Offensive Woes Cost Hilltoppers in 74-63 Loss at UTSA

Saturday, February 3

San Antonio, Texas

3 p.m.

Western Kentucky University

-167, 82 CUSA

UTSA

-1311, 65 CUSA

WKU

UTSA

2/3/2018 5:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Rick Stansbury Video Interview Darius Thompson Video Interview Justin Johnson Video Interview

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — WKU Hilltopper Basketball could never get anything going from the outset Saturday afternoon, falling 74-63 at UTSA.

The loss snapped a five-game road winning streak for the Hilltoppers (16-7 overall, 8-2 Conference USA), who had also won four straight on the road against league opponents.

UTSA (13-11, 6-5), which has wins against UAB, Marshall and WKU over its last four outings, scored the first seven points of the game, built a 19-5 lead and never looked back.

WKU missed its first nine shots and was 1 of 14 from the field at one point, failing to make a field goal until freshman guard Josh Anderson's basket at the 12:10 mark.

The Hilltoppers missed all nine of their 3-point attempts in the first half and never trimmed the lead to single digits again before the break, trailing 37-25 at halftime.

WKU got within nine at 44-35 with 15:07 left in the game on a 3-pointer by freshman guard Taveion Hollingsworth – the Tops' first long ball of the day – but UTSA answered with its own 10-3 run to stay in front.

WKU shot just 36.1 percent from the field, made 2 of 20 3-pointers and netted just 17 of 30 free throws. The Hilltoppers got outrebounded 47-38.

Hollingsworth led WKU with 21 points on 8 of 13 shooting, while senior forward Justin Johnson notched his 32nd career double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Senior guard Darius Thompson scored nine points, and senior forward Dwight Coleby added seven points and 10 rebounds.

Freshman guard Jhivvan Jackson led UTSA with 22 points.

WKU returns home to host Florida Atlantic at 7:30 p.m. CT Thursday at E.A. Diddle Arena. That game is the nightcap of a doubleheader with the women's program.