Before entering the current Feb. 1 matchup, Western Kentucky had a seven-game home winning streak. WKU sought to extend the streak to eight in a rematch game against the Sam Houston Bearkats. The two teams had clashed three weeks earlier, with the Bearkats coming out on top 78-74 at home. SHSU secured another victory, this time winning 79-77 in the closing seconds of the game.
Photo Cred: Jacob Grabeel III
A Deal Struck and a Celebration
In a bid to draw a large crowd to the game, which also aligned with a celebration of Black History Month, head coach Steve Lutz struck a deal with the students that was hard to turn down.
“I am buying every student that comes to the game a hot dog and a beverage, whether that is a cold beer if you are twenty-one, or a soda if you are not. We’re going to try and get these kids to come to the game, we are 9-0 at home and we are trying to defend Diddle (E.A. Diddle Arena) and I do not think can do it without them,” said coach Lutz.
Photo Cred: Jacob Grabeel III
It worked too! Diddle Arena was louder than ever, with the student section standing shoulder-to-shoulder and growing rowdier by the second throughout the game.
The Second Half Downfall
Western Kentucky has experienced numerous second-half setbacks in games this season, with the most significant one coming against New Mexico State. As previously noted in an article, the Hilltoppers held a 25-point lead with 14 minutes remaining, only to ultimately lose 72-70 instead…
Following the FIU game, where the Tops’ scoring surge did not materialize until the second half, there remained hope they’d pull away from the Bearkats this time as well. Instead, they just plateaued and ended up losing at the final buzzer. Their downfall came from various factors. Don McHenry’s scoring slump saw him drop from 14 first-half points to only seven in the second half. However, Rodney Howard countered it with 15 points in the second. Sam Houston did not particularly excel in the second half either, with Davon Barnes adding only six more points to his tally (after starting with 15). No one truly stepped up for them, so how did they manage to beat the Hilltoppers?
Photo Cred: Jacob Grabeel III
What really hurt WKU was the turnover battle. Going into halftime, Western was disciplined with the ball. They maintained possession and took smart shots for the first 15 minutes in the first half, which is why they were up 42-38. The second half, however, was a whole new ball game. The Hilltoppers committed nine turnovers and struggled to hit a three-pointer for most of the half. Despite those second-half struggles, the Tops only lost by two points after McHenry missed a three-point buzzer-beater.
There’s Still Hope for Western
Even with the recent loss, the Hilltoppers boast the second-best overall record in the Conference USA, ranking fourth in conference standings. They trailed first-place Louisiana Tech by two and a half games before facing them two days ago at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston, LA. They emerged victorious 81-76, and now both teams are tied with a 16-7 record. What the Tops need to prioritize is a strong second half and not letting their opponents remain competitive. The win against LT this week offers significant hope for the remainder of Western Kentucky’s season.
Photo Cred: Jacob Grabeel III
