WITH 22 POINTS IN THEIR
86-81 VICTORY OVER MURRAY STATE.
WESTERN KENTUCKY IMPROVES TO 2-1 WITH HARD-FOUGHT ROAD VICTORY
MURRAY, Kentucky — It was a banner night for Western Kentucky men’s basketball and first-year coach Steve Lutz.
The Hilltoppers, playing former OVC rival Murray State for the first time in nine years, hit 18 of 21 free throws and came up with enough defensive stops to defeat the Racers, 86-81, at the CFSB Center on Tuesday night.
After failing to connect on all 21 of their 3-point field-goal attempts in last week’s 71-61 loss at Wichita State, the Hilltoppers used solid shot selection and led the entire first half against the Racers. Western Kentucky, meanwhile, hit 8 of 16 shots from 3-point range, improving to 2-1 on the season heading into Saturday night’s game against Kentucky State.
“We’re evolving. You have to learn how to win on the road,” Lutz said afterward. “This is a good win. Obviously, the history of the rivalry. I think this team has a lot of growth in it.”
Lutz was disappointed in the Hilltoppers’ slow start in the second half, but they protected their lead down the stretch with solid shot selection and good work at the free-throw line.
WKU guard Don McHenry, a 6-foot-1 junior transfer from Indian Hill (Iowa) Junior College, led the Hilltoppers with 22 points. Former UK forward Dontaie Allen, one of the four holdovers from former WKU coach Rick Stansbury’s final team, finished with 18 points and five rebounds.
Khristian Lander, who also logged significant minutes on last year’s 17-16 WKU squad, finished with 12 points, and newcomer Brandon Newman, a transfer from Purdue University, added 11 points.
Murray State guard Rob Perry led the Racers with 21 points.
I’ll have a complete story on the game in the morning. Spending the night in Murray. Thanks for reading.
INTO SATURDAY’s HOME GAME
AGAINST KENTUCKY STATE,
IS INTERVIEWED BY RANDY LEE (LEFT)
AND THE HILLTOPPERS’ RADIO NETWORK.
FOR THE HILLTOPPERS, TO BE SURE …