WKU Basketball: Tops Overcome Jackson, Roadrunners In 96–88 Overtime Thriller
In a classic shootout, WKU overcame a 46 point performance from UTSA’s Jhivvan Jackson to win a 96–88 overtime thriller against the…
In a classic shootout, WKU overcame a 46 point performance from UTSA’s Jhivvan Jackson to win a 96–88 overtime thriller against the Roadrunners in front of 4,983 fans at E.A. Diddle Arena on Thursday.
The Tops came out ready to play, quickly jumping out to a 7–0 lead. The Roadrunners responded, tying the game at 9–9 around the 15 minute mark of the opening half.
Both teams traded scores as each side struggled to find defensive consistency. UTSA kept up their hot shooting ways as Jackson made back-to-back threes to take a 20–15 lead with 12:35 left in the half.
As the first half wore on, Jackson continued to pour it on helping UTSA extend their lead to eight points before a Josh Anderson three cut the lead to four with 6:24 before halftime.
From there, WKU cut the lead further to one point before a Keaton Wallace three extended the Roadrunner lead back to four points. WKU came all the way back to tie it at 37–37 on a Taveion Hollingsworth layup with 1:54 remaining in the opening frame.
Hollinsworth hit a runner to take the lead back as the Tops went on an 8–2 run over the final 4:30 minutes of the half to take a 41–39 lead into the locker room.
The second half picked up right where the first left off as both teams traded baskets again and again. After being tied 47-47, Hollingsworth committed a bad foul against Jackson that was called a flagrant and the Roadrunners opened up a five-point lead as a result.
Charles Bassey started to impose his will in the second half, scoring two baskets and helped WKU reclaim the lead. But, Jackson continued to answer WKU every time as he threatened 40 points. UTSA extended their lead to eight as Jackson was unconscious.
The Tops wouldn’t go away as they cut the lead to four points at the eight-minute media timeout.
UTSA cooled off and WKU stormed back on a Tolu Smith layup to take 68–67 lead with 5:23 remaining. UTSA wouldn’t go away quietly, as Wallace played Robin to Jackson’s Batman, hitting a three to take the lead back for UTSA as they clung to a one-point lead at the last media time out.
As the game wound down, both teams were knotted at 72–72 until Bassey drew a foul with 2:40 remaining and hit both free throws before Jackson answered, again with a reverse layup and a free throw get his 42nd points of the night, putting the ‘Runners ahead by one.
WKU did their best to lock down on Jackson and Wallace and unheralded point guard De Nicolao hit a dagger three with 1:25 to give UTSA a four-point lead.
Bassey once again drew another foul but would missed free throw and WKU trailed by three at the one-minute mark. UTSA quickly turned the ball over but the Tops would settle for a poor three-point shot by Lamonte Bearden on a possession that severely lacked ball movement.
UTSA missed a quick free throw and Anderson airballed another three-pointer, but the Tops luckily got another chance as Hollingsworth dunked in a Bassey miss with 15 seconds left to cut the lead to one.
UTSA then turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds pass with a quick-hands play from Beraden, who drew a foul and was sent to the free throw line. He missed the first free throw but made the second to tie it at 78–78 with 8.4 seconds remaining.
UTSA drove the length of the court following Bearden’s free throw trip, but WKU denied Jackson the ball and a De Nicolao shot missed off the front of the rim to send the game into overtime.
WKU began overtime hot with Jared Savage hitting two three-pointers to give WKU a four-point lead in the first two minutes.
Jackson wouldn’t go away, scoring four poinst in the extra session to keep UTSA in the game. Bassey and Anderson both added to the lead as WKU extended their advantage to six with 2:04 remaining.
UTSA responded as Wallace hit a three-pointer on the next possession but Savage answered again with another three.
WKU responded on the other end with a crucial offensive rebound, which forced UTSA to foul down six.
Hollingsworth hit one free throw to make it a three-possession game and Jackson missed the ensuing shot to put the Tops in cruising position.
The Tops continued to hit free throws and UTSA missed quick shots as a close game turned into a comfortable final number.
WKU would escaped a shootout with an exhilarating 96–88 victory.
Here are some thoughts from the thrilling victory:
Jhivvan Jackson was simply unstoppable tonight for UTSA. He set the E.A. Diddle scoring record by putting up 46 points on 16-of-31 shooting. Every time WKU got some momentum, he answered. Luckily, he started to show his fatigue by the overtime period and WKU overcame that effort. As Jared Rosdeutcher tweeted for us, I’d take Jackson over any scorer in the conference, including Jon Elmore.
Bearden got the start at point guard for WKU and responded with his best game of the season. Bearden finished with 22 points, seven assists and, most importantly, one turnover. In an up and down game, he looked very comfortable with his starting job back.
Turnovers were drastically reduced with only six turnovers for the entire game. Had Jackson and Wallace had not gone off from three-point range, the lack of turnovers would have helped WKU win comfortably. UTSA isn’t a great defensive team and didn’t pressure the ball much but it was amazing seeing WKU not make stupid mistakes with the ball in their hands.
Bassey had another low-key amazing game. He finished with 22 points and 18 rebounds on 7-of-8 shooting despite UTSA doing everything they could to deny him the ball down low. If the Tops could ever get his shots up to the 10+ range, they’ll really start taking off.
Anderson, despite playing in a mask, had another efficient game stuffing the stat sheet with 19 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. He continues to be the glue that holds the team together night after night.
Hollingsworth had an uneven game and was benched after the flagrant foul. He responded in the last 10 minutes of the game making sure that Jackson didn’t get easier looks than he got earlier.
Savage had a miserable regulation game, going 1–11 before overtime. He responded with those three huge three-pointers in overtime to once again show he’s the shooter this team needs. With teams daring WKU to shoot from the perimeter, hot shooting by Savage and Jake Ohmer will go a long way in the future.
Banton played sparingly with the up-and-down nature of the game but it was encouraging to see Stansbury let him play off the ball and with Bearden in the lineup. He did have a block in the first half that showed his potential on the defensive end against smaller teams.
Tolu Smith got to play with Bassey again for the second straight game. I love the fact that Stansbury is willing to go big, that will help us against smaller teams like UTSA and several other in C-USA. Smith has played better lately, tonight he finished with five points and five rebounds in 20 minutes.
Here are your updated C-USA standings after tonight's action as WKU moves to 12–10 (5–4) on the season. WKU is just one game behind in the loss column for a top-four spot with games against North Texas and UAB before bonus play starts.
Thursday’s crucial come-from-behind victory is yet another opportunity for WKU to turn their season around. The Tops return to Diddle on Saturday at 6 p.m., as they take on the Miners of UTEP (7–13). A win there, and they have a favorable road game against Rice before another statement opportunity against North Texas. Here are your final stats from tonight’s thriller.
