WKU Basketball: Tops Streak Ends At 5 As UAB Dominates 68–60
Despite riding a season-high five game winning streak, WKU failed to show up on a Saturday afternoon as UAB dominated throughout in 68–60…
Despite riding a season-high five game winning streak, WKU failed to show up on a Saturday afternoon as UAB dominated throughout in a 68–60 win in front of 6,839 fans at EA Diddle Arena.
The Tops started the game ice cold, missing their first six shots before Josh Anderson hit a running layup at the 16 minute mark of the opening half. WKU missed nine of their first 10 shots, falling behind 8–2 early.
WKU rode the shoulders of Charles Bassey to get back into the game, as the freshman scored six straight points to cut the UAB lead to three, but WKU’s offensive struggles continued.
The Tops jacked up three-pointers (0–8) and went on a scoring drought of over three minutes, falling behind 18–8 with 6:38 left in the half.
Anderson willed WKU back into the game dunking and dishing a beautiful fast break pass to Jared Savage to pull WKU within six, getting the crowd back into the game.
The Tops rode that momentum along with Bassey to finally take a 21–20 lead at the 3:20 mark of the first half. Bassey poured on 15 first-half points but UAB responded with threes and took a 28–23 lead into the locker room.
The second half started like the first half did, as WKU wouldn’t score for the first two and a half minutes. Savage finally hit WKU’s first three-pointer of the game around the 16 minute mark, cutting UAB’s lead to 33–30.
WKU did a great job of drawing fouls throughout the game. They had UAB’s top two big men, Sullivan and Gueye, in foul trouble most of the game and Bassey responded. The Tops played the last 15 minutes of the half in the bonus but didn’t take advantage at all.
UAB overcame that differential by hitting threes and forcing WKU to make jump shots. WKU trailed 38–32 at the 12 minute time out.
Every time WKU trimmed the Blazers lead, UAB responded with a clutch three.
The sloppy play continued as WKU repeatedly missed layups, jumpers and more, letting their frustrating offense lead to fast breaks and a 14-point UAB lead with 4:15 to play.
UAB’s zone defense befuddled WKU, daring them to shoot three’s with regular misses. WKU pretty much slept-walked through the rest of the game, trailing by as much as 15 before mounting a late rally.
Taveion Hollingworth hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut UAB’s lead to 5 with 26.6 seconds left. Zack Bryant responded, hitting both free throws for the Blazers and the Blazers closed out a surprising 68–60 win at Diddle.
Here are a few quick postgame thoughts from another poor home effort
WKU’s offense continues to frustrate. They had five droughts of three minutes or more. The usual suspects of poor ball movement, missed threes and lazy rebounding haunted WKU all day. Rick Stansbury will have to address their shooting issue in recruiting but until then WKU needs to find ways to manufacture offense when shots aren’t falling.
Bassey had another great performance, finishing with 23 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. WKU stopped giving him the ball as UAB went on their run.
Lamonte Bearden had an okay game, finishing with seven points, five assists, and only two turnovers but wasn’t his usual explosive self and left late with a collarbone injury. Let’s hope he’s okay because this is a different team without his calm hand.
Hollingworth had his worst game of the season, being held scoreless until the last minute. He was benched due to poor play and looked lost out there today. If WKU wants to get back on track, he’s going to have to break out of this sophomore slump.
WKU was outrebounded for the second game in a row as UAB bested the Tops on the glass, 41–32. With WKU’s size advantage, it all comes down to effort. The coaching staff needs to emphasize getting into position on misses and following shots when they know it’s not going in.
The usual bellwether of turnover margin (WKU won 14-8) was negated by the awful shooting and lack of free throws attempted. Despite being in the bonus the last 15 minutes of the half, WKU only had nine free throw attempts to UAB’s 22. WKU usually lives on the line to make up for their poor shooting.
Anderson had another solid game with 15 points, four assists and three rebounds. He didn’t do a great job of attacking the rim, settling for too many jump shots but you can’t complain when the shooters around him struggled so much.
Franklin native Tavin Lovan had the best game of his life against the school that spurned him. He finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds. It sucks that it never worked out for him at WKU (his dad played there in the ’90s) but I’m not sure how much playing time he would get on this WKU team.
This game killed the momentum of WKU’s best run of the season. Instead of hitting bonus play with six straight wins (and victories in nine of the last 10), WKU will have to refocus for a crucial last four games.
At the end of the day, this didn’t affect WKU’s spot in bonus play. They are still the #2 seed heading into the last four games against ODU, UTSA, Southern Miss and UAB. We’ll have the announced schedule later today when C-USA announces it.
Here are your stats from today’s disappointing effort:
