Jim Mashek

HILLTOPPERS WILL TRAVEL TO MTSU ON SATURDAY, WON’T PLAY AT HOME AGAIN UNTIL JANUARY 30 AGAINST UTEP

It was pretty evident, early on, that the Western Kentucky University men’s basketball team meant business on a chilly Saturday afternoon inside E.A. Diddle Arena.

The Hilltoppers pulled out of a recent tailspin with a good start, better shot selection and most of all, improved defense, in knocking off Conference USA newcomer Kennesaw State, 85-69.

Tyrone Marshall, a senior WKU forward from Nashville, and Canadian left-hander Enoch Kalambay took the initiative on the offensive end of the floor, and the Hilltoppers’ defense was equal to the task in the second half. Western Kentucky improved to 11-6 overall and 2-2 in Conference USA play while the Owls fell to 9-6 and 1-2, respectively.

Hank Plona, WKU’s first-year head coach, was almost beaming when it was over. On Thursday night, the Hilltoppers’ defense fell apart in a 73-67 loss to Jacksonville State at Diddle Arena.

“Since Christmas, for sure, this was our most complete basketball game,” Plona said.

The Hilltoppers have struggled since 6-foot-8 senior forward Babacar Faye injured his left knee in the second half of a hard-fought, 81-76 overtime victory over traditional rival Murray State on December 14. Faye has missed the Tops’ seven subsequent games, but Plona indicated he will be evaluated by the team’s medical staff this week.

That’s fortuitous timing, since WKU doesn’t play again until a road trip to face C-USA rival Middle Tennessee State on Saturday evening in Murfreesboro.

“I’m hoping this win can bounce us in the right direction,” Plona said.

The Hilltoppers led for nearly the entire game against Kennesaw State, and the Owls’ offensive efficiency improved dramatically in the second half. Western Kentucky never blinked, however, and Kennesaw State never pulled closer than eight points of the Tops over the final 20 minutes of the game.

Tyrone Marshall led the Tops with 20 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while WKU teammate Enoch Kalambay provided 19 points, a team-high eight rebounds and three assists off the bench. Don McHenry, the HIlltoppers’ leading scorer, again struggled from the field — hitting 3 of 11 shots, including a 1-for-5 showing from 3-point range — but found a way to get to the free-throw line while finishing with 15 points and five rebounds.

“The whole team was engaged,” Kalambay said. “I feel our defense was good. We were talking on the court … Even if I have a bad game, I won’t let that bother me. I’ll just stay with my team and just keep playing … “

It’s been a challenging season, after the Hilltoppers broke an 11-year drought from reaching the NCAA Tournament under former WKU head coach Steve Lutz last year. Kennesaw State, which trailed 40-25 at halftime, hit seven of 22 shots (32 percent) from 3-point range in the second half. But the Hilltoppers remained locked in, getting a much needed victory with a three-game road swing on the horizon.

The Tops won’t play in Diddle Arena again until January 30 against the UTEP Miners.

“We had to come out with that fire,” Marshall said. “(Friday’s) practice was a dogfight.”

WKU coach Hank Plona was encouraged by the contributions of his two 6-foot-11 centers, Leeroy Odiahi and Blaise Keita. Odiahi got the start and logged nearly 25 minutes on the floor, which put Enoch Kalambay into his more familiar role as the Hilltoppers’ sixth man.

“Our lack of size is starting to be a real issue,” Plona said.

Kennesaw State’s Adrian Wooley led all scorers with 27 points, while teammate Simeon Cottle finished with 15. The Hilltoppers put four players in double figures — Marshall (20 points), Kalambay (19 points), McHenry (15 points) and senior guard Khristian Lander (14 points). After getting manhandled on the boards in the loss to Jax State, the Tops came back to play the Owls on even terms with their rebounding.

“We put that (Jax State defeat) behind us,” Marshall said. “We just had to come together and fight. When we win the rebound battle, we’re usually going to win the game.”

The fundamental question, of course, is whether Babacar Faye can return from his knee injury to stabilize the Hilltoppers’ front line. In 10 games, the senior WKU forward averaged 15 points and eight rebounds per game.

“(Faye) certainly wants to play,” Plona said. “We looked like a very confident basketball team tonight …. When you look like that, there’s usually pretty good execution to follow.”