Story by
Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.
WKU loses heartbreaker at the wire
- Story byMessenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.
- WKU loses heartbreaker at the wire
BOWLING GREEN — It was heartbreak on the Hill for Western Kentucky on Friday night.
Miles Barnstable drilled a 23-foot 3-pointer just before the final buzzer to lift streaking Tulsa to a pulsating 82-81 victory over the Hilltoppers before a fired-up crowd in E.A. Diddle Arena.
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The victory was the eighth in a row for the Golden Hurricane, who improved to 11-1. WKU slipped to 7-4.
"This was obviously a very tough loss — we were leading down the stretch and leading for most of the game," WKU coach Hank Plona said. "We didn't close the door, and that part of it is a struggle for sure — this one hurts. It would have been a big win for our program against a very good team.
"I thought we got a little tired at the end; we lost our discipline and we weren't able to close it out. We've got to figure out how to win games like these if we want to have a special season."
Barnstable actually burned the Hilltoppers twice.
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WKU led 75-74 following a putback by Armelo Boone at 0:53, but Barnstable broke free for a right wing 3-pointer at 0:42 to put Tulsa in front, 77-75,
Western immediately answered when Cam Haffner nailed a left wing 3-pointer at 0:28 to put the Hilltoppers back on top, 78-77. After a defensive stand, WKU increased its lead to 80-77 when Boone knocked down a pair of free throws with 10.5 seconds to play.
Two free throws by Tylen Riley pulled the Golden Hurricane within 89-79 with 5.8 seconds to play, before Grant Newell made one of two free throws to provide WKU a two-point advantage with 5.2 seconds left.
Tulsa advanced the ball past midcourt and called timeout with 2.4 seconds to play, and Barnstable broke free off a screen for an open jumper from the left wing to sink the Hilltoppers.
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Western used sticky defense to build an seven-point lead by intermission.
Tulsa shot in front 8-5 in the opening five minutes, but the Hilltoppers got 3-pointers from Newell, Ryan Myers and Louie Semona in an 11-0 spurt to take a 16-8 advantage and force a Golden Hurricane timeout at 12:01.
The visitors battled back, getting treys from Jaylen Lawal, David Green and Ade Popoola in a 12-5 run that pulled Tulsa within 21-20 with 8:20 remaining.
The Golden Hurricane were still within one, trailing 25-24, when WKU went on a 10-1 spree and took a 10-point lead on a putback by Boone at 0:50.
Tulsa got a 3-pointer from Myles Rigsby on its final possession of the half to draw within 37-30 at the break.
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It was nip and tuck throughout the second half, and Western could never build its margin past seven points — setting the stage for Tulsa's clutch performance down the stretch.
WKU limited Tulsa to 32% shooting in the first half, including 21% from distance (4 of 19), but the Golden Hurricane went 10 of 12 from the foul stripe for 83%
Western shot 44% in the first half and made 6 of 15 shots from beyond the arc (40%), while out-rebounding Tulsa, 20-16.
For the game, WKU was led by Newell, who produced 28 points and nine rebounds. Boone had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Moore finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
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The Hilltoppers shot 41% from the floor, including 41% from distance (12 of 29), and made 19 of 24 foul shots (79%). WKU out-rebounded Tulsa by a 39-33 margin.
Tulsa was led by Tylen Riley's 18 points, with Popoola adding 17.
The Golden Hurricane finished at 45% from the field, making 11 of 33 3-pointers (33%), and sinking 23 of 32 free throws (72%). Tulsa shot 57% from the floor over the final 20 minutes, including 7 of 14 accuracy from deep.
"Consistently, our first half defense has been better than our second half defense," Plona said. "We need to have competitive defensive discipline for 40 minutes."
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The victory was Tulsa's sixth straight in its series with the Hilltoppers, who slipped to 1-6 all time versus the Golden Hurricane.
WKU is off until Dec. 29 when it opens Conference USA play at Jacksonville State.
