WKU Basketball: Tops Rally Against UAB 77-69, Take 1st Place in Conference USA
In a matchup of top tier Conference USA rivals, the Hilltoppers took UAB’s best shot before some stifling defense helped WKU survive a…
In a matchup of top tier Conference USA rivals, the Hilltoppers took UAB’s best shot before some stifling defense helped WKU survive a feisty Blazer team 77–68 in front of 5,643 fans in Diddle Arena.
The first half was the proverbial “game of runs,” as WKU quickly jumped out to a 13–4 early lead but UAB went on a 9–0 run to even it up at 13. That run was halted on this beautiful block by Darius Thompson.
After trading baskets for a while, WKU jumped out to a 31–21 lead before UAB went on a 10–0 run to tie it up at 31–31 after UAB star Chris Coakley picked up his second foul.
WKU once again answered and ended the half on a 5–0 run, taking a 36–31 lead to the locker room punctuated by yet another Thompson highlight.
The runs continued in the second half as UAB turned up the defensive pressure and quickly went on a 15–4 run, jumping out to a 46–40 lead. The Blazer lead vacillated from the three to seven point range for most of the half as UAB regularly answered WKU runs with back breaking three pointers, but they couldn’t pull away. WKU finally overcame the Blazers hot shooting and took a 64–63 lead with six minutes left in the game.
A Zack Bryant foul on a Jake Ohmer three point attempt, combined with a technical foul on UAB coach Rob Ehsan, turned a 67–65 UAB lead to a 69–67 Hilltopper lead with 3:49 left.
WKU turned up the defense and held the Blazers scoreless over 4:17 seconds as the Tops went on an 11–0 run before a Blazers field goal with 13.9 seconds left as the Tops. Josh Anderson put a punctuation on the exciting victory.
Here are some other post game thoughts:
Darius Thompson had arguably his worst game since the Tops traveled to Ohio but still made plays when it mattered. He was active defensively, distributed the ball with five assists and still finished with 10 points and four rebounds despite going 0–4 from three point range. Getting Thompson and Coleby this offseason continues to be a coup for Stansbury.
Dwight Coleby was awesome in the first half, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds. Despite early second half foul trouble, he finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds and had two huge blocks in crunch time helping WKU’s stifling defense.
Having Moustapha Diagne is great for depth and low post rest purposes but he did look lost at times when he was in the game. When he came in for Coleby, UAB went on that 9–0 run that erased the 13–4 lead. He still hustles and grabs rebounds, I think he’ll continue to get better as he gets his legs back under him.
Josh Anderson is so athletic, he regularly made quick blow-by moves and makes it look easy out there. You can tell he is on a different talent level than 99% of his conference peers. His athleticism and hustle helped WKU lock down UAB in the last ten minutes and his 12 points make him a two way threat. Stansbury put him in over Bearden during crunch time and you can just see the potential he oozes.
WKU got a lucky in the officiating department. They had only seven total fouls to UAB’s 22 and a 29–3 free throw differential. That helped them overcome UAB’s hot three point shooting but after previous bad officiating breaks (Wisconsin), we’ll take it.
The Tops did this in front of some recruits, including Charles Bassey, who’s the number three prospect in the 2019 recruiting class.
Middle Tennessee lost in Huntington to give WKU lone possession of 1st place in Conference USA
While Middle’s loss take some of the buzz factor out of Saturday’s sold out game (two 6–0 team would have been amazing), Middle will be hungry not looking to fall two games behind WKU and that makes Saturday almost as compelling.
WKU had this fitting tribute to Wes Strader
WKU is now 14–5. This run gives WKU yet another top 100 win for their resume. They’ll host bitter rival Middle Tennessee Saturday in front of their first sold out crowd since late 2014. After almost a decade in the wilderness, WKU basketball has almost came all the way back to the top of the mid-major universe.
Final stats:
