HAD 22 POINTS IN THE TOPS’ VICTORY.
WKU COACH STEVE LUTZ: “WE’RE EVOLVING … THIS IS A GOOD WIN”
MURRAY, Kentucky — First-year Western Kentucky men’s basketball coach Steve Lutz may have been the calmest man in the building, at least AFTER the Hilltoppers dispatched traditional rival Murray State University on Tuesday night in the CSFB Center.
The Hilltoppers led the entire first half, fought through some second-half lapses and ultimately willed their way past the Racers, 86-81. Junior WKU point guard Don McHenry was particularly effective down the stretch, and he led the Tops with 22 points while hitting some critical free throws in the final five minutes of the contest.
It was the first matchup between the longtime Ohio Valley Conference rivals in nine years, during which time the Racers have made three NCAA Tournament appearances, while also producing future NBA star Ja Morant, a point guard with the Memphis Grizzlies.
TAKES THE BALL INSIDE.
FINISHED THE GAME WITH 18 POINTS.
Western Kentucky, meanwhile, is still looking for its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2013, which is perhaps the biggest reason Steve Lutz has replaced Rick Stansbury as the Hilltoppers’ head coach.
The Hilltoppers hit 18 of 21 free throws to earn their second victory against a single defeat.
“We needed to make sure we got to the free-throw line, a LOT more, in the second half,” Lutz said.
That’s where McHenry, a transfer from Indian Hills (Iowa) Community College, took the initiative. The 6-foot-2 guard from Milwaukee, Wisconsin was able to penetrate the MSU defense and create opportunities for the Tops, who shot 52.6 percent from the field — including 50 percent (8 of 16) from 3-point range.
That’s a significant improvement from an 0-for-21 showing from the 3-point line in last week’s 71-61 loss to Wichita State.
STOPS DOWN THE STRETCH.
ENTIRE FIRST HALF.
“We’re going to be a good shooting team,” Lutz said when it was over. “Now, are we going to shoot 50 percent every night? I’m not going to look you in the eye and tell you that. But we’re not going to shoot zero percent, either … When we don’t take good shots, we put ourselves in a tough position.”
The Tops seemed determined to avoid such a fate. They stayed on the attack, and in front of the Racers, for the entire first half. Western Kentucky opened the second half with a lull that allowed Murray State to grab its first lead of the game, but former University of Kentucky forward Dontaie Allen drilled a 3 from the right corner to tie the game at 46, and the lead changed hands several times until the Hilltoppers pulled away in the final seven minutes.
Allen, a 6-foot-6 senior from Falmouth, Kentucky, is one of four holdover players from Rick Stansbury’s final team at WKU, which went 17-16 last year. The others are backup forward Brandon Marshall, guard Khrstian Lander and backup center Fallou Diagne. Allen had 18 points in Tuesday’s victory and seems encouraged about the prospects in front of the Hilltoppers.
TO KENTUCKY STATE
ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
“(WE GAVE UP) TOO MANY EASY BASKETS.”
“Everyone can count on a guy like (Don McHenry),” Allen said. “He comes from juco, but bro, he’s got everything you need. He’s a really good point guard for us. I’m excited for him.”
Lander was effective off the bench, too, and finished the game with 12 points. Senior WKU guard Brandon Newman, a transfer from Purdue University, had 11 points and seven rebounds.
“You learn how to win, on the road,” Lutz said. “We’re evolving … This is a good win. Obviously, the history of the rivalry. I think this (WKU) team has a lot of growth in it. We need to rebound better.”
Murray State finished the game with a 42-33 rebounding advantage.
The Racers might have gotten a little “3 happy” in the second half, and they finished 8 of 23 (34.8 percent) from the 3-point line. Senior guard Rob Perry led Murray State with 21 points while teammates JaCobi Wood and Brian Moore added 14 and 13, respectively.
Murray State coach Steve Prohm was less than pleased with his defensive effort.
“Too many easy baskets, too many open baskets,” Prohm said. “Part of that’s from the turnovers, and some of it’s just their penetrations and (WKU’s Rodney) Howard inside.”
Howard had 10 points for the Hilltoppers.
Ultimately, it was a big night for the Tops’ Don McHenry, however, and he’ll be given every opportunity to run the show at the point. Western Kentucky plays host to Kentucky State on Saturday night at E.A. Diddle Arena, and then the Hilltoppers will play three games in as many days during the Thanksgiving break in the Northern Classic in Quebec.
“I’m getting more comfortable with the guys, my teammates,” McHenry said. “The floor was just opening up tonight, because of my teammates. We knew free throws were going to be big.”
Steve Lutz’s main concern was avoiding the kind of second-half start that allowed the Racers to score the first 12 points to grab their first lead of the game.
“We’ve got to do a better job of coming out of halftime, and that starts with me,” Lutz said.
BY RANDY LEE (LEFT) AND
THE TOPS’ RADIO NETWORK.
THE WAIT FOR THE TOPS …
A PURDUE TRANSFER,
FINISHED WITH 10 POINTS.
