’re still in the OVC. WKU was down by one and as the seconds were ticking away, Johnson throws up a miracle that was answered putting the Tops on top of EKU 86–84.

I’m old-school enough to have a natural hatred toward Eastern Kentucky so seeing the Tops take them down with this miracle attempt that went in is still one of my personal favorites.

#3: Jake Ohmer vs. SMU 2017

This is the most recent big three and is one that helped an undermanned WKU team beat SMU in the 2017 Battle 4 Atlantis.

Jake Ohmer may have only been a freshman but he’s always had onions. Ohmer had three triples including this one with 4.5 seconds left in the game to lift the Tops past the Mustangs 63–61.

#2: Derek Robinson at #4 UK 2001

Not many shots and moments, in general, felt as good as this one did.

Derek Robinson will always live on as a WKU legend with this shot that sealed the win against Kentucky. WKU was only leading by six points under a minute to go but Robinson’s triple with 44 seconds to go extended the lead to nine which lead to one of WKU’s biggest wins.

Robinson draining that shot and hushing the Rupp Arena crowd as the Tops win 64–52 will always be one of my favorite WKU moments of all time.

#1: Ty Rogers vs. Drake 2008

It’s hard to not put this one at the top of the list.

In the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, #12 seeded WKU took on #5 Drake in Tampa in one of the most exciting tournament games of the mid 2000s.

Simply known as “The Shot,” Ty Rogers made this huge three on the biggest stage in overtime to upset Drake 101–99 to help move the Tops on in the tournament as they would go all the way to the Sweet 16.

This was one of the biggest moments in the 2008 NCAA Tournament and Rogers even won a freakin’ ESPY Award for the shot.

It’s hard to mention March Madness without thinking of “The Shot” so it will rightfully take the win once again.

Before you guys even say anything, I know there are still tons of good shots that aren’t on here such as Darrin Horn at Louisville in 1993 or some from big-name players like Courtney Lee, Anthony Winchester, or even Patrick Sparks (still a traitor) to name a few but sadly it’s impossible trying to find a video, especially just a clip, to use. Unfortunately several of WKU’s biggest moments and shots are nowhere to be found.

I wish someone in the athletic department would be able to take some videos of the Tops biggest moments that might not be documented online and upload them so Hilltopper fans can enjoy them through the ages but for now we’ll have to suffer through the dark ages of not being able to see Darrin Horn beat Louisville at the buzzer (If you possess video of it please send it our way).