You couldn't ask for a better start for Western Kentucky on Saturday night, smoking the nets by hitting their first eight shots (including their first six three-point attempts) from the field and jumping out to a 26-9 lead early and carrrying a 42-32 advantage into halftime.
In the first half, you couldn't ask for a better offensive performance. The Tops shot 46.7 percent from the field, knocked down eight three-point baskets, and matched a first half offensive performance they hadn't been seen in 16 games.
The solid play and double-digit advantage continued throughout most of the second half until...POOF! The momentum shifted, swung, and was virtually sucked out of Western Kentucky.
With WKU holding onto a 60-49 lead when the Mavericks' Reger Dowell decided he was taking over, nailing back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Mavericks within five at 60-55.
UT-Arlington continued to inch back in the game on the shoulders of Dowell and by furiously attacking the basket, eventually taking their first lead at 65-64.
WKU's Trency Jackson responded with a jumper to put the Hilltoppers back on top, but the Mavericks went on a 7-1 run to take a 74-67 lead they would hold onto like the Abominable Snowman clutching Bugs Bunny in a Looney Tunes cartoon.
Reger Dowell polished off a stellar night with a game-high 37 points to lead the Mavericks. Brandon Edwards finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
The Hilltoppers had five players in double-digits, T.J. Price finished with 17, Brandon Harris had 14, and the trio of George Fant, Caden Dickerson, and Trency Jackson each scored 11 points.
The loss drops WKU to 19-10 overall, 11-5 in the Sun Belt Conference. UT-Arlington improves to 13-15 overall, 8-8 in the conference.
Notes:
- UTA outscored WKU in the paint 32 to 16
- UTA scored 21 points off 14 WKU turnovers
- WKU got 32 points from the bench, UTA got 18
- UTA went 19-26 (22-30 overall) from the FT line in the second half, WKU went 9-18 (15-27 overall)
- Sean Williams
InsideHilltopperSports.com
@SeanW_Rivals
This post was edited on 3/2 7:48 AM by svw311
In the first half, you couldn't ask for a better offensive performance. The Tops shot 46.7 percent from the field, knocked down eight three-point baskets, and matched a first half offensive performance they hadn't been seen in 16 games.
The solid play and double-digit advantage continued throughout most of the second half until...POOF! The momentum shifted, swung, and was virtually sucked out of Western Kentucky.
With WKU holding onto a 60-49 lead when the Mavericks' Reger Dowell decided he was taking over, nailing back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Mavericks within five at 60-55.
UT-Arlington continued to inch back in the game on the shoulders of Dowell and by furiously attacking the basket, eventually taking their first lead at 65-64.
WKU's Trency Jackson responded with a jumper to put the Hilltoppers back on top, but the Mavericks went on a 7-1 run to take a 74-67 lead they would hold onto like the Abominable Snowman clutching Bugs Bunny in a Looney Tunes cartoon.
Reger Dowell polished off a stellar night with a game-high 37 points to lead the Mavericks. Brandon Edwards finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
The Hilltoppers had five players in double-digits, T.J. Price finished with 17, Brandon Harris had 14, and the trio of George Fant, Caden Dickerson, and Trency Jackson each scored 11 points.
The loss drops WKU to 19-10 overall, 11-5 in the Sun Belt Conference. UT-Arlington improves to 13-15 overall, 8-8 in the conference.
Notes:
- UTA outscored WKU in the paint 32 to 16
- UTA scored 21 points off 14 WKU turnovers
- WKU got 32 points from the bench, UTA got 18
- UTA went 19-26 (22-30 overall) from the FT line in the second half, WKU went 9-18 (15-27 overall)
- Sean Williams
InsideHilltopperSports.com
@SeanW_Rivals
This post was edited on 3/2 7:48 AM by svw311
